Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-04-18

"Humor herl DO you think she
she would see the Dick Edgar of ten
years ago in me?" / asked almost
angrily.
Marsh looked at me critically.
"Well, | don't know" he said. at
is your beard that changes you and
the way you brush your hair and
your clothes. If you could change
all that"
A momentary picture of myself OF
ten years ago came up before me.
And think Marsh saw it too, for we
both laughed.
There is no use in going over the
rest of our talk. Suffice to say, that
before the iced beer was gone l had
promised for the sake of humanity
and the love / bore my sweet aunt
and afflicted cousin to do my best to
turn back the wheels of time for ten
years and go out to the Beeches the
next day as the rather dudish young
lover of my pretty cousin.
After went up stairs | stood at
the mirror in my dressing-case q long
time. Was it true that Dick Edgar
OF ten years ago was only hidden I'M
der suciperfial layer of hair and
dress? took up the comb and drew
a part down the center of my head.
1t was becoming. l had only given
up wearing my hair like that on
Julias account. She thought it fop-
pish. Her little basket stood on u
table near with the scissors cleaning
temptingly. l had promised, and it
had to be done; but | didn't half
mind seeing my cherished whiskers
drop. l felt oddly, as though 1 were
getting rid of some sort of disguise,
and in the course of half hour |
stood before the mirror with smooth,
plump cheeks and q little upward
curved mustache.
l undressed and got into bed with
the nimbleness of 25 and forgot to
wish for Julia at all.
The next morning | spent an hour
in cOmbing my mustache down and
parting my hair very much on the
side before | could muster courage to
go down to breakfast and face the
servants.
81 hardly knowed we, sir" old John
said, with the familiarity of long SER
vice.
at is cooler So" said. "And, by
Che way, John, tnke this telegram
down and have it sent off at once"
1t was to the tailor who had ar
rayed me in the gorgeousness of my
youth, and whom l had cut for
economic reasons since had been q
benedict. | told him to send down on
the noon train anything in the way
of collars, hats, ties or coats that
was new and suitable for summer
wear in the country. And then |
went off for my usual morning at the
factory. The box was waiting for
me at l o'clock when came home,
and l told old John to have the dog
cart ready at 2. At half-past l
drove out Mt the gate, and old Mr..
Morehouse, who had the opposite
place, looked up and gave me a sort
of gasp as | lifted my hat to him.
had on pink and white striped
shirt, n high collar and big white tie,
n yellow and white blazer and q sailor
hat with polkadotted band. knew
people would talk, but 1t was no.
bOdy's business how | chose to dress,
so far as | could see. AS drove into
the handsome beech avenue that gave
its name to the old house where my
aunt and cousin lived it seemed al
most as though | had suffered O
loss of memory as well as poor Nelly.
My heart had quite a youthful throb.
My aunt had none of Mr.. Warehouses;
astonishment. See had not seen me
since my marriage, and she had been
living among people to whom blazes
of gaudy hues We're as the sands of
the sea. Her eyes were tired with
weeping over her cherished child, but
she frightened with hope at the
thought of my helping her to lead
Nelly into the light again.
While we were talking of her she
came in, and then | always thought
it was the rest of us who were bewil-
dered Surely ten years had not gone
over her head. She had on short
white frock, with elbow sleeves and n
scarlet sash. Her yellow hair was in
big golden cable down her back
and waving in a fringe across her
pretty white forehead.
There was the same seashen color
in her cheeks, the same roguish look
/ Ill ner eyes tnaU was tnere before Sne
began to think with Herbert Spencer
and get n shadow in their blue depths
by looking on the dark side with
Schopenhauer.
When she saw me, she gave a little
cry, and flew straight into my arms.
You naughty boy" said she. Il
don't think | ought to speak to you.
Where have you been these two days?"
And as kissed her sweet firm lips,
| said in my soul, "She is my cousin
after all"
Presently she looked me over.
Dick" she said anXiously, you
have been working too hard. There
are wrinkles all around your eyes"
You know have the factory
now" | said family.
"You!" and she fairly screamed.
"You! What in this world do you
know about n factory" Alasl |
couldn't tell her of those weary years
of working for my present position.
My aunt made signs to me over my
cousins head, and | changed the
subject
don't attempt to explain it. but