San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-11-22


tand out homely!" she muir
INJURED after many an agon,
lied scrutiny of her image
when she became cruelty
aware of her large mouth,
her tan skin and straight drab
hair. Once an older woman noticed
her eyes; said they were magnificent.
Overhearing this, Judith found it hard
to breathe. 1t was the first time
anyone had seen a comeliness in her
face.
And how she worshiped beauty
fog drifting with forlorn rhythm over
hilltop; trees grown still against the
twilight sky. She could grow mute
with joy watching a sunset. She
would feel within her a yearning; n
sweet, aching want as if she must
reach out her arms and draw close to
her being the loneliness she saw.
Life-its mystery-the taunt of her
unknown future filled her with eager
longings. She pictured herself doing
brave, splendid deeds; pictured her
self sought after. adorcd--
But she had bump Of rugged com
mon sense. She came back TO reality
with a mocking, "yery likely, Judith
Moore! What would man--that
kind of a man--want with a hulk Of
II girl like you?"
She would want to cry asking this,
but her pride rushed up in flame.
She always managed to hold her head
very high whispering sruffly to her
storming imperious youth: Il don't
want love! / don't need it. never
think of men or marriage! can get
along alone!"
This grim sentence only sent her
back more DANGEROUSLY to her dreams.
Romance would come to her. all right
Some godlike man would see into her
heart, how gay it was, how noble. He
would be enthralled by this inner
beauty. They would recognize each
other instantly. He. would say,
Judith, I've searched the world over
for you'll" She would answer with a
glad, mighty tranquility, 1--WE wait
cd"
There were many versions of this
rapt scene-all of them piercingly ten
der. Sometimes Judith chose moon
Iit garden-whose, she didn't consid-
err; sometimes they would meet at
dance; again they would be standing
on a ship far out at sea. All girls,
especially plain ones, cherish wild
hopes like this.
But last night-why, last night
Douglas said to her, "Oh, Jude, you're
the darlingest thing on EARTH" She
repeated it softly; warm huskiness
filled her mouth.
1T meant nothing, of course. She and
L Douglas had known each other
years. She couldn't remember when
they first started taking long walks
since the. day he and
his mother. Emma Keith, had moved
into the flat next door. From the
very beginning he told her his hopes
md how he intended to make it up to
EN-" for the way she'd sacrificed
him.
He told her about the girls he liked.
There was that angel in his class at
college. Judith listened in n soft,
way. When the angel
passed, it was the little blonde typist
n the law offices where he got his
,irst job. Then it was the stately
Miss Kane. He was very glowing
lbout them all, talking to Judith as
though she were a hundred and fifty
Years old.
But last night he came over all n
buckle. He pulled the dishtowel from
Ter hands with a breezy "Gee, you're
he pokes in this shack. En- and /
finished hours ago. Get your hat
;ot something great to tell YOU
They walked up Fulton street
quickly because he was excited with
his amazing good luck. The news
,aper he'd worked on at college Of
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