The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-02-17

OF nodels, peach and cream angels,
masculine dreams. Why did she not
marry one of them? You naturally ask
the question. The really handsome WON
an rarely does. Strange, isn't It?
When she was belle and all the "beau-
tiful beaux' in town were buzzing about
her like bees around honey-jug the
homely man stood afar beating his aching
heart in dsmay.
He felt that it was more than folly to
intrude upon such sacred territory where
the gods of polished personal charm
seemed to have the right of way
When he did essay to approach just but
to touch the hem of her garment it was
with awkward bushes and many a Stun
BILE with unwiel0y feet and more unwieldy
tongue. He was bitterly conscious of his
terrible handicap. His ugliness was pain
hope for release.
He became desperate. He would bury
himself. He would fly to the uttermost
parts of the earth and hide his passion
in hard work. II he could not be the hus-
band of the only woman in the world, the
most beautiful woman in the world he
Wodiu seek TcCOlIlpeHbe III luc
Of doing something great. He would
make name for himself
Ugly men had been famous Had been
president. great warriors, great artists.
successful business men, inventors of
marvellous devices that have revolution
lied the world.
He went away to college and tried to
forget the brown hair and soulful eyes.
When he got out Of college he went still
70 rtl, tn, L.
busy world. He tried to bury himself in
hard work. He built railroads, opened
gold mines. organized steamship COM
panies, built telegraph lines or wrote
wonderful books on scientific research.
He added chain muscles to his already
ungafnly arms, tanned his uncomely face
and strained blood veins into the whites
of his eyes.
He acquired a swing to his pait that
accentuated the rumble Of his big feet on
the pavement. He was uglier than ever
he had appeared in those days when
he tried to massage his features into
some sort of shape and plaster down
the cow-licks in his hair. But what did
he care. He had long ago lost the
most beautiful woman In the world. No
other beautiful woman would have him
even though he desired her.
But he returned home one day.
He had made a mark for himself in
the world and he wanted a season of rest.
He could rest better in no corner Of the
world than. In the old home, under the
shade of the familiar porches and on
the old familiar streets.
He was met with open arms The home
folk were glad to see him. His fame had
reached the ears of the townspeople They
had rnarveled at his success They had
| never been able to see anything in hin,
In the old days when he was the
"gawk'' of the community. There could
be no brains In such "cocoanut" as
his. Brains could not subsist on red
hair and freckles. But he had made
good and the home folk wanted to see
| him.
| The beautiful woman" was the social
central figure at the public reception
given in his honor. Yes, he was actually
made the recipient of the swell social at
| tentions Of the town.
To his great surprise the beautiful WON.
an was still single. She had not married
one of tho fsce-cream favorites." as he
believed she would do within a year after
| his departure. not that his departure had
anything to DO with It, but that was thu
natural thing to expect.
Che smiled graciously on him and hi