Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1911-10-11
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 endeavOred to keep a knOwl-
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 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 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 be
been granted time enough before as
Stunning these responsibilities perhaps
he might have placed himself in pO-
sition from which be could advance.
AS it 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 convalescence she would
not look into a mirror. Her nurse
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
o called for a mirror.
. Great heavens! We're those pale
features hers? Was she locking out Of
: those dull eyes? Did that mixture
0 Of gray and black hair grow on her
. head? She dropped the mirror on her
lap and covered her face with her
il hands.
IS One day when she had so far i'm
70, proved in health as to walk out she
L. met the bookkeeper. So many persons
is had passed her without recognizing bel
j. that she wondered if he. too, would
e do so. She had known him since child
t. hood She knew his situation. but hi:
is views concerning it were not hers. Sh'
is felt that he was making sacrifice;
le sacrifice that she could not make. In
IS, deed. during the time her beauty hat
b remained to her she had considered
il a very poor equivalent for his uncom
he planning acceptance Of duty. An
u now that she was below the averag
DO in personal appearance his advantag
KS over her seemed to have become
he mountain between them. AS he al
Of preached her heart almost stoppe
a beating.
AT He not only recognized her, but if
IS experienced any shock at her change
to appearance he did not show it. II
ed had not loved her for her beauty, an
Ice it's loss did not therefore affect him &
&c much as was to have been eXpecte
hit Indeed his mind was moving in al
lot other channel He had always re
me- that Leonore's beauty was barrie
to between them. While she had been
his his mother had died. and the old
lat children had become independen
WI While he sympathized with Leonore
or the loss of her beauty, the fact rusht
upon him that the only inequality b
sed tween them had vanished. And y
of that loss she priced so dearly endeart
he her the more to him.
as Leonore was right in supposing tn
9TH the especial prominence she enjoy
UI- WOuIu uIe Will uSI USduly. OhS w
ar not give up such prominence witho
IN a pang! But Leonore was pleased
md notice that a few who had been nea
/ | est and dearest to her were in no wi
off. changed with regard to her Poop
tbs passed her on the street without loo
ow ing at her. At social functions t
Try young men were no longer brought I
in throngs to be presented to her. 81
no did not go to balls, for she knew tn
lief her card instead of being full to owe
go flowing would be blank
But one thing she had gained. T.
on. bookkeeper-he was not now an a
as countant. but the manager of the bu:
nks ness where he had been an underling
tor was devoted to her. The feeling th
he lived for her went far beyond col
ned pensation for the loss of that admir-