The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-09-26


telpiece, next the bureau, and finally
she took the liberty of opening the up
per bureau drawer. Here she found
what she sought. Before her, wrapped
in the same paper, was the mysterious
bottle. Hastily unrolling it she learned
the fatal truth.
1t was hair dye!
Why do say fatal truth? 1 will tell
you. Mrs. Wiggin at once concluded,
what was indeed the truth, that this
looked toward matrimony. She knew
how much the use of the hair dye would
improve his appearance, and feared
that it would make him irresistible to
Sophronia Jones.
But what was she to do? Was she to
stand quietly by and suffer this to take
place? No. Mrs. Wiggin was woman
of resource, and she sat down with her
head between her hands to consider
what she should do.
An idea struck her. She would empty
out the hair dye and substitute some
thing else in its place. She remem-
bered that she had in the cupboard, in
her own room, a large pint bottle Of
blue ink. Scarcely stopping to think
she stole out of the room, and brought
it back with her. Her next proceeding
was to empty the bottle of hair dye out
of the window, and fill it instead with
blue ink.
''There," said she, when this was ac-
cOmplished, 81 don't believe Mr.. Jen-
kins will improve his appearance much
by the use of this"
Her conscience reproached her some
what with what she had done, but she
felt that desperate emergencies re-
quired desperate remedies, as this GER
tainly was.
Mr.. Jenkins, meanwhile, had con-
cluded not to make immediate use of his
hair dye, but to defer it till the next
Thursday evening, when he had re-
ceived an invitation to attend a party
at the home of Squire Jones, the father
of his beloved Sophrcnia. He felt that
the unexpected youthfulness of his ap-
pearance on that occasion would be de-
cidedly in his favor.
AS might naturally be expected he
longed to have the time come, but time
will not hasten his flight, even for i'm
patient lovers. He is much more likely
to retard it. Immediately after tea on
Thursday afternoon Mr.. Jenkins went
up to his room, locked the door, took his
bottle of hair dye from the drawer, and
proceeded to use it. He had only a
and this prevented his discovering the
deception which had been practiced
upon him. In fact, in the dim light,
the mixture looked dark, and he sup
posed it was all right. After rubbing
in what he supposed would be sufficient
for the first application, and 1 may re-
mark that upon this point he certainly
did not exhibit any remarkable econ
omy, Mr.. Jenkins leisurely proceeded
to dress himself in his most becoming
attire.
His toilet was somewhat protracted,
AID should be afraid to tell you how
many minutes he expended in adjusting
his cravat. But the fact was that our
hero had made up his mind to make this
evening the declaration which he had
long contemplated, provided he could
find favorable opportunity.
But there is an end to all things, and
so there was an end to Mr. Jenkins
toilet About eight o'clock he came
downstairs, and merely opened the sit
ting-room door to say:
IL am going out to a party this even
ing, Mrs. Wiggin, and shan't be at
home very early. You need not sit up
for me, as You know I have a pass
key"
Mrs. W:ggfn could scarcely keep hel
countenance while her ledger was
speaking, for she saw at once that he
had fallen into the trap she had laid fol-
him, and In consequence that both his
hair and whsskers had become a decided
blue.
Il guess" she laughed to herself
that Soohronia won't fancy that colo,
any better than Che other"
Quite unconscious of what had be-
fallen him. Mr. Jenkins proceeded te
the party. Going up to the gentlemen's
room, he took off his hat and coat and
went down TO the parlors where most Of
the company had already assembled
Somehow ne seemed to attract great
deal of attention, but this he expected,
and very naturally attributed it to what
he considered the very decided improve.
ment which had taken place in his ap
pearance.
"Nodoubt he thought proudly, s'the ,
scarcely recognize me. look so much
younger than before"
And he glanced around the room with
look of eemplacent dissatisfaction
But there was one thing that puzzled
him not little. The expression Of
every face that looked at him seemed tc
be struggling with laughter. Now
what there was to laugh at in his ap
pearance was more than he could divine
To dye the hair was quite common
thing, and not all amusing.
He looked towards Sophronia, but she
too. had smile upon her face He fat
tered himself. however, that it was from
different cause. No doubt she wa.
happy to see him looking SO we'll. III.
would go up and speak with her.
ut is beautiful evening, Sopheo-
Miss JONES'" he said, stammering il
some confusion.
Very" said she. casting down he,
eyes and toying with the fan which sh.
carried.
y need not ask if you are we'll, fer /
have seldom seen you looking better. y
ne continued. in tone of gallantryi re-.
covering his self-command as he OBJ
served her evident embarrassment
1nank YOU" said Sophronia, still