Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1886-04-21

I-I don't quito know, sir! The
usual kind, I suppose. Anything but
black" she added, remembering Bar
bara's remark.
And with eyes, yes" and patron
izing smile, old Mr.. Mill put her up a bot
tie of the brightest anilinc-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-dyc
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-
scription of the "city boarder's" manipu-
lations.
She had scarcely finished, when she
heard her stcpmother's voice calling:
"Keturah! Ke-tu-ra-ahw
"Ma'am?" she chirpcd feebly back.
"Comc down stairs quicll!" said Mrs
IIitchings, in sort of stage shout up the
back stairs. 'lIcre's your brother, Sim,
and Harry Boycc, come by the night
stage and supper to get for 'em, and no.
body knows what all! Do make hastc!"
And momcntarily forgctful of the chief
sorrow of her life, Kcturah ran blithely
down stairs to be kissed by Sim and
chivalrously greeted by Mr.. Boycc.
Both studcnt-lamps were lighted, and
Mrs. IIitchings had even gone to the cx-
travagancc of a pair of mould candles on
the mantlcpiecc, and as Kcturah 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-red?" jeeringly
demanded Simeon.
"What in all creation ails your hairl"
said her father.
And Keturah, catching a glimpse of
herself in cherry framed looking glass
which hung opposite, uttered shrek Of
dismay, and took to prccipitous flight.
Her head no longer bore the old hue of
coppcry-rcd, but now display the vivid
cardinal hue OF Farmer Rumford's new
barn-door.
And as she fastened to hide herself,
she heard the aughtcr-chokcd voice Of
Simeon cXclaiming, incohcrcntly:
"Wcll, | always knew that red hair
was fashionable, but didn't know that
the girls were 50 wild after it as to dye
their bangs the regular blazing vermil-
ion"
Mrs. IIutchings herself got the supper
that night. 1t was Darbara's evening
out, and poor Kcturah was nowhere to be
found. And it was nearly ten o'clock
when the weeping girl, coming up the
long pcar-trcc walk, met Mr.. Boyce face
to face.
"Don't run away, Kcturah,' said he,
kindly. "Don't make an enemy of one
who would fain be a friend. have SO
much to say to you, Kctunh."
I've washed it and washed it, and it
won't come out" sobbed poor Kcturah.
"Nashcd what!" questioned Mr..
Boycc.
"NIy hair--my horrid, hidcous, hateful
hair~
"Ncvcr mind your hair" said Mr..
Boyce, gently drawing her arm through
his.
"But-but it was such dreadful color
and I dyed it; and they gave me the
wrong color. And, oh, I'm almost sure
t never will come natural again!"
ooh, yes, it will.' said Harry Boycc,
coaxingly-'thc prcttcst gold-auburn
shade in the world.'
"Oh, Mr.. Boyce, do you really think
sol'
'Upon my soul and honor do! But
don't you want to hear my newsl'
"Of course do," whispered Kcturah.
"Wcll, then, Kitty-my Kitty-here
it is: have received my first call to the
pastoratc of church in Lvingbrook,
Massachusetts, with the prctticst little
rcctory in the world, of yellowstone, all
covered with climbing vines. And all
need now is a wife to keep house for me,
and ask the dcacons and dcaconcsses to
tea. Will you be that wife, Keturah"
ooh, larry" she gasped, "do you
think that woman who dyes her hair is
worthy to be minister's wifcl"
'If we none of us had any earthly I'M
pcricctions," said the young minister
elect, smiling, 1--WE should be angels;
and although you're the nearest ! ever
saw to one, Kitty'-with II 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 silver
trumpet stage"
And Kcturah lIitchings never troubled
herself any more about her hair.
"lf Harry likes it, said she, "I do!'
--Hlet Forest cruces.
The FIRST Blood.