The Opelousas courier., 1889-03-09
After what seemed an age TO Bouoh4.

- @No nSIueraDl time"
proceeded to work. He was correct
ne might also have said, ..and some
pam TOO" without e-xaggeration.
Llke the barber in the .Arabian
Nights" and many of confratern;tv
the world over, Bob's barber had not
n fault of .reticence. and during the
operation of applying wash after wash,
anu rubbing with such vigor as to
threaten the removal of the last narti.
Gle OF outicle from the handsome face
OF ms customer, he had time to discuss
In all I'll 9ir phases the weather. the
prohlbitory law, compulsory educa-
tion, the eight-hour law, the trouble
among West Side car conductors.
Sunday morning newspapers and MANY
other living questions of the day.
he had it all to himself and
warmed up eloquently, for Bob was in
o great pain to say any thing. Fin.
ally after nearly two hours of rub.
nlng' serubbing, pulling, jerking,
pushing and showing, during which q
half dozen conferences had ensued be.
tween the several artists, and when
Bob, feeling that death was preferable
to the torture he was undergoing, was
ABOUT &c ask for a razor to apply to his
throat, the barber stopped operations,
saying:
"lts no use, sir. The more 7 wash
lt the lighter it do grow in color. It's
Just my opinion that that color is SCI
there forever" &
Bob gave but one glance into the
glass. That was sufficient. With q
groan he sank half fainting into the
chair. His entire beard, including
his glorious mustache was abeautifu]
pea green. The borax or soda EN-.
ployed by the barber had not only
caused the dye to set, but had so modi
fed the original color as to produc.
the result stated.
There was but one thing to do, and
Bob bade the barber go ahead. Blu,
had be been announcing his own death
warrant, his Kpice couldn't have beer
more sepulehral than when he directe
that his twenty-year beard should be
removed by the cruel razor.
1t was dark and nearly seven o'clock
when he reached the door of his home,
within whose sacred precincts he
longed to be that he might hide him.
self from inquisitive eyes. Yes he
| pondered. "why seek to hide, since
three old and familiar friends failed tc
recognize me on the street car? He
suffered his finger to rest upon the
electric door bell some seconds. When
the hired girl timidly opened the door
a few inches to determine the charac.
ter of the caller, he pushed against il
saVagely, saying: "You lazy Jezebel,
get out of my way!"
But she didn't. Failing to recog.
nize him in his smooth face, she rather
slammed the door violently to with a
shrek. After the lapse of a few mo-
ments he heard the window just about
the door raise cautiously, when the
voice of his wife reached him. 'You
had better get away. I'm expecting
my husband home every minute, and
| he--n
ooh, bother. my dear. Come down
and open the door. It's cold out
here
Ugh! you brute. Call me your
dear. Go away, I say, Or it will be
worse for YOU"
..Ill not do it, I tell you. Come
down and open the door or Ill smash
it in.n
The street lamp threw its beams full
upon him. That smooth face was
strange indeed t. her. The mouth di-
vested of its great pustache sent out
tones different from what she had
heard when he breathed loving utter.
ances in her a
aYou had best get away" SAID the
wife, or It will be worse for you."a
Raising his voice, he began to seold,
when down there came upon his face,
head, shoulders and, in fact. all over
him, the contents of a big water
pitcher. Then the window went down
with a slam, and all was still.
Irresolute, Bob stood there SILVER
ing for some time, when finally it oc-
Cured to him that an Introduction was
really necessary in order for him to
enter. So he proceeded to the house
of a friend a block or SO away, who, OF
course, after a brief interview and ex-
~nlanation, identified him. But it de.
manded some entredty and exp >stula-
ton on the part of his friend before
Bob, with chattering teeth and gar
ments half frozen. gained admission to
his own house.
His beard is now a week old, but he
is searching just as diligently for the
comb-seller as on the day following
tile catastrophe.-Chicago Herald.