Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1891-09-30

VIII SiOW again 5OOi.
Eyes Of course it will aud, as you
say, won't make much difference to an
old maid like me. l want you to be
happy" said Hesther. quite gayly, but
looking with much doubt at her shorn
head, which she thought not at all be-
coming. AS for Bess, she was already
brushing and braiding Hesther's hair,
wherewith to complete her elaborate
couture.
Poor Hesther's trial grew very hard,
at the tea-table that evening, when
she went down, leaving Bessie at her
toilet, to meet alone the questions and
reproach of her father and brother.
"Most foolish thing l ever heard of.
l am astonished at you, Hesther,"
said old Mr.. Norris. 81 didn't think
you cared so much for fashion. Won
der what woman will do next p
"You look like perfect fright"
cried young Jack, with charming boy
ish frankness, and laughed till he cried.
In the light of their common-sense,
her sacrifice looked silly and useless
enough. And who has not felt this,
sometimes, in parallel case 4? But
she was rewarded by the sight of
Bessie, lovely in blue silk and pale
pink roses, with the most lovely of
chignons-radient, beautiful Bessie
who kissed her white hand, as she
went away with Jack to the party.
Her neighbors voted Miss Norris
eccentric" She was still very pretty.
still as young-looking as when she
came out, ten years before-as bright
and attractive girl as ever danced
her first quadrille or won her first
lover. But, ever since long visit to
New York, when she was about twen-
ty, there had been change. She was
fitful and sometimes moody, did not 60
to parties or to festivals, and seemed
to care little for society.
"a disappointment" cried some.
perhaps she had been Tilted, or had,
herself, Tilted somebody, and was now
suffering remorse." She kept her own
counsel however, and left them to
their gossip and guesswork. On this
evening, she went to her own room,
after Bessie and Jack were gone, and,
before the glass, stood gazing at her.
self sadly, thinking: Was she such
fright, after all ? And had she
done such an idiotic thing ? She
thought how somebody had, long ago,
praised her gold-brown tresses some
body who maybe, had one of them
now somebody whose opinion had
been all the world to her, once. And
now
The thought must have awakened
others too sad for good company. She
turned from the mirror with culver
ing lips and cried-quietly at first,
after awhile with bitter gasping sobs-
pacing the floor till she was tired out,
then sinking face downward on the
bed, to sob herself to sleep like a
child.
Bess came home in the early dawn,
not too tired to tell of her triumph.
She had had charming time-a
crowd of partners. No, she was not
bit frightened-no indeed She had
felt pretty-and maybe looked pretty,
too-and her dress was one of the
handsomest there, her hair just right.
"And oh, Hesther, Mary Wilson had
switch in her chignon-a horrid
thing, just like tow. l saw her look
ing enviously at my head, poor thing.
There was the handsomest gentleman
there-from New York-at my side
half the time, too. He is Mrs. Law
ford's cousin, and staying with them
on visit. The most charming fellow,
but not really young, you know. He
told me he had met you in New York
once"
"What is his name ?" asked Hesther,
with violent start.
"Oh, Mr.. Grayfell - Lawrence
Grayfell. Do you remember him ?"
"Yes, l remember him." said Hes
ther, with white lips, unnoted by Bes.
sic, who ratified on, saying:
81 think Tomford was little jeal.
Gus. Poor Tom He's very nice, but
did seem stupid and plain by Mr..
Grayfell. You will see that gentle
man, this evening, when he calls-as
1 gave him leave to do. And-just
think he said something about my
hair F; brought it in so nicely, too
golden gleams,' or something like that.
Why, sis, how pale you are-and your
head does look too funny cant
help laughing, yet feel dreadfully guilt
ty and selfish"
Mr. Grayfell did call, that evening.
He was a tall, handsome, decidedly
elegant.looking man of perhaps forty,
with mustache and hair slightly tinged
with gray, features clear-cut, and keen
but pleasant dark-gray eyes. A very
handsome and distingue person no
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