Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-16
The Daily
Short Story
A BEAUTY MATCH.
BY James Brainard.


teeth under his black mustache form.
ed fine contrast. and he had clear
complexion. Sallie Morgan was As
purity for gal as Tom was for !
man. She too had a beautiful head
Of hair reachin' down when she stood
up to within foot of the floor
Well. they soon got engaged and
everybody said they'd make the hand.
soonest couple that had ever been
married in Jonesborough. But them
beauty marriages with nothin' else n
back 'em up are unsartin'. Tom had.
nothin' with which to support a wife
and Sallie wasn't a robust gal at all
so the weddin couldn't come off in 4
hurry. Tom was offered a position
away out west, and he and Sallie con-
cluded that he'd better accept II and
when he found he was dozen we'll be
could come for her and take her back
with him.
l reckon there was a sorrowful
parten, only they was buoyed I'D hy
the hope that after a year or two
they'd git together again. Tom let
a photograph of himself and took one
of Sallie. Toms was just like him.
but Sallie's not showing her red Inns
and tinge Of color in her cheeks
wasn't quite so pretty as the original,
Sallie set Toms picture up on her
bureau and every time she combed
her beautiful hair she divided her
glances between the hair and the
photograph.
Tom hadn't been away from Sallie
10 minutes before he began to write
to her. He started in while the train
was rolling out of the station. By
the time he reached the place he was
going to he had letter of 80 pages
written, and had mailed her postals
at all important stations. Sallie be-
gan written as soon as her eyes were
dry enough after cryen, to see the
paper she was written on. The first
few days after Toms departure she
only stopped written for meals.
Them letters kept going from one
to the other for years. Just when
they began to grow less-just when
they stopped, only Tom and SalNe
knew. Tom was unfortunate in ev.
erything he undertook. He got sick
year after he parted with Sallie,
and was in the hospital six months.
When he came out he had to begin
all over again. He never wrote Sal
lie that they'd better give each other
up; nor did Sallie write that to him.
Both hoped that some day Tom would
have a stroke of luck and their dream
of happiness would come true.
Well, l reckon it was about twenty
five years after these models of con-
stancy separated - neither married
anyone else-that one day an old
party bald as a coot, and what few
hairs was left on his. head white as
snow, stopped me on the street, and
said:
Aren't you Norman Dale?"
That's my name." answered, look
en- at him trying to remember him.
"Who may you be-?
"Why, Norman!" he said reachen
for my hand, don't you know me.
I'm your old chum, Tom Nicholson"
you don't mean it?'
Lord, how you've changed. |
wouldn't a. knowed you, If you hadn't
been pointed out to me. Have I
changed much%
This made me mad and l remarked
sarcastically:
Not bit. You're the same hand
some Teller you was when you LEFT
here % years ago.
Il want to know" he said, looking
me in the eye to find out whether or
! no 1 was flattering him.
"On the whole" l added, II think
you've improved"
This satisfied him and hs went on
asking me about different persons he
had left in the town, most Of whom
were dead. Finally he asked about
Sallie Morgan. He had swallowed
what l had said about his own ap-
pearance, so l wondered If he would
gulp down what I'd say about Sallie.
l said that she was more mature,
but l didn't think she had lost any
of her beauty. He told me that luck
had come to him at last and he had
come home to find Sallie, and take
|
We talked long while about Old
times and then / told Tom there was
to be a lecture that evening; we was
all going, and he'd better go along.
He said he was going to see his OLD
sweetheart / told him she would De
at the lecture, and he consented 70
go with me.
Tom came to my house for supper.
and a little later We all went to me
lecture. Sallie Morgan sat three seats
in front of us. Tom looked about ior
her and not seeing the girl he ieil
behind him asked me if she was u
the house. l pointed her out to NM
She had grown very fleshy. weighing
200 pounds and her hair was nan
white; besides being very thin, for shs
had lost most OF it after having
fever. / saw Tom shudder. Wnen
the lecture was over and We wefe
leaving the hall, ! saw my VIE -,
something to Sallie who at once
glanced at Tom. l saw Sallie shak y
her head and she got out OF the nS,i
as quick as she could. Tom had ~.
ready made his escape. The neA'
morning he returned TO the wesa.
Tom was more changed than Saiiie.
He BELONGED to a family who gre
old in appearance while still compais'
lively young.
hoe o,rep Scott county officials consid-