Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-04
The American GIFTS "Rnng.v

The American GirI's .'Bang.''
I'm Mrs. Burnett's "A Fair Barbar 40, +" the her
Oil Q, alright girl from Nevada is set down for a
line n The little English village Of '.sowbridee
dresses and ler diamonds, aud wins the hearts Of
the 70, ng men Lucia. quiet little English girl
enc day "a follows We quote fiom the March
number of Scribner
"There is something-I think would do IL
Ii " ere in your place" Lucia stammered. "a
very little thing indeed"
"Well?n remarked Octavla, anxiously.
Lucia lost her breath. caught 1t again, and
proceeded cautiously, and with bushes at her
II we're in your place" she said, 81 think
that, perhaps-only perhaps, you know-I
would not wear-my hair-4Htte so low down.
over my forehead"
Octavia sprang from her seat and ran to the
pier-glass over the mentel. She glanced at the
reflection of her own startled, pretty face and
then, putting her hand up to the soft blonde
s'barg" which met her brows, turned to Lucia.
Isn't 1t hecom1ng?" she asked. breathiessly.
"oh, yes!" Lucia answered. Very" Octa-
via 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 oraced herself; but
che blushed wildly.
ut may sound rather silly when tell You
why, Octayia" she said; but really do think
surd pictures OF actresses. bangs always seem 20
be the principal features. / saw some In the
shop windows when went TO Hartford with
grandmamma. And they were such dreadful
Women-some OF them-and had so very few
clothes on, that can't help thinking should-'t
like to look like them, and"
"Does 1T make me look like then?'
'Oh very httle!" answered Lucia; every lit ie
indeed, OF course but"
"Butit's the same thing after ALL" put Ia De-
tavia. THAT'S what you mean"
at Is SO very little" faltered Lucia, that
that perhaps 1t isn't reason
Octavta looked at herself Ia the glass again.
SIT isn't very good reason" she rem ,rked
"but suppose it will do"
She paused and looked Lucia in the face.
81 don't think that's a little thing" she
said. ITO be told you look like an opera boune
81 did not mean to say So" cried Lucia, filled
with the most poignant distress. 81 beg your
pardon, indeed-I-oh dear l was afraid you
wouldn't Ike 1t. L felt that it was taking
II don't like It," answered octavia; "but that
can't be helped. / didn't exactly suppose
about gO,H' hair when | began CHANGING az
might"
CRIED Lucia, piteOusly. II know that mine Is
not only In bad TASTE but it is ugly and unba-
coming"
"And yours is neither the one nor the other"
protested Lucia. You know told you 1t was
pretty, Octavia."
Ocjavia walked over to the table, upon which
therefrOm small and cleaning pair OF Sci5.
sors, returning to the mantel glass with them.
How short shall cut ~ She demanded.
"Oh :" 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
mantel; then she gave another snip, and the
other half fell.
Lucia scarcely dared to breathe.
For a moment OGtavia stood gazing at her
self, with pale face and dilatedeyes. Then sud
a RI
to reveal itself to her.
"Oh !" she cried out, "Oh. how iiabolIcal It
looks'
she turned upon Lucia.
claimed. It's all your fault-eyery bit Of IT,
and fingfng the scissors to the other end of the
room she threw herself into chair and burst
into tears.
Lucias anguish Of mind was almost more
than she could bear. For at least three mtn
utes she relt herself a criminal OF the deepest
aye; after the three minutes had elapsed, how
ever, she began TO reason, and called to mind
the fact that she was falling as usual under her
crisis.
'sThis is being a coward again. she said to
herself at is worse than to have said nothing.
1t is true that she will look more refined, now
one can see a little OF her forehead, and lt Is
cGWardly to be afraid to stand llrln when |
really think so. I-yeS, will say something to
her"
"Octavla," she began, aloud, 81 am sure you
are making mistake again." This Is decidedly
" y. y
| you look very much-nicer."
81 look ghastly:' said Octayia, who began to
| feel rather absurd.
| "You do not. Your forehead-you have the
| prettiest forehead l ever saw, Octavia," said
Luc1a. eagerly, land your eyebrows are per-
feet. wish you would look at yourself
| again."
Rather to her surprise, OctavIa began to
| laugh under cover OF ner handkerchief; reac-
tion had set IN, and, though the laugh was d
trifle hJSterical, 1t was still a laugh. Next she
| gave ner ey eS iiual little dab and rose to go
| 10 the glass again. She looked at herself
| touched up the short, waving fringe left On her
| forehead, and turneu to Lucia with resigned
eAprt SSiOp.
do you thipk that any one who was used 30
| seeing iC the her way w0ulG-wGuld think |
| looked hOri 1d?" she inquired, anxiously.
They would think you prettier-a great
| DEAL LUCIA answered, earnestly. Dent You
| know, Octav1a, that nothing could De really
| unbec0ufng 10 you? You have that Kind OF
| face"
For few seconds. octav!a seemed to lose
herself il Thoughts OF speculative nature.
| Jack always said So" she remarked at
| length.
"Jack?" repeated Lucia. timidly.
OctaV1a reused herself and smiled With can
| did sweetness.
"He is some ore knew 10 Nevada she ex.
| planned. ale worked il fathers mine oncer
| You must have known him very we'll" sug.
| geSted Lucia, somewhat aWed.
Il did, she replied, calmly. Every we'll"
She tucked away her pocket handkerchief In
| the Jaunty pocket at the back OF her basque,
| and returned to her chair. She then turned
| again to Lucia.
"W ell,' she said, ~ think you have found out
| that you were mistaken; haven't you, dear !:
Suppose you tell me OF something else"
Lucia COlOred.
NO. abe answered, "that is enough for To-
day"