The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-09-19
Cupid as
Jockey
BY Anna Mcclure shoH
Copyright. BY snoft.tory pub Co.,

copyright, by shortstory Pub Coz
always delighted in setting the little
town of Upwater by the ears, but no
one dreamed OF postmortem chuckle
from the old gentleman II came in
the form Of bequest in his will
$1,000 to the prettiest woman in the
place, the judges to be chosen from
the elderly married men Of the com.
munity.
The hubbub was instantaneous, and
OF nature TO warm the heart of a
cynic. Mothers spoke jealousy of the
charms of their daughters The min
listers prepared sermons against the
sin of vanity thus flagrantly encour-
aged by the late Mr. Sears. The best
people signalized their intention Of
standing aloof from the contest But
at last reaction set in, started by
someone's saving sense of humor, and
II was almost unanimously decided
that the terms OF the will must be
tee fixed upon day in June for the
assembling of the contestants. They
were to come in their best apparel.
and to abide by the vote OF the judges
without murmurings or disputings."
The contest was to be held out of
doors, in the sunny garden of one Of
the grandees OF the town, that the
searching light of day might add to
the impartiality of the decision The
affair was thus turned into lawn
party, and, the first families agreeing
to be present, the rest of the town
followed suit.
A week before the day appointed
Richard Gordon, young lawyer, went
to call upon Mary Bennett whose
father before his lnvalidism had been
a professor In the college town from
which Gordon's family also came
Richard, waiting for Mary in the dim
parlor with its steel engravings OF
famous pictures, felt that the girls
life was somehow like them. beautiful
in line and form, but lacking the
color that selfishness, rather than self
denial, seems to impart TO human ex.
istence. She had always sacrificed
herself to the demands and needs Of
others, until she was like white
flower brought out of the sunshine
to cheer a sickroom.
He was absorbed in his thoughts
OF her when she entered Il welcome
glowing In her eyes. Though she
was tall and straight and wholesome
TO look upon, no one had ever called
her pretty. Her chief asset was her
abundant dark hair. Richard had
never thought of her being In the col-
test, 80 he did not even apUlogi' q
when, after a few moments conyerHa.
tion, he showed her list he lad n le
of the women who, in his opinion. had
the best chance of winning-a list
from which her name was omitted.
Il thought it might amu9e you TO
go over them with me and to sum up
their points"
~ see that you have headed II with
Bertha Klendenning. That is easy TO
understand"
But my grounds are different from
mort peoples" he said, with the ear
nestCess that he always brought to
any subject which interested him.
"Her bhie eyes and yellow hair and
story.book complexion count very lit
tie. It's her lovely figure and her
charm of manner-her more subtle
advantages, 30 TO speak-that make
her what she is, graceful and wom-
anly."
He seemed to be absorbed in an
inner vision of her Mary sat very
still. her hands clasped together, her
eyes but half-lifted. He could not
know, OF course, that he was hurting
her.
81 quite agree with you. Who is
next on the list?"
Katherine More-it's the curve of
her upper lip" he added, confiden-
TALLY.
"And next?"
Dora"
"Because-"
He laughed
1T has something to do with the
tip OF her nose"
Il quite understand. Dora's nose
will keep her young when she's go"
And then come the ladies who
have only to put on a pink ribbon to
be called pretty. You see my scorn
OF them places them last"
Poor things! Well. think 1t will
be Bertha. You must tell me all about
It afterwards"
But. my dear, you're surely going!"
he said, earnestly, knitting his boyish
brows.
II can't unless father is better"
"Oh, you must--it will amuse you
so! I'll call for you to make surel"
We'll! | don't forbid your callingl"
she answered, with a smile.
When he was gone she went to her
room and gave herself up for the time
to sad and wistful thoughts. How
natural that he should regard her only
as friend and offer her only the
genial courtesies OF comradeship He
had known her all his life, whereas
he had known Bertha but year, anil
novelty is an ingredient of romance