Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-22

when began" glsncing at poor LUCAS
soisrr,. "thoush suppose 1 might:
aYou might say q thousand Things
about III" cried Lucia, piteousiy.
tnov that mine il not only IN bad taste'
hnt II Ia uely and unbecomin9. -,
aYes.p said Octavii, cruelty. 1T Is.
uInS yours is neither the one nor the
other" protested Lucia. You Know l
told you it was pretty, Octavia; -,
Octavia walked over to the taoie'
upon which stood Miss Belindas WORK,
basket, and took therefrom q small and
cleaning pair OF scissors, returning 10
the mantel glass with them.
CHOW short shall ! cut 1t! she de-
msnded. 49,.
oh exclaimed Lucia, don't
don't" .
Forapsver, Octavia raised the scissors,
and gave a snip. 1t was savage snip,
a-d half the length aud width OF her
| Iove-locks fell on the mantel; then she
| gave another snip, and the other naii
fell.
Iucia scarcely dared 10 breathe.
For q moment, 0ctavia stood gazing
at herself. with pale face and dilsted
ewes. Then suddenly the folly oil the
deed she had done seemed to reveal IL
sell 10 her. o y.
'Oh" she cried out "Oh, how dia-
bo'ical il looks"
She turned upon Lucis.
"Why did you make me do it, she
exclaimed. "l's all your fault-every
bt Of H." and finging the scissors to
the other end OF the room, she threw
herself into a chair and burst into tears.
Lucia's anguish OF mind was almost
more than abe could bear. For at least
three minutes, she felt herself a crimi
nal Of the deepest dye; after the three
minutes had elapsed, however, she
beysn 10 reason, and called to mind the
fact that she was failing as usual under
her crisis.
"This is being a coward again" she
said 10 herself. at is worse than 10
have said nothing. II is true that she
will look more refined, now one can see
a little OF her forehead, and it is coward.
" 20 be afraid to stand firm when i
really think so. Ives, l will say some
thing to her"
sure you are making a mistake again
This rs decidedly as possible, when
was not very decidedly. Nou-you
look very much-nicer.
Il look ohasly'" said Octavia, who
began 10 feel rather absurd.
lyon do not. Your forehesd-yeu
have the prettiest forehead l ever saw,
Octsvis," said Lucia, eagerl y, sand your
eyebrows are perfect, wish you
would lock al yourself again.
Rather 10 her surprise, Octavla begsn
IN laugh under cover Of her handEsr-
chief; reaction had set in, and, though
the laugh was a trifie hysterical, 1t was
still laugh. Next she gave her eyes
final little dab. and rose TO 20 to the
glass again. She looked al herself
touched up the short, waving fringe
LEFT ON her forehead, and turned 10 Lucia
with resigned expression.
"Do you think that any one who was
used 10 seeing it the other way would
would think looked horrid?" she In
| quired. anxiously.
They would think you prettler-a
Vrea, deal" Lucia answered, earnestly.
"Dont YOU know, Octsvia, that nothing
could really be unbecoming 10 you You
have that kind OF face
For few seconds, Octayis seemed TO
lose herself in thought OF speculative
| nature.
Jack always said so, she remarked,
! at length.
Jack" repeated Lucia, timidly. -,
Octavia reused herself, and smiled
with candid sweetness. -.
"He is some one knew in Nevada,
she explained. He worked in fathers
mine once.
"You must have known him very
we'll" suggested Lucia, somewhat awed.
81 did" she replied calmly. "Nery
well.
she tucked away her pOcket.hsnd.
kerchie! in the jaunty pocket at the
back 81 her basque, and returned 10
her chair. Then she turned again to
Lucia.
"Well," she said, Il think YOU have
found out that you 'ysrs mistaken,
haven't you, dear? Suppose you tell
me OF something else.
Lucia colored.
"No," she answered, that is enough
for to-day"