The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-09-19
HIS REASON WHY.
BY JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.

BY JAMES FRA NKLIS Fits
One of the historians of the great
emperor tells US that at st. Helena he
always shaved himself, saying that he
had always done SO, as he could never
endure the hands Of another man pass
ing over his face. There is consider
able distance between the personal
fame of the First Napoleon and that of
humble Joshua limbs, bookseller and
stationer, and ! don't want to be told
that the pubic have no particular in-
terest in my habits or ways. | merely
state as a fact that ], like the great
Corsican, always shave myself, and
have done so for eleven years past, or
ever since | was married-before which
time used to DatroniZe the barber.
Now, my reasons for tins change
ought TO be good ones, since shaving
has always been labourious and disa-
greeable operation to me, and / have
not yet learned to do it to my own sat
isfaction. There is something of q
story at the bottom of this, which beg
leave to tell; and then / think | should
stand justified Ill the eyes of all bar
bers.
Eleven years ago the fifth day Of last
May-that was my weddingday-at
two o'clock that afternoon, Miss Susan
Joiner became Mrs. Joshua limbs,
which | have never since regretted,
and hope and believe she has not. l
vas busy all the day before in getting
my affairs well arranged Tor the little
trip of a week that we had planned
and on the morning of the egentful
day | found odds and ends enough to
occupy me till eleven O'Clock. Then l
dressed myself very carefully, and,
looking ut my watch, found that it was
a quarter Of twelve. Almost two hours
yet before | should start for the house;
and in the meantime l was troubled Cy
the notion that l had neglected or for
gotten something. What could 1t be!
had packed and strapped my trunk,
and sent it to the station. L surveyed
myself i'll the glass, and thought l was
dressed about as Il bridegroom should
be. had my pocketbook safe i'll my
trousers pocket, and my handkerchief
and white kids in my coat-skIrt ditto.
Now what had | forgotten? III my
perplexity | passed my hand over my
face to rub up my ideas; and there L
found il. My cheeks and chin were all
stubble; | lad not been shaved for a
week. | caught up my hat and rushed
away Immediately 10 the barber shop.
| was lucky enough to find the chair
muccupied, and seating myself, l
begged to be shaved at once.
1t so happened that l never had been
in this shop before. | had always pat
rouiZed the other shop, for tile reasol
that | was well acquainted with its
proprietor; and | only went i'll here
now because it was much nearer my
boarding-house, (as the other WAS
nearer my store), and l wanted to get
the thing done right off, SO that could
have little time to my my self if /
wished, before the ceremony.
"ShaVe, Sir?" said the barber.
Yes, of course" | answered, rather
pettishly. lie had heard my request;
and why should he ask that unneCeS-
Sary question?
lie took a razor from his table, open
ed it, and began to strop it up and
down. He had his back to me, but
his motions were SO deliberate, and he
look 50 long time for it, that found
myself getting impatient. But he
went on, stropping up, stropping down
until | believe he had forgotten there
was man waiting TO be shaved.
Il beg you will make more haste, :
| said. Il have a particular engage
ment to fulfil, and at this rate snail
be delayed"
1t was 50 strange lie never took the
slightest notice of what L said-and L
know | spoke petulantly enough. lie
turned around and held the keen edge
of the razor up to the light, trying it ut
the same time with lis thumb.
"Sharp-sharp-keen rs death!" he
said. All, l think that would cut the
very bone"
lie WASH looking at me when he
said this; lie was looking at the razor
and with such a look Of satisfaction
that | shuddered. lie was a spare,
sallow-faced man, with black eyes, and
white teeth which showed most of the
time; and his general look WAS serious.
almost mOurntul. Without having any
fear of anything amisS just at that mo-
ment, | felt Il cold thrill run up my
back. and found myself intently watch
ing this eccentric barber instead of
lapsing off into pleasant leverie
about Susan Joiner, as | naturally
should have do&e.
He laid the razor down, and lathered
my face. Then he took up the raZo
again, and began to shave me. AS he
progressed. | discovered that he was q
very skillful barber. He handled his
/ razor as only that man can who has
| had long experience in its use, and who
/ loves to use il; and it GU clean a0t
/ smooth. / watched him as he proceed
/ ed, and his face kept one unvarying
expression OF sober, melancholy repose
! He said not a word, but kept straight
Oh with his work at speed that prom
/ ised to dismiss me in few moments:
/ and /, smiling AZ the nervousness on
| my part at had taken alarm at the
careless speech of The man. closed my
ewes and wandered off in my thoughts
to the breezy little town on the coast