Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1911-10-13
Her Beauty
BY LUCY K. WYNKOOP
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

all being intent in admiring the curves
of her figure and the exquisite cast O
her face. From childhood. though he
parents endeavored to keep a knowl
edge of her gift from her, she coult
not but know it. Persons are les.
careful of making child vain thar
a woman.
Leonore did not grow to be vail
woman. But since the only gift Of
which she was made aware was hei
beauty, she came to prize 1t. Seeing
others about her courted for this OIL
that possession, she came to regard
her own blessing as 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 aspi-
rations with regard to her. He con.
sidered himself as set aside by fate
from possessing her; not an adverse
fate. simply fate. At an early age he
found himself at the head Of 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 1t was. he was but bookkeeper.
When Leonore was thirty she fell ILL.,
During her illness it 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 conyalescence 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 IL he. too, would
do So. She had known him since child.
hood. She knew his situation, but his
views concerning it were not hers. She
felt that he was making a sacrifice-a
sacrifice that she could not make. In
deed. during the time her beauty had
remained to her she had considered II
very poor equivalent for his uncom-
planning acceptance of a 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 an
preached her heart almost STONED
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 "a
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 a barrier
between them. While she had been I'll
his mother had died. and the older
children had become independent
While he sympathized with Leopore at
the loss Of her beauty, the fact rushed
upon him that the only INEQUALITY ba.
tween them had vanished. And vet
that loss she priced so dearly endesred
her the more to him.
Leonore was right in surprising tba,
The especial prominence she enioved
would die with her beauty. One does
1ot give up such prominence without
pang! But Leonore was pleased To
notice that a few who mad been near.
EST and dearest to her were In no wise
hanged with regard to her. PeopIe
passed her on the street without look.
ng at her. At social functions tho
Toung men were no longer brought nm
n throngs to be presented to her. She
lid not go to balls. for she knew that
Ter card instead of being full to over.
lowing would be a blank.
But one thing she had gained. The
,ookkeeper-he was not now an ac.
but the manager of the bus,.
less where he had been an UNDERLINE
vas devoted to her The feeling that
lie lived for her went far beyond com.
for the loss of that admira.
Ion she had received from strangers
happiness stole into her heart more
'recious than the admiration Of the
hrong.
And now Leonore. a middle aged NO
nan. with children. has forgotten WIN,
he ever so much priced. and wonders
vhy she priced It. The admiration n
'rought her was as short lived as that
Which had caused It Her husband
nd her children are all In all TO her
ne does not even know that with the