The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-09-24

always delighted in setting the little
town OF Upwater by the ears. but no
one dreamed OF q post.mortem chuckle
from the old gentleman. II came in
the form Of a bequest in HIS will
$1,000 TO the prettiest woman In the
place. the judges 10 be chosen from
the elderly married men OF the com
munity
The hubbub was instantaneous. and
Of nature 10 warm the heart OF a
cynic. Mothers spoke jealousy OF the
charms OF their daughters The min
isters prepared sermons against the
sin OF vanity thus fagrantiy enccc@-
aged by the late Mr.. Sears. The best
people" signalized their intention OF
standing aloof from the contest But
at last a reaction set IN, started by
someone's saving sense OF humor. and
10 was almost unanimously decided
that the terms OF the viii must be
complied with. An appointed commit.
tee fixed upon a day I'm 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 impariiality OF the decision. The
AFFAIR was thus turned into lawn
party. and. the first families agreeing
60 be present the rest OF the town
followed suit.
A week before the day appointed
Richard Gordon. young lawyer went
60 call upon Mary Bennett. whose
father before his invalldism had been
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 selishness. rather than self
denial. seems to impart to human ex-
istence. She had always sacrificed
herself 10 the demands aud needs OF
others. until she was like white
flower brought out OF the sunshine
60 cheer a sickroom.
lie was absorbed IN his thoughts
OF her when she entered. welcome
glowing In her eyes Though she
was tail and straight and wholesome
10 look upon. no one had ever called
her pretty. Her chief asset was her
abundant dark hair Richard had
never thought % her being In, the con.
test. 10 he did not even apologize
when. after a few moments converse
ton. he showed her a list he had made
az the women who. In his opinion. had
the best chance Of winning list
from which her name was omitted
Il see that you have headed Il with
Bertha Klondenning. That Is easy TO
understand"
"nut my grounds are different from
most peoples" he said. with the ear
nos'ncss 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
Hnly."
Il quito agree with you Who is
next on the listg'
Katherine More-it's The curve of
her upper lip," he added. conhden-
TALLY.
And next."
Dora"
Because"
lie laughed.
1T has something TO do with the
tip of her nose"
Il quite understand Doras nose
viii keep her young when she's co."
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 thlngsl Well. think Il will
be- bertha. You must tell me all about
IL afterwards"
but. my dear. you're surely going,"
ne said. earnestly. knitting his boyish
brows.
Il can't unless father Is better"
"Oh. you nust--it will amuse you
40! I'll call for you 10 make sure,"
wen uou loIDiu your Cdiilnt.
she answered. with a smile.
She spent a troubled week. trying
60 come to terms with herself. In
her dark moments she had perversely
wished to make herself look as plain
ms 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
20 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 soft, " summer gown and a
picture hal it'll roses. She was
drawing on her long gloves when
Richard arrived. lie seemed in the
highest spirits.
Il was prepared to use force. II
found you backing out | have some
news 10 tell you about myseif-some-
thing that's made me very glad, and