New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-12
THE FLAXEN WIG.
PART l.

PART L.
Mr.. Brodrtck Adrian, Of Emlyn Park, Surrey
- c,oea on fifty when he determined to marry.
Hitherto he had lived life OF much secIuSl9n;
thopsh as he was not morose, and on occasion
could display SSS'al recI%se An ample patti
mony, which he had Inherited at an cary age,
had permitted him to lead life OF stpdlous
leisure AS he took nrstciSs1 e %en JebatinS
powers at the Union, many OF his trlehds hsd
Anticipated that he would attain TO tor
Mace In public life; but he soon lost all taste Ior
politics and his retiring disposition kept HIM from
taking an active part in any SOCIAL or cconoHlc"i
questions. ,.-,o,si,,o ,o,i,s and
nv ipdicious investments his fortune had greatly
accum ulated. that naturally as ne SdHanceI ~ ~
years thoughts regarding tne ui' ~. Sir r. was
probably in consequence Of such meditanons l I
Re was suddenly seized by the regret that ne nau
not married in early le nuT 70 Mr. Adrian
that he was not yet too old 70 repair the oinisHn
Men older than himself, he knew, haa na iTiss
happily, and been blessed with desirable ianines;
The result of these deliberations was thaI no
thou cht lit 10 mention to several OIL nus m ,
intimate friends the probability ola Of MS suiabe
partner Those who heard Of his intention thH QUIZ
that great good fortune in store for some iuEhS
young lady, Mr.. Adrian, being ohly Ioi he no
was not outrageously old, and there coulu NC Ao
doubt that he must be enormously wealthy; Va -
As soon as he had fully made up NIB minp NJ 70
marry, perhaps as natural S{Cmsr about his
nsrsonal annearance. without being actually
soveny he had long been somewhat ce was
tbe more remarkable because in his yOuII ne .1u
been something of dandy II was @ ,.b M
easier for him To s Apparel spG lie found
IN n difficult matter however, when ne caGLe y! "
consider the changes which time haa wLoTS h.a on
bis personal appearance 30 nS so careless Of his
looks that il may be doubted II MI. Aariln mne
ever before fully realized the iact tnaI ne mr'
81, nnQI
ton time had been rather induigent 10 nun l .iii
otherwise He was erect, and his step, was SUI
elastic he was free from BODILY com vas fresh
and retained much OF the roddincss OF youth. ~
WAS probably MIR Adrian's comparative lenora1 ia
vi "; uIt' 80 ~ chief defect causing him 70 believe
flat il might prove serious obstacle IN },le ~
of the lady on whom his choice IngnC os saA rOwi
tainiv no man in his circumstances, whose Know
edge Of the world WAS extensive, would nave oech
Sltelv TO entertain such an opinion ~, a..
1t was while ln&ehinG"hSS nnId labor on enter
inc the matrimonial market that Mr.: ADRIAN pc
thought him of procuring Wig ~ ~ q nr9hifr
10 on the other affairs OF life have no compuncuoh
in cheatng each other about themselves, even az
tbomeh they are aware that the deceit must nlu-
mHrsS S Gyet inc he was in London Mr. Adrian &C
eo,dneiv went to his barber and stated MS wishes,
The barber replied that he wo4la pT pros n%, mind
maize the article required, but, If he dld not mih9
sone additional expense, wig could be proGDpteSd
FOR hin, from a celebrated pcrruquler N IaLIs
superior 10 any that could be made IN Lom1. a.
Mr. Adrian said that IN a. m nhiCSr
snch as This excellence WAS the point chlcny
IN he considered. Measurements were aCcoru-
;nrI,, +oI,en of his head. and memoranda maze re-
.ractinr his complexion and the color OF MS Wits
Iers Then he was told that in about three WEEKS IS
The wig would arrive from Pans ana %%ulI, IL
s,rrayed he Mt once forwarded to him. Inc Dar-
ppoSSad TINT il any minute alterations were re
oIred he would be pleased 10 make them; thougn n
such the skill OF the % .. IeTfsctiv and
little doubt that the Wig "ouiu III PoA''0NS ~
rive great satisfaction ,,,duo5
nv the fact that during the next rev weeks ne
synited with impatience the arrival Of the wig;
SrIy few DAYS after the stated time he received
the wig When he first opened the box IN whlcn
i vas it areared to him to be Tf SIo when he
srsad on the wig and observed the mctamorphosls
which he underwent. The change wrought IN ms
aprearance was simply marvellous Inc wig ntUo
i;ia a glove and-to use another rather hackneyed
phrase-detection was Impossible
Mr. Adrian WAS one Of those fair; smooth-cotn1-
plexoned men who Provideo tney RTep sT ~,
far in middle age. Hitherto he had lookeu eNelS
day OF his years but now he might readily nave
nassed for tyentynine Irrespective OF the improve
nment which il wrought in him. the wig was
marcel of skill and also Of beauty The mar, IN
stead Of having stiff, set appearance as IS usual
fell in natural curves and was crisp ana sou as
when it grew Notwithstanding the liRhtness OF
the shade il seemed TO accord perfectly with ms
slight whSkers He was naturally re-; eaa nS s se
that Nj. Adrian not only looked but felt young
again. ,.-
iatnd among his friends, and suddenly shower OF
Invitations fell upon him. Those who had mar
riareahle daughters could scrcely be said 30 be
di.interested in the hospitality which they prof
tered bnt there were others. chiefly middle,aged
matrops. who out OF sheer Indliness OF heart
asked Mr. Adrian to their houses, with the inter
Ron Of aiding him 70 get wife, urged also. il may
he nv the feminine desire to have finger in so
promising a matrimonial pie. Mr. Adrian would
Souhtlezs have accepted one or more Of these in
vitatjons and his marriage would in due course
have followed in orthodox and commonplace
fashion but for the singular events which now
TOOK Mace and which were fated TO change bis
destiny