Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1878-06-20
~~ 49,
Red Rair.
Mr.. Alden in New York Times

III now Dccil dSctItiiiCl. he iistiI III itics
= ton WIS of Il bright red color. and few pei
sons would have imagined that it was dar
.crols when unconnected with its Owner
Nevertheless. that seemingly innocent bac
hair Leo to tragedy that nearly ruined tn
Is peace of two happy and respectable fam
lilies.
Messrs. Smith and Brown are the leadin:
citizens engaged in the grocery business il
| Clinton. They are men of great worth o
character. and have reached middle ag
without mourning the breath of SANDER
= One evening Mr. Smith returned from tn
. store and sitting down at the table, pro
f duced Chicago paper from his pocket
and remark d with much Indignation
{ That revolving Bcecher scandal has beer
revived. and It's loati.some details are agal
] polluiny the press and corrupting the
2 minds of the public
Mrs. Smith replied that '.it was a shame
flil outrage that the papers were allowed
to publish such disgusting things and
asked her husband (which paper had the
fullest account OF the matter" That eX-
cclent man said that lie believed the Ga
zctte contained more about it than any 9th
er paper. and that after tea he would send
one of the boys ana get a copy of il. His
wife thanked him, ANA was in the act OF re-
marking that he was always thoughtful
and conSiderate. when the oldest boy cX-
claimed, PA, You've got 4 long red hair
Oh your coat colllr.'
4 prompt Investigation made by Mrs.
Smith con.il med the boys accusation.
There WAS IN Enthusiastically female hair on
the collar Of Mr. Smiths coat, and il was
o5trusive'y red. Mr.. Smith said it was a
very extraordinary th.nc, Mrs. Smith also
renarking very extraordinary. indeed"
in Il dry, sarcastic voice. and expressed
deep disgust ut red hair. and 4 profound
contempt for tie nasty creature who
wore it.
About the same hour Mr.. Brown was
seated at his tea-tahle. and was cndcayor
ing to excise himself to Mrs. Is. for having
forgotten TO brin" home Il paper. The lady.
after having expressed the utmost indigna-
ton at the revival Of tie Beec!lcr scandal.
had asked for tie paper in order to see
who WAS dead and married. and was of
course Indignant because her husband had
not brought it home. In tie heat of the
discussion she noticed Il long red hair on
NJ. Browns coat collar. and holding It up
before him. she demanded an explanation. |
in vain did Mr.. Brown allege that he had /!
no idea how the hair became attached to |
his coat collar His wife replied that what |
he said was simply ridiculous. Red hair
doa't blow around like thistle down. and .
at your time of lite, Nr. Brown. you ought /
to be ashamed of yourself Tie less you t
say the better; but can tell you that You
can't deceive me. I'm not Il member of
Plymouth Church, and you can't make me
believe that lack is white.''
Nov. both Mf. Brown and Mr. Smith
were perfectly innocent. OF course. they
were annoyed by the remarks Of their re-
spectivc wives. but like sensible men. they
avoided any unnecessary discussion of the
painful topic. The next day they each
brought home all the Chicago papers that
contained any reference to the Beechcr
matter. and as the papers were received by
Mrs. Brown and Mrs. Smith with many
protestations OF the disgust which they
felt at hearing even the name of Beecher
mentioned. they naturally supposed that
they had made their peace. But marital
suspicion once awakened is not easily put
TO sleep. While MIR. Brown was handing
his wife the bundle of newspapers, she was
closely scrutnizing his coat collar, and, a.
ter she had laid the papers on her plate.
she quietly took two long red hairs from
her unfortunate husbands coat, and held
them solemnly before his face.
MARY. | give you my solemn word,'
began the alarmed Mr.. Brown; but he was
not permitted to finish his sentence. Don't
say one word,'' exclaimed Mrs. Brown.
won't help you; am faith
FIJI and loving wife. and Ill have you ex-
posed and punished if there's any law in
Illinois, Thus saying she gathered up
her newspapers, and rushing to her room.
locked herself in. 1t WAS not until later in
the evening that Mrs. Smith. rs she was
about TO turn down her husbands lamp.
that was smoking, perez we'd that two red
hairs were attached to his shoulder. She
said nothing. bur after laying them on the
table before him, burst into tears. and re-
fused to be comtorted until Mr.. Smith SOL
EMMY sWorc that he had not seen red
haired girl for months and years. and off
cred TO buy her Il new parlor carpet the
very next day.
OF the ladies'. Mrs. Brown was much the
stronger ana the more determined. The
next evening. when Mr.. Brown brought
back from the store no less than five red
hairs on his coat collar. she broke a pic.
plate over his mead. and leaving lin welt
ring in dried apples. pnt on her bonnet
lnd lelt the house. Mrs. Smith. on the
same evening, found four OF the mvsteri-
)us red hairs on her husbands coat. but
She RETAINED from violence. and merely
cling him she VIC uld not believe in his in.
locence If he WAS TO swear till he was black
n the face. called loudly for her sainted 5
mother. and was about to flint when Mrs.
Brown burst into the room. Mr.. Smith,
ike Il wise man. lied from the scene. and =
he two ladies soon coniided their wrongs
o each other.
When Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Smith met
lie next day, the former confessed TO the
ttter that he WAS in Il terrible scrape. Con-
idence begot confidence. and they soon
'acame convinced that they We're the vic
inns of 4 flighttui conspiracy 10 wl-n
ONE unknown wearer of red back hair !
sas a party. Their distress WAS increased i
ai'y in the afternoon by the appearance of I,
heir respective wives. who walked up and /
own the opposite sile of the street for !
'ours, each crrying conspicuous raw !
ide. and evidently lying in wait for the 2
reI-haired woman. Smith and !,