The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-02-25
ONE WITH GOLDEN LOOKS.

with you nowadayspo said Gerald Castle
ton to the village hair-dresser.
t.About as usual, Mr.. Gerald. And
how is the squire and my ladyP''
'sThey were all well last week. By
the-by, / have an order from Miss An
struther for you. She is to give tab
ieau party next week, and as heryoung
lady friends are most of the brunette
type, she means TO transform some of
them, by your help, into blondes.''
"A1l right" was the CHEEKY answer.
stPll do my best to please. But here
comes head of hair for you;'' and Pr
ere made gesture to call the young
mans attention to a 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.
ooh, 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
10 buy them. Itseemed to me as though
my heart would break as heard what
he said. Then thought of my hair.
For man came along one day and
odd mother that he would give her, oh!
such lot of money for it. But she
wouldn't let him have it. You viii buy
it, won't you?'' and the childish voice
had a plaintive culver 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
IL, sou
81 must not rob the poor mother OF
treasure she sets such store by, child.
She would never forgive me-
esThen she will die, and they will put
her in the cold grave, just as they did
my father
ssLet us see if you and I cannot make
BARGAIN said Gerald, snailingly. 81
will give you a purse filed with sover-
eigns, and in return every single hair on
your head will belong to me. Is that
fair?''
s'Yes,'' said the child, TREMENDOUSLY.
Then Gerald took a pair of shears,
and lifting one long cuI:l, severed it from
it's mates and coi1ed it into a shining
ring. Then he drew out his pocket-book
and placed his treasure within it,, as he
said to the wondering girl
II 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 Melted silEen purse filed with
gold into Gineyra's hand.
s'He's just the same as ever" muir
INJURED Pierre, ssWhen mite of fell
low, if he saw a beggar, he wasn't salts
fed until he had emptied his pockets
for him. Bless his kind laeart!' Then
he turned toward the girl. lit is all
right. he said, kindly. MIR. Gerald
has more money than he knows what to
do with. am 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
GOMEZ
j ssThe gentleman did not give it to
me-" said the child. ssHe paid it to me
for my hair"
The air of unconscious dignity with
which she corrected Pierrefs mistake
him greatly.
.She's born Lady," he thought to
himself Then he SAID aloud, ~ on are
right. 1t was q fair bargain. Tell
your mother SO.
The next week Gerald left the CITY for
his fathers place, and in a few
months started out on tour which last.
I'd for several years. All remembrance
Of this little episode would haYe faded
away but for the curl of which he had
possessed himself. It had fashion of
occasionally turning up rs he ransacked
amid his papers. and then he would
wonder what had become of the pretty
child whose sorrovful appeal had so In
.erested him.
At last he was home again. Many
changes had take,l place during his alb
,ence. His fav orite cousin. Blanche
Anstruf1ier. had married and left Briar-
lie. which had been her home since her
parents death. The once stately old
qnire, his father, had grown quite in
inn, and his mothers dark hair was
hickly threaded with silver. But there
vas no change in the loving laeal Is which
welcomed his return.
Among otiier of his inyi CATIONS came
me from his eoslsia Blanc, ne. Her hus-s
,and had an estate where there was eK-.
client bunting aud fishing. Would he
Gin them IN the autumn