St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-16
ATRESS OF HAIR.
A Viper is Thrice a Viper When 1T
Kisses From the Midst of Roses.

6acn other. w no SnOulu nc NC uuI 1ah0l
himself.
He betrayed no serprise; no emotion.
Extending his hand, ''How are you?" he
said. as coolly as though we had parted
only the night before.
so, so,'' l replied, adopting his own
manner.
''Goodr' said he, taking my arm,
''Whither bound?"
''HOme."
''I'll go with you"
In my room he tossed his cap upon the
piano and stretched himself out Familiarity
in an easy chair.
''You are still musician" he asked.
81 am organist at the cathedral"
''And still play the violin, l suppoSe?"
eyes"
''Do you remember, Theodore, the little
song Louise used to Sing?"
The memories awakened by Taifers
question were so poignant that l felt my
self turn pale. Without word L Shout
dered my violin and played over Louise's
little song-but SO softly that L thought l
alone could hear it.
George listened. At the last note he
rose.
''Still the same" he muttered, as if to
himself. ''She Tilted you, did she not?
Preferred the other fellow and his money"
Taifer's face Saddened. Abruptly he lit
a cigaret and wished me good day.
Some days later l got wind that Capt
Taifer was installed in lodgings overlooking
the Ducal square. Frequently he could be
seen smoking his pipe on the balcony. He
spoke to no one, had no associates. His
single dissipation consisted in riding along
the MeuseiOn horseback.
Whenever we met he cried: ''Hello,
m Il 4l,a
only person with whom he exchanged
word.
Toward the end of the autumn the arch
bishop of Rheims paid us his pastoral visit.
For month L was kept busy; had not
moment to call my own. After his lord
ships departure L heard that Taifer had
vacated his quarters and that he appeared
no more abroad on horseback.
One evening 1.-THE first snow-fakeS flying
against my window had just kindled the
fire and brewed a cup of coffee, when
/ heard step on the staircase. The door
opened. The new arrival was Taifer.
He pressed my hand and said: ''Theo-
dore, come with me. I am unhappy to-
day; more unhappy than usual"
We descended into the silent street and
strobe along the snow-covered sidewalk.
At the corner of the public garden Taifer
green Persian blinds. He unlocked the
door. We entered, Old-fashioned por-
traits hung in the hall. Beyond there was
spiral staircase of rare elegance. At the top
of the staircase red buTnOuS was fastened
to the wall. l saw all this rapidly, for
Taifer at once proceeded to mount to the
upper story. Here scene of unparalleled
luxury met my eye. The walls were of
the hue of gold, with great purple flowers
embossed upon them. The furniture was
of a costly and beautiful Eastern wood. A
cut-glaSs 1iagon on the marble table held
an amber-colored essence. A subtle per-
fume mingled with the resinous odor of
pine cones that were blazing upon the
hearth.
what a lucky chap Taifer isl'' said to
myself. ''He has brought this magnifi-
cence as a trophy from Africa-from that
opulent land where gold, myrrh and in
cenSe are abundant, and where the fruits
are luscious, and where the women have
gaZelle-like eyes-from Algeria-from Tu-
nisi"
Such were my reflections
Taifer filled gorgeousyoriental pipe with
silz-like tobacco and babe me smoke, him
self setting the example. Then I sank
upon soft satin divan, and watched the
flames dart up the chimney.
''What are you thinking OFF" he asked
by-and-by.
81 was thinking of how much better it
would have been for me if 1 had gone to
Africa instead of remaining here at Charlie
ville-of how much pain l should have
avoided; Of how much wealth l should have
acquired. Ali Louise was wise to prefer
the other fellow. / could never have made
her contented."
Taifer smiled bitterly.
$50 you envy my happineSs?"
/ was startled, for George, at this mo-
ment, did not look like himself. A pro-
found emotion was agitating him. His
eyes were moist. He rose brusquely, and
stationed himself before the window, drum
ming tattoo upon the pane, and whistling
an air from IRA Gazza Ladra." Then he
wheeled about and filled two glasses with
the amber-colOred liquor mentioned above
''TO your health, cOmrade," said he.
''TO yours, George"
We drank. A pmgentar aroma flew to my
brain. An indescribable well-being, an as
tonishing sense of vigor, penetrated to the
marrow of my bones.
''What is that?' asked.
CA cordial. One might call it a molten
ray of sunshine from Africa for it embod-
les the quintessence of the rarest herbs that
grow on African soil.
sit is delicious. Pour me another
glass"
Certainly; but first tie this lock of hair
about your arm"
He passed me tress of black hair, as
lustrOuS as metal. / had no objection to
granting his request only it struck me as
odd. Scarcely, however, had l emptied
the second glass when this tress of hair. |
know not how, took life and insnuated it
self like snake around my shoulder.
felt it glide along my arm and tap my breast
over the heart.
''Taifer," cried ''for Gods sake, help!
Take away this hair!"
Taifer responded gravely: ''Let me
breathe"
''Take it away! Take it away!' 1 re.
peated. ''Ah, am dying!''
''Let me breathe" he said again.
''Then it will strangle me; it will kill
meI' exclaimed.
''Let me breathe" he said, with terrible
calmness.
| felt that was growing mortally weak.
A serpent was biting at my vitals. II
tight ned around my loins. Its icy coils
kLOt ed themselves about my throat
l dashed toward the window and threw
it open with atrembling hand. l fell upon
my knees. Suddenly strength seemed tc
come back to me.
Taifer, as pale as death, said:
''It is all right now; l have taken away
the tress of hair"
He showed me his arm. The hair glis
tened around his elbow.
With an outbreak of nervous laug liter HI
continued:
This black lock of hair, my friend
equals your blonde souvenir of Louise
doesn't it? Everyone has the cross to bea
more or less stoically, that's all. BIZ