The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-09-01
Her Beauty
By LUCY K. wYNKooP
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.
By LUCY K. wYr

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 endeavored to keep knowi-
edge Of her gift from her, she could
not but know It. Persons are less
careful of making a 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 1t. Seeing
others about her courted for this or.
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 tbs.
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 bis 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 be was doing what. It.
was natural for him to do. Had he
been granted time enough before as
suming these responsibilities perhapa
he might have placed himself In po-
sition from which he could advance.
AS it was, he was but bookkeeper.
When Leonore was thirty she fell m.
During her illness 1t became necessary
that she should submit to q serious,
operation. For weeks after 1t 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. woul6
do so. She had known him since child
hood. She knew his situation, but hts
views concerning it were not hers. She.
| felt that he was making a sacrif1ce-a,
sacrifice that she could not make. In
deed. during the time her beauty had
remained to her she had considered IL
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 a
mountain between them. AS he ap-.
preached her heart almost stopped
beating.
He not only recognized her, but IL he
experienced any shock at her changed
l oh Ia.
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 q barrier
between them While she had been III
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 yet
that loss she priced so dearly endeered
her the more to him.
Leonore was right in supposing that
the especial prominence she enjoyed
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 up
in throngs to be presented to her. She
did not go to balls, for she knew that
her card instead of being full to over
flowing would be blank. -"
But one thing she had gained. The.
bookkeeper--he 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
he lived for her went far beyond COM
pensation for the loss of that admira-
hon she had received from strangers
A happiness stole into her heart more