River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-11-25
AIDING THE ENEMY.

testatiOn would seem no. only very
cross and impertinent, but decidedly
uncalled for
Grandma Gregory, in the most mel
lifuous Of tones, and with her sweetest
company smile, was simply suggesting
to her grandd 1ughter Gertrude the pro-
priety of putting up her back hair.
But you are seventeen years old, -
tile lady urged, to all appearance quite
undisturbed by her companions reply.
Grandma, l shall not be seventeen
till next Saturday" the young lady an
swered, with flashing eyes, 'and 1t
don't make any difference how old l
am. When / went to Mrs. Graham's
party, / said that my hair would never
get top of my head again unless it went
there itself My head aches now with
those old tongs Of hairpins that that
hair-dresser stuck through my scalp.
wish my head was as bald as old Mr..
Tomlinson's, then | should be let
alone"
You are very tall of your age, my
dear" grandma began again, in the
same unrufiled manner, "and for GER
tain occasions-such, for instance, as
Carrie Shelville's wedding tomorrow
night-the arrangement of your hair,
as your own good taste will tell you,
should correspond with your dress.
There must be harmony in these things,
else we might as well be barbarians."
'Therell never be any harmony
about me- grandma, inside or out; if
have got 70 be badgered all the time
about my back hair, and how | enter
and leave Il room, and how l behave
when | go to those hateful dinner par
ties, which nobody but an antediluvian
can enjoy, why then, grandma, you
might well give me up, for | shall
never do you or papa the least credit. "
Just consider moment. Gerty,"
began grandma again. do you think
that your hair, arranged as it is now, i'll
a braid at the back of your neck, will
be in keeping with your white silk
dress"
" No, Grandma, | don't suppose it
will, but I'm not to blame for that
wanted Il blue silk or white muslin,
such as girls of my age wear; but you
bought the white silk, and what could
| do? The discrepancy will be in this,
grandma-that my dress will be old
enough for a lady twice my age, and
my hair will be just as old as | am.
Grandma's patience did seem of the
elastic kind, for even now, after all this
prcvocation, she proceeded to argue
the case in her most cheerful and
smiling manner.
Il only care" she said, ''to have YOU
dress as becomingly as possible. You
look veritable, full-fedged young
lady. my dear, and the costume that
would be suitable for many girls of your
age would be in very bad taste for you.
hope you will acquit me of any re-
sponsibility for your outgrowth of short
skirts and pinafores, my dear"
For a moment Gertrude did not
speak. She stood before the library
locking down among the glowing Goals,
apparently in deep thought.
Finally she said with keen glance at
her grandmother:
II heard you and papa talking about
Court Bently last night. "
"Tcs. my love" the old lady replied
giving the last smoothing touch TO a
new lilac glove she was trying on.
well, grandma" said Gertrude, III
Court Bently comes to this house to
make Il visit, YOU needn't think I'm go
ing to be polite to him. | believe
Grandma Gregory, that the reason you
have taken to talking about my back
hair, and my style generally, is because
Won want me to look sufficiently ma
ture for that travelled gentleman to take
particular notice of. 1t won't work
worth il cent, grandma, for ! 81 III tel
him nv age the moment he sets foot
in the house, and | shall wear my hail
down my back unfettered by braid
ribbon or comb, and | shall endeavoi
to look, act and behave as much like
wild Indian as possible"
'Allow me to inquire, Gertrude, and
now there was a trihing change IN the
, old latN's manner, as she carefully drew
i the glove from her shapely hand, ''why
Won should single Mr.. Bently, out o.
our large circle of friends and acquaint
I.ances fer the savage exhibition you
speak Of? | confess to some curiosity
strange rs it may seem.
Because" the girl replied, with .
| blush of vcXation, you and papa have
talked to me so much about Court
| Rentle,'s PROJECTIONS, and Court Bent
| lev's fortune. and, when you have
grown very much interested, you have
/ looked me over so critically, for all the
/ world like a milliner when she Is Sc
! Letting the shade best suited to one:
complexion; and you talk for the last
/ few months about the beauty and safe
! tv Of early marriages, combined Will
! YOUR anxiety about my back hair-al
these things put together and addec
mp. and my figures tell the truth ano
you know it.
! 81 shall give you an opportunity sooI
4 to bc ashamed ofyoursolf," said the ole
( lady quietly, when inform you tina
tne gentleman you speak of is engaged
/ 10 a lady in Berlin You will perhaps
see the proprietv of doing your sun
i over again. with a view to correcting
/ the result"
oh. Grandma Gregory Gertrude
4 exclaimed. her sweet face radiant witt
/ delight, YOU may rig me now as yot
please. and You can hoist my back hal
/ L. my eyebrows, and fasten It on will
SuixGs. and III never say word, an(
+ I'll forgive YOU for ever planning abou
me. v0u naughty, designing grandma
for Vol: know YOU did, and papa, too.
At this lunctue a servant entered
and presented a card TO Mrs. Gregory
With Il critical glance ut her grand
daughter. who had thrown herself int
an armchair by the fire, to think 1t al
over. the old lady ordered the vislto
shown in, and the next moment gen
tleman Of most distinguished appear
.,,,..e ,.,trraJ tho room,
Grandmas greeting was very kind
and her visitor seemed sincerely glat
to see his old friend again.
This. said Mrs. Gregory, leadin.
the gentleman to Gertrude, is the it'll,
girl YOU used to tease 50 long ago, an,
who, l suppose. has quite outgrowi
your remembrance. Mr.. Bently-tier
trudc.
Indeed. no, the gentleman replied
as he shook hands with the young lady
'She has grown quite tall, to be sure
but | should Judge, Mrs. Gregory, if
may be pardoned the remark, tina
/ your granddaughter has not outgrowl
her mischief"
Quite correct said grandma, +
think not"
Gertrude replied, with a blushini
smile: