Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1911-09-06
Her Beauty
By LUCY K. WYNKOOP
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1871.

all being intent in admiring the curves
OF her figure and the exquisite cast of
her face. From childhood, though her
parents endenvored to keep a knOwl-
edge Of her gift from her. she could
not but know 1t. Persons are less
careful of making a child vain than
q woman.
Leonore did not grow to be n 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 as the only means Of
keeping her in her eminent position
SO long as her beauty lasted so long
would she he admired. When her
beauty was gone she must sink 20 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 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 1t was, he was but n bool1keeper.
When Leonore was thirty she fell H.
During her illness ii became necessary
that she should submit to a serious
| operation. For weeks after II had
been performed she lowered between
life and death. For mouths after she
passed out Of danger she was obliged
to be wheeled about in her chair.
During her convalescence she would
not look into n 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 1t. She
called for u mirror.
Great heavensl 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 it were not hers. She
felt that he was making 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 duty. And
now that she was below the average
in personal appearance his advantage
over her seemed to have become q
mountain between them. AS he ap-
preached her heart almost stopped
beating.
He not only recognized her. but if hc
experienced any shock at her changed
appearance he did not show II. He
had not loved her for her beauty. and
its loss did not therefore affect him rs
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
| hot. Oh l. \
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 endeared
her the more to him.
Lconore was right in supposing that
the especial prominence she enjoyed
would die with her beauty One does
not give up snch prominence without
a pangl But Leonore was pleased &c
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 III
In throngs to be presented to her. She
did not go to balls. for she knew thai
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 &c
countant. but the manager of the bust
: ness where he had been an underling-
was devoted to her. The feeling thai
he lived for her went far beyond com
pensation for the loss of that admira
| Oh. tol