Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-12-13
NO. 29S.
Gales ano Sketebes.
A MODERN DELILAH.
BY JAMES PAYNE.
From London Belgravia Monthly.

Continued from Yesterday
What! not leave the lockets for an
| hour"
"No, Madame, not for moment. OF
| course, it is but a mere formula. one of
these hard-and-fast regulations, the exist
ence of which one so often has to deplore;
but have no authority to oblige you as
your request. | can send the lockets of
| course-Or bring them myself-but who
ever is in charge of them will have orders
not to lose sight of them. This is as ine-
vitable rule with every customer whose
name is not entered on our books.''
Instead of getting into rage-genuine,
if she was genuine. or pretended, if she
was swindler-the widow uttered low
ripping laugh.
Like the voice of the Summer brook
In the leafy month of June,
Which, to the sleeping woods, all night
Singeth quiet tune"
only her teeth were much whittier than the
pebble of any brook. "YOu tickle me,''
she said, (of course she was only speaking
metaphorically,) $50 that | cannot help
laughing; it is so droll that you should
think that came here to steal lockets''
My dear madame" said Mr. Eiddel,
''pray do not talk like that: if it rested
with me-" (sly dog that he was,) ..you
should carry of the whole contents of the
shop to choose FROM
..You are very good and kind" she
said. "If any other person had expressed
such doubts of me shouldh have been terri.
bly, offended. But quite understand how
you are situated. Well. you shall bring
the lockets yourself, and tor fear you think
have any wicked designs she added
with a little blush, '.will you come this
morningP 1t will be equally convenient
to my niece, and you needn't be afraid of
being garroted by daylight"
MY dear madam" exclaimed Mr.. Rid
del for the second time, and with deeper
depreciation than before, .'how can YOU?
OF course, | will come whenever YOU
please"
"Very good; as my brougham is here,
will drive you home in it." In five min.
utes he had packed up all the lockets and
was following her elegant though stately
figure down the shop.
There he goes with another Duchess
whispered Nation to Boltby; "see how he
runs his hand through his hair.
''Let us hope she will comb it for him.
answered Boltbv the bald, thinking ofthat
happy pair WI o had med all in all to
one another, but had not been so preoccu.
pied as to prevent them from giving him
chloroform. IL believe she's no more
Duchess than you are.''
Months roll on, but though you had gone
ever so many times into Messrs. Moon
stones establishment you would not have
seen Mr.. John Riddel. His flowing cata-
ract of hair no more adorned the fore
mans desk, over which cleaned in its
place-like moonlight after sunlight-the
bald and shining head of Mr.. Boltby. And
yet our hero was in the shop; he stood at
the corner in the further corner, where
the youngest assistant was always placed.
Gin charge Of the mourning jewelry,)
with Welsh wig on. His own mother
not to mention the Duchess-would never
have known him. He had fallen from his
high estate. and was beginning life again
on the lowest rung of the ladder.
This was how it happened. Mrs. Mont
fort and her niece, a young lady only less
charming than herself. dwelt, as / have
said, on the first floor of Mr.. De la Bois's,
the court hair-dresser They had lodged
there for some weeks, and by punctual
payments and carelessness concerning the
domestic accounts had won the heart of
their susceptible landlord. He saw that
she had an inward grief-passing that of
the ordinary widow--and ventured to en-
quire what it was.
''Alas ~ she said, II have dear and
only nephew whose condition gives me
greatest uneasiness. He has overworked
himself. and is threatened with brain fe-
yer; the doctors say that if we could get
him to have his head shaved all might be
well, but he has splendid head of hair
indeed, great deal too much of it. No
argument of mine will induce him to part
with it,"
This touched Mr.. De la Bos's profess
sional feelings.
"Dear me, Madame, how | pity the
young gentleman 1t is terrible thing to
part with ones hair. but still-we could
shave bin better than at any other estab-
lishmcnt in the kingdom, and quicker"
"Oh, | don't care about the quickness,"
answered Mrs. Montioit hastily, the thing
is to get it done thoroughly. Iwould give
fifty pounds if Alfonso would only submit
to it. Don't you think, if he came with
me one morning, you could get it done
whether he would or not ?'
''Well, really, madame, that would be
a strong measure; still, if it is for the
young mans good
''They tell me, Mr.. De Ia BOis, nothing
else will save his wits he is half mad al
ready; entertains the strongest delusions
that everything l have-my jewels. for
example--belong to him. They will be-
long to him some day. poor fellow-that
is" she added with a sigh, if he lives to
to enjoy them"
Poor dear young gentleman! And you
said fifty pounds, think. Well. l think
it can be managed for you. If you name
a morning, will have four of my strong
est young men ninreadiness, and ifyou will
bring him here, l will promise you hs
shall have his head shaved"
Every good; will take him out shop
ping with me: he is fond OF shopping;
thinks he is shopkeeper sometimes when
his head is bad. He will come here in my
brougham You will know him in mo-
ment by his magnificent head of hair"
Just so; and in five minutes nobody
shall know him, madame"
Don't be in hurry about it Let It -
done thoroughly she answered. And 20
it was arranged.
Accordingly when Mr. .Tohn Ridde1 A..