Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-03-30
THEFAIR ONE WITH GOLDEN LOCKS,

"Well, Pierre, how goes the world
with you nowadays?' said Gerald Castle
ton to the village hair-dresser.
"About as usual, Mr.. Gerald. And
how is the squire and my lady?'
''They were all well last week. By
the-by, l have an order from Miss An
struther for you. She is to give a tab
leau party next week, and as her Young
lady friends are most of the brunette
type, she means to transform some of
them, by your help, into blondes"
"All right" was the CHEEKY answer.
"Il do my best to please. But here
comes head of hair for you;'' and Pi-
erre made a gesture to call the young
mans attention to girl of, perhaps,
twelve years of age, who was Just enter
ing. ''Good-morning, little one," he
continued, with a friendly nod; but
what is the matter?" for glance at
her face showed she had been crying.
'Oh, Mr.. Duval, my mother is sick,
and the doctor says she must have three
kinds of medicine, and beef tea, and
lots of things, and we have no money
to buy them. 1tseemed to me as though
my heart would break as / heard what
he said. Then I thought of my hair.
For man came along one day and
told mother that he would give her, oh!
such a lot of money for it. But she
wouldn't let him have it. You will buy
it, won't you?" and the childish voice
had a plaintive quiver in it which went
straight to the hearts of the two listen
ers.
Pierre Duval was fully sensible of the
great value of the silky locks, which
hung like tawny, goldfecked mantle
down almost to the girls feet. But he
put away the temptation, and said,-
Il must not rob the poor mother of a
treasure she sets such store by, child.
She would never forgive me-"
"Then she will die, and they will put
her in the cold grave, just as they did
my father"
'Let us see if you and cannot make
a bargain" said Gerald, smilingly. Il
will give you purse filled with sover-
eigns, and in return every single hair on
your head will belong to me. Is that
fair?'
"Yes,' said the child, TREMENDOUSLY.
Then Gerald took a pair of shears,
and lifting one long curl, severed it from
its mates and coiled it into shining
ring. Then he drew out his pocket-book
and placed his treasure within it, as he
said to the wondering girl.
III only want sample of my proper
ty, so as to be sure of the color. Now,
remember, your hair is no longer your
own-it is mine. Take very good care
of it.
With parting nod to Pierre, and an
injunction not to fail to execute his
Cousins order, he went his way, after
slipping "a netted silken purse filled with
gold into Ginevra's hand.
''He7s just the same as ever" MUIR
INJURED Pierre, "When mite of fell
low, if he saw beggar, he wasn't salts
fled until be had emptied his pockets
for him. Bless his kind hearth Then
he turned toward the girl. 'It is all
right" he said, kindly. 'Mr. Gerald
has more money than he knows what to
DO with. lam glad he happened to be
here. Run home and tell your mother
to make haste and get well, for the
money the young master has given YOU
will buy all she'll need for some time to
come"
"The gentleman did not give it to
me-" said the child. HE paid it to me
or my hair"
The air of unconscious dignity with
Which she corrected Pierre's mistake
unused him greatly.
"she's born lady," he thought to
himself. Then he said aloud, "You are
light. 1t was q fair bargain. Tell
our mother so."
The next week Gerald left the city for
'riarlie, his fathers place, and in q few
months started out ON tour which last
d for several years. All remembrance
4 this little episode would have faded
way but for the curl of which he had
ossessed himself. 1t had fashion of