Mexico Missouri message., 1908-09-24

always delighted in setting the little
town of Upwater by the ears, but no
one dreamed OF a post.mortem chuckle
from the old gentleman. II came in
the form OF n 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 n 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 fiagrantly encour.
aged by the late Mr. Sears. The best
people" signaliLed 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
complied with. An appointed commit
tee fixed upon day in June for the
assembling OF the contestants. They
were TO come in their best apparel,
and 10 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. a young lawyer, went
to call upon Mary Bennett. whose
father before his invalldism had been
a professor In the college town from
which Gordon's family also came
Richard, waiting for Mary in the dim
parlor with It's 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 a white
flower brought out OF the sunshine
to cheer a sick.room.
He was absorbed in his thoughts
Of her when she entered, a 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 con.
test, so he did not even apologize
when. after n few moments converse.
ton, he showed her a list he had made
OF the women who. in his opinion, had
the best chance OF winning-a list
from which her name was omitted.
Il see that you have headed Il with
Bertha Klendenning. That is easy to
understand"
But my grounds are different from
most peoples" he said. with the ear.
nestness that he always brought to
any subject which interested him.
''Her blue 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. so to speak-that make
her what she is. graceful and WON
anly."
Il quite agree with you. Who is
next on the list?''
Katherine More--it's the curve OF
her upper lip" he added. conflden,
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 So"
And then come the ladies' who
have only TO put on a pink ribbon to
be called pretty. You see my scoFn
Of them places them last"
Poor things! Well. | think It will
be Bertha. You must tell me all about
It afterwards"
But, my dear. you're surely golng!"
he said, earnestly, knitting his boyish
brows.
Il cant unless father is better"
"oh, you must-lt will amuse you
30! I'll call for you to make sure!"
We'll! don't forbid your calling!"
she answered. with a smile.
She spent a troubled week. trying
TO come to terms with herself. In
her dark moments she had perversely
wished to make herself look as plain
as possible. taking kind OF pride in
being utterly out OF the running: but
with the first dawn OF gentler feeling
came the desire to look her best, and
to enter into the spirit OF the occasion
So when the time came she curled
her hair and arranged It with all the
art that she could command. She put
on a soft, white summer gown and q
picture hat with roses. She was
drawing on her long gloves when
Richard arrived. He seemed in the
II