The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1881-03-03

but it's the same thing, after ALL" put in octn
via. "Thats what you mean"
ut is 80 very little," faltered Lrcia, "that--
that perhaps 1t isn't q reason"
octavls looked OF herself In the glass again.
"Itisn't very good reason" she remarked.
'Dut guess II will do"
She paused, and looked Lucia In the face.
II don't think that little thing" she said ITO
be told you look like an 0ps bOu6e actress"
II did not mean TO say So" cried Lucia, flled
with the most poignant distress. II beg youEpar.
don, indeed-I-oh dearI was afraid You
wouldn't like 1t. felt that 1t Wss taking great
liberty"
II don't like It," answered octayla but that
can't be helped. don't exactly suppose should.
But wasn't going to say anything about your
hair when b4gan," glancing at poor LuciRs
cofBure, though suppose might"
"You might say a thousand things about itP'
cried Lucia, plteously. II know that mine is not
only In bad taste, but 1t is ugly and unbecoming"
Yes" said OctaVa, cruelty, ut is" T
And yours is neither the one or the other"
protested Lncla "You know / told you It was
pretty, octaVla."
octavia walked over to the table, upon which
stood Miss Belindas work basket, and took there
from small and cleaning pair OF scissors, return
ing to the mantle glass with them.
"How short shall cut it1' she demanded.
"0hl" exclaimed Lucia, 'dont-denrl"
For answer, octavia raised the scissors and
gave snip, 1t was savage snip, and half ths
length and width Of her loYelocks fell on the
mantle; then she gave another snip, and the 9TH
er half fell.
Lucia scarcely dared TO breathe.
For moment 0Ctavia stood gazing at herself.
with pale face and dilsted eyes Then suddenly
the folly OF the deed she had done seemed to 70
veal itself to her.
"ohr' she cried out. "Oh, how diabolical II
loOksP
She turned upon Lucia.
"Why did you make me do it2" she exclaimed.
"Irs all your fault-every bit ofltI' and iinging
the scissors to the other end Of the room, she
threw herself into chair and burst into tears.
Lucls's anguish Of mind was almost more than
she could bear. For at lleast three minutes, she,
felt herself criminal Of the deepest dye; and
after the three minutes had elapsed, she began To
reason, and Call to mind the fact hatshe was fall
ing as usual under her crisis
This is being coward again, she said to her.
self ut is worse than to have said nothing. II
is true she will look more refined, now one can
see little Of her forehead and 1t is cowardly to
be afraid to stand firm when really think 80. 1
yes will say something to her"
"oCtavla," she began aloud, II am sure you are
making mistake again." This as decidedly a.
possible, which was not very decidedly. You
| you look very much-nicer"
II look ghdStyP said 0ctavla, who began to
feel rather absurd,
"You do not. Your forehead-you have the
prettest forehead ever saw oGtaviR," said Lu.
cia, eagerly, land your eyebrows are perfect l.
wish you would look at yourself again"
Rather to her surprise, 0ctsvia began to laugh
under cover Of her handkerchief; reaction had
set in, and, though the laugh was triAe hyster.
ical, 1t was still laugh. Next she gave her eyes
final little dab and rose to 90 to the glass again.
She looked at herself, touched up the short wavy
fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia
with resigned expression.
"Do you think that any one who was used TO
seeing 1t the other way would-would think
looked horridf' she inquired, snxiously.
"They would think you pretter-a great DEAL"
Lucia answered, earnestly. Don't you know,
that nothing can be really unbecoming to you
You have that kind OF face"
For few seconds Octavia seemed to loose her.
self in thought Of speculative nature.
Jack always said so" she remarked, length,
"Jack2' repeated Lucia timidly
Octavia reused herself, and smiled with candid
sweetness,
HE is some one knew IN Nevada" she or.
planned HE worked in fathers mine once"
"You must have known him very well" sug.
gested Lucia, somewhat awed
, II did" she replied, calmly. "Very we'll"
She tucked away her pocket handkerchief In
D the jaunty pocket at the back other basque, and
returned to her chair. Then she turned again to
Lucia.
Well" she said, II think you have found on.
that you wre mistaken, haynt you, dearH Sup.
! pose you tell me of Ofsomething else"
0ctavia colored
mo" she answered, "thstis enough for to-day.