The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1882-07-21
A FEARFUL NIGHT.
Why A Beautiful Young Lady Had Perfectly White
Hair When Scarcely Out Of Her Teens.

long ago, and was much impressed by
the appearance of one of the younger
ladies present. She was not beautiful,
but united the striking characteristics OF
brilliant fresh complexion and pro-
fusion of hair, white as snow, which
was wound on the top of her head after
the fashion of Madrazo's .Marquise, |"
belonging to Mrs. A. L. Stewart. She
was very merry, good talker, and, /
must confess, contrived to occupy the
larger part of her attention, with that
tendencytowards monopolizing the best
which the moment affords that / am
told is often observed by my familiars.
After bidding adieu to the ladies,
turned to the obliging friend who had
been my sponsor at these incidental gay
cites OF -, and casually remarked, af-
ter talking somewhat of my new ac-
quaintance:
''By Jove, what hair! 1t accents her
whole appearance. Wasn't she lucky
to achieve it youngp"
My friend removed his cigar
''That depends on how you look at it.
l am inclined to think, taking things by
and large, that she was. l doubt, how
ever, if she wouldn't say to-day that the
price was rather large. And it was
pretty big price. Do you like storiesp
I'm minded to tell you one, if you like,
about that white hair you admire so
much"
We went over to the hotel, and some
thing like this my friend told me:
You have no idea, you city people,
the interest we country people take in
the courtships of young folks. From
the time Harry Wells began to slide up
to Mamie Clausen ut church socials un-
til their marriage in the Presbyterian
Church, the entire community gave
minute consideration to their affairs.
Mamie's father, John Clausen, was and
is now prominent commission mer-
chant, generally considered wealthy, and
has always lived at least like a man of
means. Mamie was pretty, dashing, a
local belle and great favorite. Har-
RVS family lived a few miles from town,
and they, too, are people of reputation
in the county. Old Jack Wells repre-
sented us a few times in the Legislature,
and has accumulated in one way and
another handsome property.
The marriage was in every way
suitable one. Harry was educated at
Princeton. and, although he had at one
time the reputation of being wild, he So
bered down, and was at any rate such
frank. manly young fellow that he was
generally forgiven any indiscretion.
AS say, the marriage was the occa-
sion of general rejoicing. Mamie's IA
Their gave her an unusually good send
of, and the details were sent far and
wide through the State. Harry had
studied law, although he didn't have
much natural inclination for it, the old
man thinking his political experience
might serve Harry in that way, and had
settled down into country notary,
drawing up deeds and doing hack-work
of that sort. They lived about four
miles out of town, two miles from old
Jacks. He had built them a pretty
modern cottage on detached portion
of his farm. Harry had his Office, an
ornamental little structure, few rods
from the house, and there they lived as
happy as two birds.
Gradually Harry picked up business,
and finally, through his father, became
trustee for the minor heirs. They were
an odd lot of children, with half-crazy
mother and no end of coal lands and
mining investments. 1t was a good
thing for Harry, although it gave nat
urally lazy man some additional work.
The worst thing was that it obliged him
to 90 to Scranton now and then and leave
Mamie. You may imagine that there
was good deal of visiting at the house
of two such popular young people, and
that four-mile stretch of road was gen.
orally kept pretty warm. When Harry
had to go away, Mamie would get in her
phaeton and drive to town, and there
was always some of the young people
ready to go out and keep her company.
Harry always insisted that she mustn't
stay alone. For abiding State we
have pretty rough element in it, and
although we haven't had much to COM
plain Of here, there is a general sense of
One August afternoon Harry had an
summons to go to Scranton
about suit connected with the minor
heirs. He had recently sold some of
their property and had been making va
rious collections, which left in his hands
about 81, 500. When he found he had
to go off at few moments notice,
he wrapped up bundle of papers and
his money, and took them into the
house. Mamie was making prepara-
tions for picnic they were to 60 to the
next day, and begged him to wait until
the day after. ta5i-.
"But, my dear child, I haven't time
even to go to town and put these in the
bank, so you'll have to take care of
them. I'll try and get back in two days
at the furthest; meanwhile no body
will know that the money is here"
Then he explained to her the value of |
the papers and handed her. a canvas
bag, in which was the $4,000 belonging
to the minor heirs. r B
Where will l keep it, Harry Be-
tween the mattressesp"
'.Just like a woman. No. But de-
clare don't know where to tell you.
The most insecure place apparently is
often the most secure. Any place, dear,
but between the mattresses. 1 leave |
that to you. But you must guard it, If |
e. n