Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 January 1918 — WOMAN PLEADED FOR CANDOR [ARTICLE]

WOMAN PLEADED FOR CANDOR

Matron Announcing Nearness’of Birthday Found Truth Not So Attractive After She Got It A woman with a birthday In sight spoke earnestly to three men who were her friends, writes Ella Randall Pearce, in life. ~~ “Tomorrow will be another birthday for me,” she said. “I know the freshness of my youth has departed, but I Should like to know just how ol<J I appear in the eyes of the world. *Tell me, my dear friends, if you were looking on me for the first time what would be your impressions?” Said the first man glibly: “I have known you fop several years, and you appear the same us when I first saw you. Your beauty is undimmed ; your charm is uiidiminished. If I did not know otherwise, I should say tomorrow" would be your twentieth birthday.” Said the second man more slowly: “I, too, have known you f-or several years, but it to n»e you have been favored by time. Your beauty has ripened and deepened until now you, who were once *a lovely bud, are a lovelier rose in bloom. I should count tomorrow as the. beginning of your twenty-lifth year.” “And you,” queried the woman Of the third man, who had been regarding her with clear-eyed frankness. * “Between friends there should always be truth," he replied gravely., “I acknowledge your beauty ant! your charm and both have been wonderfully preserved in semblance of youth. But you ask for candor and you shall haye it. Looking at you closely, I should not expect you to see thirtyafter tomorrow.” The woman faded the three men who were hes friends, and her eyes were gleaming while her cheeks’ pink turned crimson. She pointed an accusing finger. “You have lied,” she said tremulously, “and you also. But I will forgive you both because you lied to piease me. But you”—she whirled toward the last speaker —“you are a barbarous egotist. You have wounded me in order to maintain your own reputation for veracity. Truth, Indeed! Your honesty offends me. We are no longer friends. Go—and quickly!” “Whew!” exclaimed the third man as he strode through the outer darkness. “I wqnder what would have happened t° me If I had really told her the truth?”