Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1884-01-19
THE OLD HAIR TRUNK.
BY NARY KYLE DALLAH.

Inc story L am aDOut 10 nafrate was
told me by Mrs. s., an excellent as
we'll as n charming woman. She be-
lieves every word of it, I am sure, and l
shall make no comment on it's probable
ity. These arc her own words:
"You have seen one OF those old hair
Trunks, with the owners initials in brass
nails on the cover, which our ancestors
used to carry about with them when
they went upon a journey she began.
Zone of them was left me by Mrs. Fa-
yette, a ~far-away cousin Of my grand
mother, togethhr with a quantity of
other old possessions, most of them
merely valuable from antiquity and asso-
citation.
ut was Of an enormous size, and the
men who were employed to carry it up
stairs would not move it until it was emp
tied.
II possess a garnet, as you know, and
in that blessing to housekeepers un-
known to the inhabitants of great cities.
I stored my legacy. OHe or two old
cloaks and a silk comfortable were re-
placed in its depths, the rest were
loaned to the young people who were
about to get up private theatricals in aid
ofthe church, and carried off with great
glee. 1 had not seen the original pos
SCISSOR since my own childhood. Then
she was an old woman past eighty, and
with her yellow ivory complexion, white
puGs, high nose, and antique gowns,
was like a figure just stepped from an
ancient family portrait.
"She was merely a memory to me;
and though the fact that, she recalled
the little girl who used to eat her seed
cake, and admire her old china, was
proven by her legacy, ! made no pre-
tence of grieving for . death which
simply recalled the fact that such a per-
son had lived to me. I felt q little
softened, that was all, and wished I had
taken the trouble of visiting her in her
last days, or had sent for her to visit
me.
II make these remarks because it was
only a few days after the arrival OF the
big hair trunk at Our home that / went
with my husband to a ball. It was a
fine affair. l had had . special dress
made, and though my baby was only
six months old, l had no fear of leaving
her with nurse, a respectable woman Of
fifty, who had been i'll my mothers
service. Ella was then just seven and
Arthur three, aud both were good,
obcdient little creatures. 1t is ten years
ago, and Ella will be married in spring.
How time flies.
well, | was going to the ball NV
trnnk had been sent to - Hotel, and
We were 10 stay there all night, and
come home in the morning. WAS very
much pleased, for who does not like to
play girl again after ten years or SO IF
married life-to &C off with ones hns-
band and forget Housekeeping for
awhile?
II left the. house in good spirits. and
after a dinner and a little lounge, began
TO get ready. The hair dresser did nv
hair. My toilet became me. Nv hus-
band surprised me with a beautiful Sc.
Of pearls, and / was never in a nerrie,
mood.
II used 10 be a good dancer in fact,
am still. only when ones girls grow ur
+ one drops dancing, and l had plenty Of
partners.
II enjoyed the supper, and when i,
was over, l went into the dressing-room
to see that my hair was all right and
take a general view of my costume.
Most of the ladies were crovdinc
about the glasses. but one in the corner
was not IN use. I approached it, and az
did so a lady stepped up and looked
over my shoulder. As I saw that il was
an old lady / was about to step politely
aside, when suddenly, with a strange
chill commencing at my neck and run.
ming thence through all my body, cold
as ice, yet tingling, if you can under.
stand me, I recognized the face anC
form. SO long unseen BY ne. Of old Mis-.
fayette. Her hands we're on my shout.
ders, and she looked straight into nv