Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1907-12-19
Ned WentWOrth's
Likeness
By HELEN DICKINSON.
(Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Co

He was waiting patiently. The ex-
preston on his face was anxious,
rather than careless. His eyes were
fixed on the girl near him, as though
trying to read the thoughts that were
framing in her mind.
well, Alice, aren't you ever going
to tell me what you think of it? Is it
good,-or bad; or, is it both? Sus-
pense is wearing you know, and mans
patience limited"
THE photo sets my thoughts to
wandering, Ned, but l will reward
your patience and suspense. That
picture is as near perfect as anything
of it's nature have ever seen. 1t real
ly could not be more life-like, and be
inanimate"
She spoke the words slowly and de-
liberately, as though thinking as she
went. The words were all he could
have expected, yet, something in their
tone suggested a vague feeling of dis
appointment. There was in them, as
though unconscious of. its presence,
a smothered note of sadness, and it
was this that made the man ask
Does that quite cover it?"
mo, not quite, Ned. 1t is the pic
ture of real man, alive, fearless,
honorable. The jaw is strong and
firm; mouth, tender and human; the
nose has the clear-cut lines of an
Apollo, and the eyes-they are beau
tiful Their depths are deep, deep.
down, and their ring is true. The
high, broad forehead stands out bold
ly in it's might of fulness and intellect.
There is forcefullness, daring, and
withal, a CLEAN of kindness about the
face, to which one would never appeal
in vain. 1t is the face of man from
whom we should expect big things,
high ideals and a character above re-
proach l have been reading the face
in the picture, Ned, and it is all !
have said Is it enough?"
A glance at the mans face, looking
into hers, must have shown her that
it was indeed enough. With her de-
scription of each feature, the express
sion on the face had frightened, and
when she finished, none could deny,
least of all herself, that she had said
one word too much. 1t was the face
in the picture, with the additional
coloring and beauty of life.
The words set his heart to pound
ing. The warm blood mounted to his
brow, and the joy of living and breath
ing brought radiant sparkle to his
serious gray eyes. Yes, indeed. it
was the face in the picture.
Alice Hamilton he said playfully,
Il would never have accused you OF
fiattery. Is this your first offense
Tell me, Alice, do you really think
am the embodiment of what you read
in that face?"
The quiet seconds hurried onward.
At last, raising her eyes, until they
looked straight into his, she said:
NO, Ned, not only don't think you
are what that picture says you are,
but l know you are not"
Perplexity and surprise shut out
every other emotion from his counte,
nance.
How can be so different from my
| own likeness, Alice? Be serious, won't
your"
do you want me to be honest
| Ned? l am afraid If l am it will hurt
and you can't stand hurts very we'll
Don't ask me to play the surgeon, un-
| less you are prepared for the keen
edge of the knife"
81 am afraid shall have to ask you
| to perform it just the same. What is
there about me that makes my photo
graph so much a counterfeit"
well, l will tell you, Ned. 1t is
another instance where all that gilt
tiers is not gold. Instead Of the
strength one expects to find, they find
not a weakness, but only strength fol-
/ that which is wrong. A stubborn, obsti
stinate resistance to any condition OF
influence that shows you are wrong.
have sometimes wondered If there was
ever another, who could manipulate
his conscience so skiflfully as you do
You can always reason yourself into
making it approve, when If you would
only stop, and listen, you could hear
the iSner voice trying to reason you
into recognizing the right from the
wrong. You admire lofty ideals, es
pecially when personified in men. but
that is not the type of man you seek
No, rather the reverse, and oh, it is
so easy for you to pat yourself on
the back and say, Well, anyone would
have done it. I can't make conditions
and after all, it is just as people look
at things You are a giant in intel
lect You could think great things
but you could not accomplish them
Before your thought grew cold you
would decide it would entail too much
| bother. You are kind enough, but
even that resolves itself into unkind
ness If anyone appealed to your sym
pathies, a woman especially, there is
nothing you would refrain from doing
for her, and there, again you would
lose sight of that delicate dividing
line. between chivalry and honor.
know you SO well, Ned. Forgive me
for saying these things. They dc
hurt; | knew they would, but you
wanted the truth l have tried to be
fair, but | can't help seeing you as
you arc, can II"