Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-04-30


oack'" she addict, remembering Bar
bara's remark.
And with eyes yes" and patron
lllng smile, old Mr. Mill put her up a bot
lie Of the brightest anilinc-red that he
Possessed.
Gals is always partial to bright col
ors, he said to himself.
And Kcturah ran all the way home. as
u the whip-poor-wils 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 well into the
roots of her hair, brushing it out to the
very ends, according to Barbara's de.
seription of the 'city boarder'sn manipu.
lations.
She had scarcely finished, when she
heard her stepmother's voice calling:
"Kcturah! Kc-tu-u-ahn
"Ma'am'' she chirped fcebly back.
Come down stairs quick y said Mrs.
Hltchings, in a sort Of stage shout up the
back stairs. "lIcre's your brother, Sim,
and Harry Boyce, come by the night
stage, and supper to get for 'em, and no
body knows what all! Do make hastel"
And momcntarily forgetful Of the chief
sorrow Of 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. llitchings had even gone to the cx-
travagance Of pair of mould candles on
the mantlepiecc, 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 off with cardinal-red2" jeeringly
demanded Simeon.
"What in all creation ails your hair2n
said her father.
And Keturah, catching a glimpse of
herself in cherry-framed looking glass
which hung opposite, uttered a shrek of
dismay, and took to precipitous flight.
Her head no longer bore the old hue of
coppery-red, but now display the vivid
cardinal hue of Farmer Rumford's new
barn-door.
And as she FASTENED to hide herself,
she heard the laughter-choked voice of
Simeon cxclaiming, incohercntly:
"Wcll, / always knew that red hair
was fashionable, but didn't know that
the girls were so wild after it as to dye
their bangs the regular blazing vermil-
ion.
Mrs Hutchings herself got the supper
that night 1t was Barbara's evening
eat, and poor Keturah was nowhere to be
l.nss1. And Il was nearly ten o'clock
when the weeping girl, coming up the
long pcar-tree walk, met Mr. Boycc face
to face.
Don't run away, Keturah," said he,
kindly. 'Don't make an enemy of one
who would fain be friend. have So
much to say to you, Kcturah."
I've washed it and washed it, and it
won't come out!" sobbcd poor Kcturah.
washed whatl" questioned Mr..
Boyce.
'My hair-my horrid, hideous, hateful
hair!'
"Ncver mind your hair" said Mr..
Boyce, gently drawing her arm through
his.
"But-but it was such dreadful color,
and dyed it; and they gave me the
wrong color. And, oh, I'm almost sure
never will come natural againr'
"Oh, yes, it will" said Harry Boyce,
coaxingly-"the prettiest gold-auburn
shade in the world"
"Oh, Mr.. Boyce, do you really think
upon my soul and honor do! But
don't you want to hear my news2"
"Of course l do" whispered Keturah.
'Well, then, Kitty-my Kitty-here
it is: | have received my first call to the
pastorate of church in Livingbrook,
Massachusetts, with the prettiest little
rectory in the world, of yellowstone, all
covered with climbing vines. And all ]
need now is wife to keep house for me,
and ask the deacons and deaconesses to
tea. Will you be that wife, Keturah2o
"oh, Harry" she gasped, edo you
think that woman who dyes her hair is
worthy to be minister's wife?o
"lf we none of us had any earthly i'm
periections," said the young minister
elect, smiling, 1--WE should be angels
and although you're the nearest l ever
saw to one, Kitty"-with a kiss-"I
don't want you to float away and leave
me just yet. So I'm rather glad YOU
haven't arrived at that wing-and- silver
trumpet stage"
And Keturah Hitchings never troubled
herself any more about her hair.
IF Harry likes it, i" said she, II Idov'
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