Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1875-05-07
INDEPENDENCE IOWA, FRIDAY, MAY 7, 1875

But she sat herself in front of the
mirror silently, the white cloth was
thrown round her shoulders, the
glittering braids let down, and then
fortune favored her.
Mr.. Combe started with unfeigncd
admiration as he unplaited braid after
braid, and shook out the silky hair,
and said:
"Excusc me, Miss, but what head
Of hair, to be sure! 1t would be a
fortune to me just now. happen to
have to fit up a lady with an entire
head-dress OF just this particular
shade. I have sent far and wide to
match it in vain. See, MISS" laying
thin strip of golden hair against
Madge's luxuriant tresses, ''it takes
the tint to 7. You don't happen to
be wanting to part with any of it l
reckon? l could afford "a for the
half of it and welcome" The good
man had spoken, of course, in jest,
chatting on as he brushed out the
glittering mass admiringly; SO that
he was considerably taken aback
when Madge answered, demurely:
"How fortunate l should have
come to-day! Yes! I will sell it
gladly, if you will give me fs for the
whole. could not part with it by
halves you know"
Any pathetic feelings Madge might
have had about the matter were dis
sipated by merry laugh, as she
caught i'll the mirror the expression
of Mr.. Combe's face, as he stood be-
hind her, the brush suspended in his
uplifted hand.
"Mercy me! Miss, l thought you
were in earnest. you looked SO grave
like,' and the brush descended on the
head again at the sound of the merry
laugh.
$50 I am, Mr., Combe, quite in ear
nest; | want fs for 4 particular pur-
pose, and can do without my hair
till it grows again. Come, cut it off
quite close; it's best to get a thing
done when you've made up your
mind"
'Excusc me, Miss, l darcn't do it,
such lovely hair as it is. Your folks
would be downright a>age with me
if l were to let myself be tempted"
"Oh, no, they wouldn't" laughed
the lady. "They can trust me to do
what l will with my own. If you
won't cut it off for me, l must do it
myself" seizing on an idle pair of
scissors.
"Oh! please, Miss, no; don't chop
it off, anyhow! If it is to be done,
let me manage it skillfully for you,
SO as to show as little as possible
Unfortunately it is too soft and silky
for crop. | am afraid you won't
like the looks of it, Miss
81 don't expect to-" said resolute
Madge. 81 know just what you
mean; it will be just a head Of stub
BILE. Never mind, time will mend
matters. Now, make haste, please" "
And Madge shut fast the merry
blue eyes that she might not watch
the process in the mirror. The deed
was quickly done, and she was arous-
ed by Mr.. Combe's saying:
"There, Miss! I'm sure beg your
pardon. 1t does seem sin and
a shame. But if a ElO note would
be any comfort, Pm sure it's worth it
we'll" And he stroked the beautiful
long trcsses admiringly.
90! thank you," said Madge CRATE
fully, turning away from the mirror,
where she had caught glimpse of a
smooth, round, golden head and
childish face, with momentary
shock.
The half hour was just up, and,
slowing away carefully the flO note
in an old leather purse, and muffiing
the little head in thick veil she had
wisely brought for the purpose, she
FASTENED to join her brother.
Kit, preoccupied with his own
troubles, did not notice at first any
alteration in her appearance, and they
walked briskly homeward, he lament
ing over the loss of some of lis fav-
orite books, which the bookseller
was to take off his hands to the
amount of flO.
"And Pm sure they cost me at
least double that" sighed the youth.
eff there is one thing more intolera-
BILE than another in this weary world
it's poverty and no mistake"
"Now don't grumble, Kit" said
Madge, cheerily. 81 don't think it's
half so bad to be poor. 1t must be very
hard not to be selfish when you can
always have Just what you want.
have often thought what help it
was not to be rich"
''But then, Madge, on know you
are not like other people. You al
ways wee an oddity, though Of the
right sort. But what pace you are
going at! Are you cold?"
81 should think I was! the wind
Stems to blow right into my skull" "
"And you've got thick veil on,
too; say, Madge, what have you
done to your head?"
"I've been to the hair-dresser's, of
course. Wait till you see it before
you criticise the result. call it first
rate"
And so they chattcd on till the old
vicarage was gained, where Madge
srcpt up to her room the back way,
her head aching so, poor girl, from
it's unusual exposure to the cutting
east wind, that she could only lay it
on her pillow and cry.
Presently the dinner-bell rang, and
Madge started up, realizing for the
first time the ordeal she had to go
through, and in her present aching
state, dreaded it extremely. The
pain was sufficient excuse for lit
tie delay. So, locking her door, she
sent down a message that her head
ached badly, and that she had rather
rest than cat, and then covering her.
self up on the bed, she fell into a
sound slumber.
Twilight was creeping on when
she awoke, much refreshed, but cold
and hungry. She smoothed down
the short ends of gold, that had got
stivered out into sort of halo dur
in1r bar cInnn an1 1ascanIad fO tho