San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-12-23

ca neI lCe-CItAlns anu sue oulN ueSlTeO
such happiness to be perpetual and
neveT-euding.
Eslelle lived alone in little room
under the caves of little frame house
She took her meals with dragon of an
old woman who owned the place and
charged less than one would where
boarders Jared better.
So the winter passed and the spring
came, and then the hot days of sum-
mcr The theatre was TO be closed for
repairs and improvements and the COM
pany was TO be disbandcd; only twelve
nights more of the Golden Goose"
and then those who could or would
might rest for awhile. The leading
lady, who was to be the queen OF all
the fairies in the next piece. had given
the small fry glimpse of her street attire
at rehearSals, and had condescended to
say that she would give hundreds of
dollars for that little creatures hair"
Hers was the same color, but whose
chignon she sportcd no one knew.
One night Adolphe had escorted Is
telie home from the theater, and they
parted at the dOOr-if | said he did not
kiss her | should tell story-and an
hour afterward some one was heard
groaning near the house. Estelle knew
who it was by instinct, and the land
lady's half-grown sons went out with
her and lifted the PROSTATE form from
the pavement, the landlady protesting
all tie while.
at is friend of mine" cried Estelle;
"a gentleman from the theater. He is
not poor; he will pay you well. Do
take him inr' So the woman yielded,
and doctor was sent for, and the poor.
bleeding. sehseless soul cared for as
well as might be.
Robbers had set upon him and taken
from him large sum of money, his
watch, and ring and all else valuable
that he had about him. They had
broken his leg and cut his head open
in the scuffle besides, and it was a long
while before he could tell much about
it. Then he confided to Estelle this fact:
He had not been remarkably prudent or
remarkably economical. His funds for
summer expenditure were in the pur-
Joined pockct-book. He had Just $50
in the world.
Poor Estelle had $40, and just then
the theater closed. The manager fit
ted to some seaside resting-place. There
was no one to call upon, nothing to do
but wait and hope. Instead of passing
a pleasant month in the country she
helped to nurse Adolphe, who was in
terrible danger, and as hopeless as
helpless man always is. The $50 went
Estelle's $50 followed it. She had paid
her own board in advance. Now both
their pockets were empty. She had said
nothing of her own money to Adolphc,
and the landladv never asked whence
it came. But the day arrived when the
woman stood with her arms akimbo be-
fore the anxious girl and asked her how
she dared assure her that her bill was
safe
He hasn't a penny she shrieked;
mot penny! The thieves took all he
had, besides what has been spent. So
he tells me. And to the hospital he shall
go tomorrow. I've told the doctor
that"
Estelle went up to her own room and
knelt down by her bed and wept
'Tll do it" she said-"rll do It'll
Anything sooner than that he should
suffer SC"
And twisting the hair in a great coil,
she put on her hat and cloak and hur-
ried out into the street and straight to
the st, - hotel, where she knew the
leading lady of the coming season had
her headquarters
Madame she said, you have often
said to me that you wished you had my
hair. You may have it if you will. If
yo, Criva ma GIO I will crn,, - ol,so 20
my head"
Have you gone crazy2" asked mad
anne.
No" said Estelle. "a want money
and ] will sell my hair"
Its a horrible temptation" said
madame. Fifty! Why, I'll give you
a hundred for it. Such hair can't be
had. But you'll repent it, child"
NO" said Estelle, white as death.
Cut it, then," said madame, and
emptied her purse into her lap.
In five minutes more madame had Es-
telle's hair and Estelle 500.
She sent the package of money to
Adolphe by the landlady's boy. TELL
him it is from a friend" she said
Estelle, meanwhile, had hidden him
goOd-by in the dusk of still evening
and taken her cropped head to the
country.
She also returned on the day of the
first rehearsal. She walked toward the
entrance of the theater and met Adol-
phe. He started, looked at her, and
held out his hand.
"Estelle," he cried, "haye you been
illP"
She shook her head.
What has happened to your hair?"
he asked in a lower voice, though the
leading lady heard it.
al cut it off," said Estelle again.
you've made a fright of yourself"
said Adolphe, more candidly than po-
litely. THE devil must have tempted
you to get rid of your own beauty.
Such hair as yours! Great heavenr'
Estelle threw his hand from her and
ran away. Adolphe stood staring after
her and then and there the leading lady
caught him by the arm.
''She sold it to me-" said the lady. 81
found out why afterward. My doctor
told me he attended you. They were go
ing to turn you out of house and home
at the risk of your life, and she cut her
hair off to pay the landlady. You'd
been making love to her, of course, and
she was silly about you; and now you
snub her for it. And she has not told
you word. What brutes men are! A
plain little chit like that is worth twen-
ty of them. You never guessed il; YOU
ITO Il (LorltluiA6l