Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1886-07-24

"WeIl, miss" said the sleepy old drug
gist, who moved about like patent pc
rambulating toy which had got out of |
order, and winkcd drearily behind his
spectacle glasses, ''what can do for |
you2"
Kcturah's heart seemed to leap up into |
her mouth, ever drop of blood rushed to
her face, while in guilty whisper she
murmured:
"Hair-dye, sir please.
"Dyc?" repeated the purblind and par
TALLY deaf old man. 'What kind of
dyc?"
II don't quite know, sir! The
usual kind, l suppose. Anything but
black" she added, remembering Bar
baras remark
And with eyes, yes" and patron
izing smile, old Mr. Mill put her up bot
tie of the brightest aniIinc-red that he
possessed.
Goals is always partial to bright col
ors, " he said to himself
And Kcturah ran all the way home, as
if the whip poor wills and rabbits would
| know that she had bottle of hair-dye
wrapped up in her pocket handkerchief.
Once safe in her own little garret room,
she rubbed the mixture we'll into the
roots of her hair, brushing it out to the
very ends, according to Barbara's de-
scription Of the "city boarders' manipu-
lations
She had scarcely finished, when she
heard her stcpmother's voice calling:
''Keturah. Ke-tu- ra-ohm
"Ma'am?" She chirpcd fcebly| back.
"Come down stairs quick" said Mrs
IIitchings, i'll sort of stage shout up the
back stairs Here's your brother, Sim,
and Harry Boycc, come by the night
stage, and supper to get for EN-, and no
body knows what all! Do make haste" I"
And momcntarily forgetful of the chief
sorrow her life, keturah ran blithely
down stairs to be kissed by Sim and
chivalrously greeted by Mr. Boyce.
Both student-lamps were lighted, and
Mrs. IIitchngs had even gone to the ex-
travagancc of pair Of mould candles on
the mantlepiece, and as keturah turned
to help set the table there was unani-
nous shout of laughter
"Why, Kit, how do you come to be
topped of with cardinal-red?' jeeringly
demanded Simeon
"What in all creation ails your hairl
, said her father.
And Kcturah, catching a glimpse Of
herself in a cherry framed looking glass
which hung opposite, uttered shrek Of
! dismay, and took to prccipitous flight.
: Her head no longer bore the old hue O
, coppcry-red, but now display the vivio
cardinal hue Of Farmer Rumfords new
barn-door.
5 And as she FASTENED to hide herself
, she heard the laughter choked voice 0
= Simeon cxclaimine, incoherently:
We'll, l always knew that red hal
was fashionable, but didn't know tha
the girl4wcrc so wild after it as to dy
h their bangs the regular blazing vermil
: ion"
Mrs Hutchings herself got the suppc
n that night. 1t was Barbara's evenin
s out, and poor Keturah was nowhere to b
i found. And it was nearly ten o'cloc
o when the weeping girl, coming up tn
c long pcar-trec walk, met Mr. Boyce fac
to face.
+ Don't run away, Keturah," said h,
il kindly. Don't make an enemy of Oh
O. who would fain be a friend. have 5
much to say to you, keturah."
II I've washed it and washed it, and
.. won't come out" sobbcd poor ,kctural
washed what" questioned NJ
IT Boycc.
: "My hair-my horrid, hideous, hatef'
:, hair.'
i Never mind your hair" said NJ
= Boyce, gently drawing her arm 'hroue
his
TT "But-but it was such dreadful colo
and l dyed it; and they gave me Il
- wrong color. And. Oh, I'm almost su
:, q never will come natural again.
Of 'Oh, YES. it will" said Harry Boyc
- coaNingly pretticst gold-aubu
shade in the world"
le "Oh, Mr., Boyce, do yoa really thin
Mt so?" "
u. Upon my soul and honor do, B
at don't you want to hear my news.7
tv ''Of course l DO" whispered ketura
''Well, then, kitty-ny kitty-hc
q. it is: have received my first call TO I
~ pastorate of church in Livingbroo
ID Massachusetts,, with the prettie>, It'll
~ rec,ory in the world, of yellowstone, :
!, covered with climbing vines. And Al
III need now is a wife to keep house for n
and ask the deacons and deaconesScs
- y -.