The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-23
THE DAILY STAR
FL0RA'S HAIR.


ment, just out of the whirl and tumult
Of Broadway, and a young lady OF about
seventeen alighted from the chocolate
cOlored coupe, to enter the dominion OF
pOmatum and frisettes
The kniyht OF comb and scissors ad-
vanoed briskly from behind the counter
to greet his pretty customer, who was
dressed in velvet and sables, that might
have, and probably did, cost small for
tune. -..f . ..s.--
"Don't let me interrupt you, MIR. Mac
assar," said the lady, carefessly sinking
down upon crimson brocatelle sofa, and
elancina toward two women with whom
The eoiheur had been in deep conversa-
ton at the moment of her entrance; II
can wait few minutes perfectly WE'LL"
@You are very kind, Miss Montagu,
but our business is completed, = he added,
In lower tone of voice. "Only some
women come to sell their hair. You See
they have stepped inside for our cutter
to take it off" > 4--
"To sell their hairT repeated Miss
Montagu.
Certainly, ma'am. It's a very COM
mon thing, | assure you, more partlcu-
hrly since it has become usual to wear
the hair short. And then hard times,
you know"
"But surely it is impossible to gain
enough to be any compensation for the
loss of fine head of hairw said the
young lady, earnestly.
"Oh, YOU are mistaken. For long, lux
uriant hair, of good color-such hair,
for instance, as yours, Miss Montagu-
we give as much as three dollars.
"Three dollarsl' repeated the girl,
scornfully.
"Hair will soon grow again, Miss Mon
tagu," said the hair dresser, Struggling
his shoulders. "In what way can | serve
you to-day%
"I came in to request you to send some
one to arrange my hair tomorrow even
ing"
"Mrs. Warrener's ballw smoothly in
terposed the man, who appeared to be
au fait in fashionable intelligence. Ger
tainlv, ma'am, to be sure. / will send
Francois. What Jewels do you wearW
"Only small wreath Of netted pearls
around the braids."
And, Mr.. Macassar bowed his fair
Young patroness out of the store with
smiling complaisance. She stood a mo-
ment on the steps, as if thinking, then
spoke to the liveried servant on the box:
"You may drive home, John. | shall
not need you any more to-day" she said
quietly.
John touched first his gold-banded hat
and then his horses, and in few mo-
ments was out of sight, very glad to be
relieved. we ,.
Then, and not till then, Miss Montagll
walked briskly away, brushing the pave
ments of obscure streets with her costly
silk, as if she cared not for its lustrous
splendor, treading narrow alleys, and at
length ascending the uncarpeted stairs of
q third story.
1t was opened by pale, shadowy-look-
ing woman, scarce older in the calendar
of years than Miss Montagu herself, but
alas how much more aged in the record
of care and grief. -
"Flora, dearest, how kind this is o.
youp .set
For Flora Montagu had thrown hel
arms around the slender figure, and wa
sllowering Kisses on the pale forehead
with true girlish warmth and affection.
"You can't be more surprised to sec
me, Lizzy, than am to be here! l WA
out shopping, when suddenly the ides
occurred to me of stealing an interview
with you. So l sent John home, an(
here l am.s 'e
SBut, Flora, what would my uncl'
ayr' ( ts'e1 -. ~
"He never will know it," said Flor.
demurely. "And, besides, Lizzy, my
conscience does not condemn me for thi'
visit. Papa's conduct has been SO un
kind, 50 actually inhuman, toward you
Think of it, dearest. After giving you
luxurious home until now, to turn yol
out of doors Just for marrying poo
artist-and you his own sisters daugh
ter, toop -...-.
dTruep' sighed the delicate young ere
ature whom Flora addressed as Lizzy
"Yet if it were not for Clements contin
ued illness and our poverty, ! shoul,
never for a moment regret thai"
The door was rudely pushed open a
this moment, without even the formal
ty of warning knock, and wiry head
with sharp terrier eyes to match, wa
thrust unceremoniously i,.
"I say, missus, is that ere none
readyT
Lizzy had turned very pale an
clasped her wan fingers tightly together
II am sorry" she stammered; "but-'
The head and eyes now advanced er
tifely into the room with the shor
.thick-set figure to which they belonged
"Look here marmW said the ma
harshly. This is the third week you'y
had these ere two rooms, and not re
cent of rent have / set eyes on. Needn
tell me your husbands sick: there
, enough tenants can get without sic
husbands. ] don't want to hear no e,
cuses-they don't amount to nothin'.
Jest want you to understand thismuch-
if them three dollars amt paid dow
afore the clock strikes Eve, out you g
bag and baggage, on the pavement. "