The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-05-15
BEAUTIFYING BARBARA
By JANE OSBORN.
1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)


about this beauty specialist the
city editor had told Barbara Mills a
few weeks after she went to work on
her first morning paper. This Mad
anne Rosa has some of the most
prominent society women in town as
her clients. If you can find out that
some one of the big leaders in society
has enamel on her face-that is real
news.
Barbara started out up the busy
thoroughfare, and. as she slipped
along through the crowd, quietly
dressed in her inconspicuous street
frock, no one stopped to notice her.
Perhaps that was why when she
passed Ned Stanton he did not see
her; she was swallowed up in that
crowd of fashionably dressed women.
Surely had Ned known that Barbara
was near he would have forgotten
the others for, to Ned, Barbara was
the ideal of feminine loneliness. Her
occurrences, her pallor even, signi-
fled all that was sweet and lovely in
women. Every time he saw he- as he
passed through the editorial rooms OF
the paper, met her by chance as she
passed In the hall, he felt the task OF
hiding his love from her growing
more difficult
Barbara saw Ned. She even paused
q moment with a longing. not admit
ted even to herself, that he would see
her, that he would pause and per-
haps turn and walk with her as far
as Madame Rosa's. But that was all.
What can we do for madame"
came the silvery tones of the young
French woman at the door of Madame
Rosa's, and Barbara had hesitated
for a second She was listening keen
ly to a conversation over partition.
"Will you have the usual treat
ment?" someone was asking in tones
of great Difference. A naughty voice
had answered.: Put little more col
or in the enamel, please. ] am wear
ing green this evening and that re-
quires a great deal OF color. And the
lights are so trying at Mrs. Wander
hayden's."
Barbara recognized the name OF one
of the most exclusive hostesses OF
the season. hostess of the younger
smart set, just the set that the city
editor would be interested in.
do they just do enameling in those
booths?" Barbara asked.
Just facial treatment" said the
manicurist. In another minute Bar
bara had placed herself in the hands
of a specialist in facial beauty. But
the girl did not notice her face In the
/ mirror before her. She paid strict at
tention to every move Of the attend
ant She was interested in the treat
ment. 1t would be good data for the
story. And she listened to the con-
versation across the partition. She
heard the name of the woman. She
was prominent, a recent Divorce. just
the sort of name that would make the
city editor rejoice.
Meantime the beauty specialist
worked with enthusiasm. Just a
touch Of purple under the eyes?" she
asked, and Barbara being all earc to
the conversation in the next room,
nodded her approval.
81 am using this new peachblow for
the cheeks" said, the attendant. 1T
costs a trifle more, but you don't OBJ
ject?"
Once out on the street Barbara was
hurrying with all impotence back to
the office where she might write the
story that she had gathered and turn
it into the city editor.
Suddenly she was stopped by a
hand laid on her arm. 1t was Ned
Stanton.
"Barbara-Miss Mills!" he said, and
there was reproof in every accent
~For heavens sake" and then
paused.
Barbara spoke q word Of greeting
and then for the first time she was
conscious of the fact that she was
being noticed; that now. in the semi
darkness on the busy thoroughfare
she had been attracting the glances
of the men and women as they hur
ried past.
81 am going down to the Office
Ned told her. "and l may as well e
with you"
AS they walked and talked Barbara
for the time being forgot the excite
ment of her successful assignment
All she felt was the Joy of being will
Ned. When the ONCE building ap
peared in sight Ned grasped her arm
In the semi-darkness.
For heavens sake, Barbara, wha
has happened? When did you chang
like this. and why did you do It
You were everything to me-just al
you we're. loved you because 20,
were different from the restroom tn,
average city woman with her powdel
and paint and her lip sticks. And nov
Barbara, no one could be deceived
There Is enough powder to free Ire
land and enough paint to paint bat
tleship. loved you as you were
Barbara, tell me what has happened
Barbara gave little cry Of SUI
prise and put her two gloved hand
up to hide her face. 81 didn't realiz,
1t was my face" she said pitifully
IL was so interested. All / though
was about the story-until met you
and then forgot everything"