Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-11-13
GOLDEN HAIR,
"You are better tonight, Harry ?"
aAro ha,far Nfiss ArioIs

mo better, Miss Arial,'
Ariel King bent thoughtfully over the lo
pallet bid, with her slight finger on the sit
mans restless pulse. and her long amber cur
almost touching the coEerlet that stirred wi
while the frosty 0ctober's sunset, drawn
lines of moving gold athwart the rough pla
ter of the walls, fingered lovingly around Il
soft shining hair and violet eyes, trans6gurin
her almost TO a saints beauty.
"He seems weak and IaDguid," she said sof
Ily. "Wine and cordials. and fresh fruits al
what he needs. Marian"
fAud that's Just what the Doctor told me,
said dark, clustering little woman, who wa
coDcOctiDg some mixture over the sickly FIRE
'But bless you, Miss Arial, how are we poo
folks to get wine and fruits {? No. no; h
must Just get we'll on arrow root and cruel
they don't cost much"
She tried TO speak smilingly, this poor Ma
rian Becker, but there were tears i0 her darl
eyes as she pushed the wet hair back from hel
| husbands hollow temples.
at isn't altogether that Miss Arial,'' sale
Harry uneasiy. Il think should get stronger
if it wasn't for fretting about the rent. Old
Keene is bard laRilOrd-one that wOuldn'l
hesitate to turn a man into the street if be
were dying. ] don't so much mind it for my
self-I shall soon be beyond all troubIe-bul
Marian" sfi
He stopped abruptly. AriaI lifted her grave
shocked eyes--this was new revelation OF
want and woe.
"Do you mean to tell me that you have no
money left ?"
None, Miss Arial." ~
She bent her head on her hands with sort
Of passionate shudder. .F.s.
"And this is Ihe way our country rewards
the soldiers who for her sake have dared the
peri!s of deadly 6atile-ieds and fever-breath-
ing swamps! She gives them AN honorable
diseharge'-a discharge 10 creep away into
some boIe or corner, and die as soon as posi-
ble She promises bounty at the end of this
war-as well say at the end of the world Is
this right ? 81. Is it Justice --esl
NAY, Miss Arial, said the young soldier,
sit is partly my own fault; if had chosen TO
remain in hospital, sbe0Id have incurred no
expenses. Only fancied that Marian could
nurse me better, and-". g
And so you committed The objectionable
sin Of preferring home to hospital barrack,
and this great and good country washes her
hands Of you accordingly. o, Harry, if had
but one tithe of my uncle's wealth."
Miss Arial," said The young man earnestly,
don't feel so grieved about it. 1 know you
are hurt at your uncle's refusal to help me;
but you must re member that he disapproved
OF my enlistment from the very frst-stiil
more of the idle fancy as be termed it, of my
coming home. But 0, Miss Arial, if he could
have known the bitterness of the home-.ick
paDgs that come when you are in strange
place! He said in that note that the mere
fact of my once having been clerk in bis en-
plOy gave me no claim on him. And he was
right, Miss Arial, only"
He turned his face to the pillow. with low
choking sob. Arial watched him, with
strange troubled light in her eyes, to see hu-
man creature drifting slowly out of the world,
and have no power o help or rescue him.
GLOW much is the rent p she asked, after
brief silence
Twenty dollars, Miss Arial; it. is for three
nonths''
twenty dollars and she had but ten in her
title purse For AriaI King a portionless
orphan, had literally nothing of her own; the
Tery watch at her girdle. The spot of opal fire
hat fastened her collar, were her uncle's. And
10 him she well knew how vain wonld be any
application. She sighed deeply as she rose up
10 go, and once more came the eager wish, !
he pass onate longing that she was rich +!
The gas lamps were beginning to quiver !
ike lines Of fire down the long tumultuous |
streets as she set out on her hOmeward way
And with instructive timidiIy she drew down !
ler veil and folded her simple scarlet shawl |
closer around her shoulders, quiekening her |
teps as she did so.
Cant cross there, young woman wait till |
hem carts and carriages has got by ~ /
Arial started in alright, as the good-humor-
d old policeman drew her back, and then
miled at her own timidity But, as she stood |
waiting on the corner. for something like a /
,reak in the apparently endless string of carts
md omnibuses, her eye fell on a brilliantly !
ighted window close at her side, and she me-
hanically read, emblazoned on the glass,
"H1GHEsr PRICE PAID FOR HUMAx HAIR"
She looked down upon he long auburn curIs |
hat lay upon her shoulders, with strange
udden thrill Of j'g. For the moment she was
had something she might call her
'wn, to keep or sell as she pleased. Harry
3ecker's needs might be partially succored
'et.
Without pausipg for reflection, she laid her
land on the latch, and entered The perfumed /
sAlm of Mascassar and false curls. A daz- /
ling little French woman advanced behind
he counter.
'In what way may we have the happiness of
erving you, madame =
Il wish to sell my hair" murmured Arial,
Ter cheeks all afame, as if she had been doing
guilty thing.
''Ah, certainly, said the little woman in a /
one one or two degrees conciliatory. "Wil
madame please TO lay aside her bonnet ?"
With trembling fingers Arial united the
trings and removed the straw bonnet; like
;ataract of shining rippled gold, the long
oft curls fell around her shoulders.
"Ciet" calculated the little woman softly, |
With appraised eyebrows and clasped hands,
The hair is fine, variamsnt, it must be near
hree feet long. For what price do you wish
@ part withit, madame ?''
II must have ten dollars said Arial, taking |
courage at the others evident admiration.
Ten dollars THAT is too large sum"
"l'hen must try elsewhere" said Arial,
aking up her bonnet.
"Wait-sray !" said the woman meditaiiye-
Y. 1T is long and thick, moreover it is OF
good color. 1'iease walk INTO the other room
nadame. Fanrheete shall cut it off in hall
second"
Poor Arial, as she sat flushed and hall
in the little gas-lighted den at the
'4ck OF the shop, with ''Faneheeles" gleam-
ng scissors flashing through her curls, she