Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-12-15
Her Beauty
By LUCY K WYNkOOP
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Leonore was marvelously beautiful.
When she passed along the street per-
sons would turn to look after her. AT
social gatherings the hum Of chat
among those about her would cease,
all being intent In admiring the curves
of her figure and the exquisite cast of
her face. From childhood, though her
parents endeayored to keep knowl-
edge of her gift from her. she could
not but know 1t. Persons are less
careful Of making child vain than
a woman.
Leonore did not grow to be a vain
woman. But since the only gift of
which she was made aware was her
beauty, she came to prize it. Seeing
others about her courted for this or
that possession. she came to regard
her own blessing rs the only means of
keeping her in her eminent position.
SO long as her beauty lasted so long
would she be admired. When her
beauty was gone she must sink to the
level of ordinary persons.
But one real lover wOrshiped Leo
more, and unfortunately for him he
could find no corresponding gift to
hers in himself to warrant his aspl-
rations with regard to her. He con-
sidered himself as set aside by fate
| from possessing her; not I'm adverse
| fate, simply fate. At an early age he
found himself at the head of a fami-
| ly-his fathers family. His father
had died, and the boy took up the
mans work. He did not regret doing
so, nor was he proud to do so. He
considered that he was doing what it
was natural for him to do. Had he
been granted time enough before as
Stunning these responsibilities perhaps
he might have placed himself in a po-
sition from which he could advance.
AS it was, he was but bookkeeper.
When Ieonore was thirty she fell Ill.
During her illness 1t became necessary
that she should submit to a serious
operation. For weeks after it had
been performed she lowered between
life and death. For months after she
passed out of danger she was obliged
to be wheeled about in her chair.
During her convalescence she would
not look into a mirror. Her nurse
dressed her hair long after she was
able to do so herself. because Leonore
could not bear to see her altered ap-
pearance. But one day she made up
her mind that If her beauty had de-
parted she must submit to the loss.
Ignoring it would not restore it. She
called for mirror.
Great heavens! Were those pale
features hers? Was she looking out of
those dull eyes? Did that mixture
of gray and black hair grow on her
head? She dropped the mirror on her
lap and covered her face with her
hands.
One day when she had so far i'm
proved in health as to walk out she
met the bookkeeper. SO many persons
had passed her without recognizing her
that she wondered If he. too, would
do So She had known him since child
hood. She knew his situation, but his
views concerning 1t were not hers. She
felt that he was making Il sacrifice-a
sacrifice that she could not make, In
deed, during the time her beauty had
remained to her she had considered it
a very poor equivalent for his uncom-
planning acceptance of duty. And
now that she was below the average
in personal appearance his advantage
over her seemed to have become
mountain between them. AS he ap-
preached her heart almost stopped
beating.
He not only recognized her, but If he
experienced any shock at her changed
appearance he did not show it. He
had not loved her for her beauty. and
its loss did not therefore affect him as
much as was to have been expected.
Indeed, his mind was moving in an
other channel. He had always felt
that Leonore's beauty was n barrier
between them. While she had been i'll
his mother had died, and the older
children had become independent
While he sympathized with Leonore at
the loss of her beauty, the fact rushed
upon him that the only inequality be-
tween them had vanished. And vet
that loss she priced so dearly endeared
her the more to him.
Leonore was right in supposing that
the especial prominence she enioyed
would die with her beauty. One does
not give up such prominence without
a pang! But Leonore was pleased to
notice that few who had been near
est and dearest to her were in no wise
changed with regard to her People
passed her on the street without look.
ing at her. At social functions the
young men were no longer brought nm
IN throngs to be presented to her. She
dld not go to balls. for she knew that
her card instead of being full to over
uoWlng would be blank.
But one thing she had gained. The
was not now an ac
countant. but the manager of the busi- |
ness where he had been an underling-
was devoted to her. The feeling that
ne lived for her went far beyond com
pensalon for the loss Of that admira
non she had received from strangers.
A happiness stole into her heart more
precious than the admiration of the
throng.
And now Leonore, a middle aged w.