The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1881-03-03

In Mrs. Burnetts "A Fair Barbarian, the hero
inc, bright girl from n evada is set down for a
time in the little English village of 'Slowbridge >
where she shocks the dowagers with her elegant
dresses and her diamonds and wins the hearts of
the young men Lucia quiet little English girl
who has won her friendship, attempts some advice
one day as follows: I'VE quote from the March
number of Scnbner)
There is something think would do if-if
were in your place" Lucia stammered "A very
little thing indeed"
well & remarked Octavia, an3lously.
LHcia lost her breath, caught it again, and pro
ceeded cautiously, and with bushes at her own
daring.
"lt | were 10 your place, she said Il think
that, perhaps-only perhaps, YOU know would
not wear-my hair-qn'te so low down-over my
forehead.
0ctavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the pier
glass the mantel She glanced at the reflection
of her own startled pretty face, and then, putting
her hand up to the soft blonde bang which met
her brows, turned to Lucia
Isn't 1t becoming :" she asked, breathlessly.
"Oh, yes" Lucia answered VERY" Oetavia
started
''Thcn why wouldn't You wear it :" she cried
"What do YOU mean E.
Lucia felt her position truly delicate one. She
locked her hands and braced herself; but she
1t may sound rather silly when tell you why
Octavia' she said but really do think it is a
sort OF reason. You know i'll those absurd pictures
OF actresses bangs always seem to be the principal
feature. | saw some in the shop windows, when
went to Hartford with grandmamma. And they
were such dreadful women--some of theu.-and had
so very few clothes on that can't help thinking |
shouldn't like TO look like them, and -
"Does it make me look like them :"
"Oh very little r. answered Lucia; very little
indeed, of course; but -"
But its the same thing, after all, put in Ucta
via That's what you mean
1T is SO very little" altered Lucia, ''that-that
perhaps it isn't reason
Octayia looked at herself in the glass again
"It isn't a very good reason she remarked 'but
| suppose it will do
She paused, and looked Lucia in the face
Il don't think that's little thing, she SAID
ITO be told you look like opera boUfe actress :"
~ did not mean to say So cried Lucia, filled
with the most poignant distress. Il beg your
pardon indeed--l-oh dear | was afraid you
wouldn't like it. | felt that was taking great
liberty"
81 don't like it,, answered 0ctavia; but that
can't be helped didn't exactly suppose should
But wasn't going to say anything about you, hair
though suppose might
You might say thousand things about it :"
cried Lucia, piteously. II know that nine is not
only in bad taste, but is ugv and unbeeemng"
1 tS, cTltu OctdNld, cluely II Is
And yours is neither the one nor the other e
protested Lucia You know told you it was
pretty. Octavia
Ociavia walked 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 it !" she demanded.
'Oh I" exclaimed Lucia "dont-don't, :"
For answer, Octavla raised the scissors, and
gave snip 1t savage snip, and halt the
length and width Of her love locks fell on the
tel then she gave another snip, and the other half
fell.
Lucia scarcely dared to breathe
For moment Octavla stood gazing at herself.
with pale face and dilated eyes. Then suddenly
the folly Of the deed she had done seemed to re-
veal itself to her,
'Oh !" she cried out "Oh, how diabolical il
looks y
She turned upon Lucia
why did You make me do it ?" she exclaimed
Its all your fault-every bit of it " and hinging
the scissors to the other end of the room she threw
herself into a chair and burst into tears
Lucas anguish of mind almost more than
she could bear For at least three minutes she
felt herself a criminal of the deepest dye after the
three minutes had elapsed however she began to
reason, and called to mind the fact that she was
falling as usual under her crisis.
This Is being coward again, she SAID to her
self 1t is than TO have said nothing 1t
is true that she will look more refined now one
to be afraid to stand firm when l really think So
Yes, will say something to her"
"Octavla, she began aloud, Il am sure you are
making a mistake again" This as decidedly as
possible, which was not very decidedly "Iou-
you look very much-nicer'
Il look qhaStig ~ said Octavia who began to
feel rather absurd.
You do not Your forehead-you have the
prettlest forehead ever saw, Octavia said Lucia,
eagerly, 'and your eyebrows are perfect wish
you would look at yourself gain"
Rather to her surprise, OCtavia began to laugh
under cover of her handkerchief: reaction had set
in. and, though the laugh was trite hystercal, it
was still laugh. Next she gave her eyes final
little dab, and rose TO go to the glass again. She
looked at herself, touched up the short waving
fringe left on her forehead, and turned to Lucia
with a resigned expression.
DO you think that any one who was used 10
seeing it the other way would-woud think |
looked horrd ?" she inquired, anxously,
They would think you prettier-a great deal"
LUCIA answered, earnestly Don't you know,
Octava, that nothing could be really unbecoming
to you You have that kind Of face
For few seconds, Octavla seemed to lose her
self in thought of speculative nature
Jack always said So she remarked at length
Jack 2 repeated Lucia, tmidiy.
tctavia reused herself and smiled with candid
sweetness
He is some one | knew in Nevada" she ex-
planned "He worked in fathers mine once.
You must have known him very WELL suggest
ed Lucia, somewhat aWed
Il did," she replied calmly. Very well"
She tucked away her pocket handkerchief IN the
jaunty pocket at the back of Ter basque, and re
turned to her chair Then she turned again to
Lucia
well, she said, 81 think you have found out
that you sre,Y mistaken, haven't you, dear Sup
pose you tell me of something else
Lucia colored
NO" she answered, 'that is enough for to day