The Portland daily press., 1881-03-01
The American Girls Bang

suffice it that when returned to the bosom of
my family they scarcely seemed to know me.
The American Girls Bang"
In Mrs. Burnett's "a Fair Barbarian" the
heroine, bright girl from Nevada, is set
down for a time in the little English village of
"Slowbridge," where she shocks the dowagers
with her elegant dresses and diamonds, and
wins the hearts of the young men. Lucia, a
quiet little English girl who has won her
friendship, attempts some advice as follows:
(We quote from the March number of Scrib-
ner)
''There is something-I think would do if
If were in your place." Lucia stammered
"a very little thing n eed"
"Well?" remarked Octavia, anxiously.
Lucia lost her breath, caught it again, and
proceeded cautiously, and with bushes at h er
own daring.
''If were in your place. she said, II thin
that perhaps-only perhaps, you, know-I
would not wear-my hair-quite so low down
over my forehead"
Octavia sprang from her seat, and ran to the
pier-glass over the mantel. She glanced at
the reflection of her own startled, pretty face,
and then, putting her hand up to the soft
blonde "baDg" which met her brows turned
to Lucia.
"Isn't it becoming?" she asked, breathless-
ly.
'"Oh, yes!' Lucia answered. Every" Oc-
tavia started.
.'Then why wouldn't you wear it?'' she
cried. "What do you mean?"
Lucia felt her position truly delicate one.
She locked her hands and braced herself: but
she blushed wildly.
sit may sound rather silly when l tell you
why, Octavia," she said; "but really do
think it is a sort of reason. You know, in
those absurd pictures of actresses bangs al
ways seem to be the principal feature. saw
some in the shop windows, went went to
Hartford with grandmamma. And they
were such dreadful women-some of them
and had so very few clothes on, that I can't
help thinking. ] shouldn't like to look like
them, and"
"Does it make me look like them?o
"Oh, very littlel" ansN cred Lucia; Every
little indeed of course; but"
"But it's the same thing, after ALL, put in
Octavia. "That's what you mean.''
"It is SO very little,' faltered Lucia, chat
that perhaps it isn't reason.
Octavia looked at herself in the glass again.
'sIt isn't very good reason" she remarked,
'but suppose it will do"
She paused, and looked Lucia in the face.
81 don't think that's little thing" she
said. "To be told you look like an opera
boufe actress"
81 did not mean to say so," cried Luc ia,
filled with the most poignant distress. 81 beg
your pardon, indeed-I-oh dear! was afraid
you wouldn't like it. felt that it was taking
great liberty"
Il don't like it," answered Octavia: '.but
that can't be helped. L didn't exactly suppose
should. But wasn't going to say anything
about your hair when 1 began" glancing at
poor Lucia's coifure, Though l suppose 1
might
'You might say thousand things about t!"
cried Lucia piteously. II know that mine is
not only in bad taste, but it is ugly and unbe-
coming"
:'Yes.'' said Octavia cruelty, sit is"
"And yours is neither the one nor the 9TH
err" protested Lucia. "You know told you
it was pretty, Octavia.'
Octavia walked over to the table upon which
stood Miss Belinda's work basket, and took
| therefrom small and cleaning pair of scis-
sors, returning to the mantle glass with them.
"How short shall cut it?" she demanded.
NOh" exclaimed Lucia, ..Don't-don't!"
For answer Octavia raised the scissors and
| gave snip. 1t was savage snip, and half
| the length and width of her love locks fell on
| the mantle; then she gave another snip and
| the other half fell.
| Lucia scarcely dared to breathe.
| For moment Octavia stood gazing at her
| self with pale face and dilated eyes. Then
| suddenly the folly of the deed she had done
seemed to reveal itself to her.
| looks"
| She turned upon Lucia
"Why did you make me do it?" she ex-
claimed. "It's all your fault-every bit of it,
and finging the scissors to the other end of the
] room, she flung herself into chair and burst
into tears.
| Lucia's anguish of mind was almostmore
| than she could bear. For at least three min-
utes she felt herself criminal of the deepes
| dye: after the three minutes had elapsed how
ever she began to reason, and called to mind
| the fact that she was failing as usual under hel
| crisis. @,A
"This is being coward again." she said to
herself. tits worse than to have said noth-
| ing. 1t is true that she will look more refined
now one can see a little of her forehead, and it
| is cowardly TO be afraid to stand firm when
really think so. yes,-I will say something tt
| her.
"Octayia,' she began aloud, II am sure yor
are making mistake again. This as decid
edly as possible, which was not very decided
| ly. "You-you look very much-nicer.'
Il look ghastly" said Octavia, who began tc
| feel rather absurd.
"You do not. Your forehead-yon have tn,
prettiest forehead ever saw, Octavia." sale
Lucia, eagerly, ''and your eyebrows are per
| feet. wish YOU would look at yoursel
again.
Rather to her surprise, Octavia began Il
laugh under cover of her handkerchief; reac
tion had set in, and, though the laugh was a
trifle hysterical, it was still a laugh. Next she
gave her eyes final little dab, and rose to &c
to the glass again. She looked at herself
touched up the short, waving fringe left ON he
forehead, and turned to Lucia with resigned
expression.
do you think that anyone who was used t,
seeing it the other way would-would think
looked horrid?" she inquired anxlously.
They would think you pretter-a great
deal" Lucia answered, earnestly. "Dont yo,
know, Octavia, that nothing could be really
unbecoming to you? You have that kind of
face"
For few moments Octavia seemed to los,
herself in thought of a speculative nature
Jack always said so," she remarked at
length.
"Jack?" repeated Lucia tmidly.
Octavia reused herself, and smiled with can
did sweetness"
HE is some one l knew in Nevada" sh
explained. HE worked in fathers min,
once"
"You must have known him very well?'
suggested Lucia, somewhat awed
II die" she replied, calmly ''Very well.
She tucked away her pocket-handkerchief il
the jaunty pocket at the back of her basque
and returned to her chair. Then she turne'
again to Lucia.
WELL" she said, al think you have foun,
out that you were mistaken, haven't you
else.''
Lucia colored.
NO" she answered, "that is enough for tc
day."
Scene-The gambling table at Monte Carlo
Persons-Young English lady with little sste
and a gentleman whose acquaintance the
| ba va ~, o1a of tho bota1 Voupo 1odr tsnh