The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-04
A HAIR BREADTH ESCAPE.

they are commonly styled, pupils OF
the military college of ST. Cyr was Gas
ton de Iangcais lie was the last rep
rescntativo of an ancient family in Brit
tanv. whose traditional obstinacy and
impaticncc Of control he had inherited
10 an extent which rendered him more
popular with bis comrades than with the
presiding authorities.
Not that be was especially remarkable
for turbulence or insubordination. or that
his infracti0ns of rules were moro IRE
ouent than those Of the majority Of his
fellows On one point alone he was in
trac,ablo. and exercised all his ingenuity
I'm repeated attempts 10 escape regula.
ton which was iuoxprcssibly ropugnant
20 him Gifted by nature with am album
dance Of luxuriautiy curling hair, OF
which he was in0rdinalely vain, the pre-
scribcd necessity of having il cropped
Snort was a perpetual grievance TO him
and he looked anxiou is forward 10 ms
second year no So Cyr, and 70 bis consc-
qucnt emancipation from the too close
scrutiny To which hc had hitherto been
periodically subjected
.sIn two months. he said oxultingly
10 ono Of his intimatcs. my time here
will be- up. and once named officer shall
b. FREQ as ain, and NO longer ashamed 10
show myself % my cousin Louise ioi
you see, be added, lifting ms cap ana
displaying thick growth Of short curls
carefully nattcnci down, 81 still have
some hair left
Castles in ihc air. however arc apt to
collapse, and Gasions visionary projects
were, to say tie least, premature.
a few mornings later, at the usual
hour of parade, the corps Of youngsters
were unexpectedly summoned TO under
20 the inspection of the infantry licuten-
ant, Bouchard. lynx eyed martinez, by
no means fayorabIy disposed toward pu-
pills destined Tor cavalry regiments
whom lac contemporary designated as
"coxcombs." DE- Langc1ls, as therecoe
nizcd loaderof Che band was particularly
obnoxious 10 himi and his keen eyes
twinklcd maliciou,iy as he stopped short
before tho young man, and examined
him curiousIy.
Take off your cap he said.
Castor obcvcd with an inward SILVER
of apprehension
Il thought as much, growlcd the
lieutenant. IF that superiluous hair
has not disappeared 10y this time to-
morrow you will pass the next four days
in the sale do police.
"You are ia for 10 now, whispered his
sympathizing comrade when the terrible
Bouchard had passed on.
"Not bit OF it," replied De Langeais,
Struggling his shoulders unconcencdly.
"Why, what on earth can You do!
IL don't exactly know. but intend TO
put oil the OWL day as long as possibly
can"
Next morning, with the aid OF q couple
of brushes, well soaked in water, he sue
ceeded in leyelmg the rcbellious locks 50
as to deceive even practiced eye, and
appeared on parade with his wonted
iaunty air, although not little nervous
as to the result of the coming ordeal
Presently the lieutenant arrived with an
ominously slow step, and pausing as be-
fore exactly in front of Castor, repeated
the order Of the prey iQus day.
Take of your cap"
For a moment Bouchard appeared puz
gled by the apparently smooth surface oil
the "pupil's" head, but, bent on ascer
tanning the real state Of the case, he un
tremendously lifted portion OF the fiat
tened hair with his forchngor, thereb,
disclosing a substratum of tiny curls
Then. turning to the adiutant who &C
companicd him. he briefly consigned the
offender for four days TO the "salle dc
police" and continued his round OF m
spection with a self satisfied grim
During the last day of his soclusioi
CASTOR practically employed his leisure
in decorating his knee, 10y a ludiciou
mixture of blue and green paint, with
tolerably exact imitation OF a Druise
which he showed TO the reSimcnIal doc
tor, pretending that the confusion nae
been caused 10y his coming IN contac
with post in the riding school Nheihe
he implicitly believed the statement O
not, the good natured medico put Iiin
on tho sick list, and thus tweniy-lou
hours were gained. HIS feaPpeaianc'
on parade, however, became at length
matter Of necessity, and this time In
continued disobedience entailed on nm
weeks further confinement at the eN
piratiOnOf which hc was again consigned
TO durance vilo for am entire fortnight.
"Ihis will never DO. thought DO Ian
reais. "The eafihcnwarc pot must il
Tho long run be smashed by the iron one
and shall have To- give in at last. ha,
better try old Grison once more"
Whereupon. having previously 10y wa,
OF precaution added "a few touches to Tia
pictorial establishment OF his knee, h
iimped into the consulting room Of DR.
erison. who was fortunately too msc'
.ncaccd with other naticnis 10 bcstov
more than a very cursorv glance at In,
brlise. and not knowing precisely wha
90 make of the case. gave tho newcome