Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1886-06-16
An Unwilling Accomplicc.

. AANANfAeAN-
"Afraid-of what? I'm not baby. -
NO, indeed; you're a hundred, -
mOckinely.
And if I've travelled all the way
from Cincinnati TO New York by my
self, don't know why / can't go from
bennington TO London
''YeS, but this ISN'T America. YOU
know. And girls are so silly. | don't
see what can happen to you, unless you
unless you put your head out of the
window too far, and get il knocked OFF.
Now. don't he digniiied. I'm telling
you this TO keep my spirits up. I'm
afraid may he the mater might cut
up about my leaving you, but | can't
let tins chance for shooting slip, and the
fellows won't wait. Hello, here's the
train. First-claSs to London. guapl.
! Nobody in the compartment? All right,
Mollie, jump in. Make my peace with
the mater if she is veXed. Ira, Ia, Ia,
Ia" cried my brother, giving me hug
and kiss.
The door slammed. l was going TO
London all alone, when il opened again.
\ man rushed in, pell-mell-gm, bag
and fishing tackle.
Just in time, guard!'
"Ay, ay, sir"
Heres shilling for your trouble.
All alone, eh?"
NO. sir; Il young lady, sir"
THIS time the door slammed securely,
the key WAS turned, and the guard dis
appeared.
1t was half-paSt four O'Clock. y
| damp. dull afternoon. / looked at my
self in the little mirror opposite. Ii re-
| flected 4 tall, brown-eyed, brOwn-haired
| girl. with Il pretty complexion and Il
neat travelling dress. \ young person,
eighteen at best, and I very strong and
/ healthy one. We, my brother and /,
/ had been TO Warwick, Stratford, etc.
and at the last moment lie received Il
| telegram from some college mates bid
ding him TO meet them i'll the North;
they had formed Il shooting party, which
was to start the next day. My mother
was in London; 50 We determined,
rather than disturb his pleasant trip,
| that | return to her alone. The train
WAS going at full speed-iifty-five miles
an hour. | could scarcely, in the dim
twilight of the December day, dstin-
guish the rapidly moving trees and the
| houses as We Sklrted along.
After a little | turned my eyes to my
companion. He was tall, raw-boned
man. with gray eyes and long red hair;
| heavy red whiskerS covered his face.
He wore shooting jacket and loose
flannel blouse. He fixed his eyes on me
for five minutes without speaking. At
a certain station the guard got out and
passed the window. | saw another oili
cial get on. We started off with renewed
rapidity. 1 was feeling almost lonely,
and the slightest degree embarrassed 10y
my close proximity to my unSoclable
companion. when he got up from his
seat, and opened his travelling bag, took
out a pair of shears, and putting his
hand on my shoulder, said:
Il want YOU to cut my hair"
'-Cut your hair" cried, too amazed
to be alarmed. 'Are you craZy?"
Yes. cut my hair Immediately"
Il will not" | exclaimed. ''Guard.
guard. come to me; this man is craZy,''
rushed to the door; it was locked, of
course, and the guard l knew, and who
knew us. was miles away, having
changed ut the last station.
sit is useless TO make disturbance, :
said the fellow. Il intend that you
shall cut my hair. If You do not shall
kiss you-take your chOice!'
Tremblingly / took the shears.
''Wait; put towel around my neck.
Thanks, very much. Now, carefully"
For an hour / cut away; il had grown
quite dark, only the dim light of the
railroad lamp Illuminated the compart-
ment.
''Is it all OFF, he asked, producing
his glass and peering at his cropped
crown.
Yes"
.'Not bad for a beginner. Now for
my whiskers. | can't shave, you, see,
my arm is broken
For the first time saw this member
hung helplessly at his side.
''But l will not, ;" | screamed; Il will
nOt,r
"Yes, you will, " said my prosecutor.
"You will do just as tell YOU. kneel
down here in front of me and cut my
beard!'
II will not, will not!''
''Very WELL" And he advanced to-
ward Inc.
Instantly was OH my knees cutting
away at the forest Of uneergrowth.
''As close, as You can, my dear-you
will find the shears sharp. don't be-
lieve you have left hair on my head
This took Inc longer To do than my
previous job. The beard WAS stubborn
and monsieur was particular.
"All must 60" he said pensively.
"All my love-lOcks and my lady killers.
But ecessity''-drawing a sigh-''cruel
necessity, knows 10 law"
lie threw kiss with the tips Of his
bony fingers.
81 shall always dub you cruel neceS-
sity in my own mind"
His face being rs clean shaven rs my !
implements allowed, he Did me turn my |
back.
81 will not! Oh. ! will not!' | wept. |
'.You will kill me. Oh, have mercy!" |
"You will turn your back immediate |
ly," said my tormentor. ''But first |
help me adjust my arm in this sling"
Like a whipped slave | meekly tore |
the linen handkerchief hc produced |
from the valise into two parts, and |
bound il about his arm. At least he |
was brave, for the drops stood on his
brow, but he did not quiyer.
Now, take this lead and pencil under
my eyes, and shadow my eyebrows. Not
too deeply. but rs you would your own,
were you dressing for BALL"
trembled. ''The madman!" whiS-
pered below my breath. ''Oh, the mad
man,' But | did as was bid. One fall
tering look and felt his arms would be
around me.
"Now. look out Of the window.
Mind, if you so much as move that
pretty little head, on my honor as gen.
tleman | must take my revenge"
For twenty minutes-or was il hum
dred years?-I sat gazing into the dark
ness without. The lightning rapidity
of the train as We rushed along made a
leap through the window suicidal.
l thought of my mother and, poor
child, of my girlish sins and negligences.
l was too frightened to cry, too stunned