The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-07-25
THE HOMELY MAN
by VINCENT q. PERRY.
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per syndicate)

would not marry him and the kind of
girl that would marry him he wouldn't
have. so there you are" Donald Mac
beth could not help overhearing these
words as he sat In a quiet corner Of
The clubroom, unnoticed. A feeling OF
resentment rose In his heart for the
men were discussing him. He took a
more careful look Mt them. They were
the two he had thought, Ian vInlng
and Lorne Miller. two clubmen with
whom he was fnlriy intimate.
'But wiryf" questioned vinIng. "He's
clever and moderately well Off. He's
considered one Of the painters of the
day."
"Yes; but did you ever see home
Her man? That scar on his face makes
him positively hldeous," MINER de-
clared.
Beauty Is only skin deep" argued
Vining, who wasn't handsome himself.
$50 II Is, but disifgurements cannot
be overlooked. There is generally
something pleasant In a homely mans
face to detrnct from bad features"
II am sure his eyes are kind and
sympathetic. Have you ever seen a
picture OF him before he had that
SCARF
"No; l thought he was born that
way" Miller said with n show of In
terest.
Vining led him TO a group picture on
the wall. "rhere he Is. there" he
pointed out. Cant you recognize the
eyes? He was handsome then"
"Yes," Miller agreed, che was.
can hardly credit that II Is the same
man. But even that Is no argument.
He is as homely as sin now and is the
emily man know of in the club who is
doomed 10 bachelorhood. Imagine a
pretty woman married to a man ike
that"
"He might find 1t hard to get wife,
at that" vlning said after a moments
thought. Lets leave that to him,
though. How about the theater to-
nlghtf Marguerite Morton is playing
her farewell before going into the
movies. She's a dreaml VIII you
comeT
Miller needed no second Invitation.
After they had gone Donald Macbeth
got up and went TO the group on the
wall. II was a long time since he had
looked on the smiling handsome face
that had once been his he wished he
had not looked at II. What was the
usef II only made 1t harder to bear.
The light behind him reflected his fea-
lures on the glass and he turned away
with a shudder. No, he had no right
to ask any woman to marry such
homeiy man as he was. He would
give Marguerite a chance to break her
engagement that very night-the night
she was leaving the old life behind
and was going into something new.
In few months she would be as pop
ular. universally, as she was In the
city.
He arrived at the theater Just after
the curtain had gone up. From the
moment Marguerite fitted onto the
stage he was entranced. How ador-
able she was.
In another part OF the house Vim
ing and Miller were watching the play
and were almost as enthusiastic over
Il as Donald. Miller had not been a
follower Of Marguerite's. but this play
appealed to him.
After the play was over he persuad-
ed vining to accompany him behind
the scenes.
I'm going TO meet that little lady
and take her 10 little supper, II II
costs me a million in tips" he said.
But even generous tipping couldn't
get him any farther than behind the
scenes.
"Miss Morton doesn't receive WISH
tors" the man at the door told him.
but will take your card to her."
Miller hoped she would connect his
name with his fathers millions. II had
always proved enough Introduction TO
the other actresses that he had hon
Ored with visit. What would his
father say II he married an actressf
He would not object TO one like Mar
guerite Morton. Wouldn't they make
a handsome coupler He twisted his
mustache before a mirror on the wall.
He was handsome. there was no deny
Ing II. He had reason TO be conceited.
he felt. vining watched him with just
a trace Of a smile playing about his
lips. "Some day. Mr.. Man. you'll get
a shock to your vanity" he said to
himself, "and I'd like to be around
when you get It."
The man returned with the card.
miss Morton can't see you, sG," he
said politely.
"AIiss Morton considers herself too
Important" Miller flashed. "She's
only an actress after ALL"
"You'd better not say anything agin
Miss Morton here. SIR" the man eau
toned. "She's mighty popular With us
all. There's young man in there
now who fought a lion TO -, her
life. and he won out too. She's going
to marry him tonight. sir. She just
Informed me. He's fine young man
and she's a fine girl-the finest In the
land. and I wouldn't mind hghtln' a
lion for a girl like her myself. though
| Amt got much beauty TO get spollt."
The men were still talking when
door opened and she