Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1897-08-12

She will make a beautiful brunette.
Her eyes are Of such dark blue that,
with black eyelashes, eyebrows =
hair. and dark-Erown skin. they Will
pass for black! Oh, yes, she VIII be
equally charming as a brunette; more
so indeed. to those who think-'it Is
hut the embrowning OF the rind that
proyes the richness of the FRUIT en-
closed Within (" said the woman, with
n cynica, laugh. Besides" she added,
'.how could you possibly get rid or q
fair woman? Who would take her un-
less l darkened herg'
mo one! You reason well! Perform
your part as well! Change her com
nlexion. but preserve her beauty
'Sacredly."
"And finish your work within the
time specified"
Eyes. | will; and do you be sure to
have the boat ready to take me back
TO the island. The gallant bridegroom,
having lost his bride, must o also
lose his French cook, else VIII the CO.
incidence of their joint disappearance
suggest that the IN has murdered the
other and fed, which would be a great
scandal: or that they had bolted TO-
gether. which would be a greater,
laughed the woman.
II will have the boat got ready In
time. VictorineT'
Monsieur"
LEST | should forget to remind you
In the hurry Of the last moment. re-
member that the next rendezvous is at
the Balize."
II will remember TO meet you there,
Monsieur. Never fear"
The captain then disappeared from
the top Of the stairs.
And the woman commenced her
dreadful task. First. she picked up the
wick of the lamp, TO raise a stronger
light. Then she took n bottle OF pale
brown liquid from the top OF the chest
Of drawers. and poured some or the
contents into Il tumbler. Then II TOOK
a soft piece Of flannel. and sitting
down beside the insensible girl, began
to dye her skin by dipping the cloth IN
the liquid and gently washing her
face that soon changed from its trans
parent lily fairness To that clear, Ugh
brown hue. peculiar to the complexion
of quadroous. Her face, neck, bosom,
arms and hands were all made to as
sumo the color of the mixed race.
when this process was complete. u
woman replaced the tumbler and the
bottle, and took from the same stand a
large vial of some dark preparation.
labeled Eclipse" with which. by II
aid Of n small sponge, she proceeded to
saturate the golden hair Of her victim,
which began rapidly to assume a raven
hue. Hair. eyebrows. and even eye
lashes were treated in the same man
ner.
And when this second process was
i'm its turn perfected no IN could have
recognized Astrea. Her dazzlingly
fair complexion was now of a clear
olive. Her clustering golden hair, and
her d~elicately penciled eyebrows and
eyelashes, were now inky black. In
a word. the radiant blonde had been
transformed into a brilliant brunette.
She had been as beautiful as n sunny
ady before: she was beautiful Us a
starllt night now.
The artist gaze1, well pleased with
her WORK. saying:
II wonder what she will think when
she first looks ut herself in a glassT'
Her reason will be disturbed by her
lost identity. And farther. what will
she think when she finds herself out at
sea. with none but strange faces
around her? l should not be surprised
if amazemcnt were to drive her mad
Have you got through? We shall
scarcely have time TO put you ashore
and bring back the boat, before the
tide will serve"' spoke the voice of the
captain down the stairs.
Il have: ii Is a feat accomplished
Come down and gaze upon the magic
work. And tell me whether she were
more lovely as a blonde or a brunettey'
The captain crept softly down the
stairs and stood by his accomplice,
criticizing her handiwork.
"She is exceedingly beautiful, even
now; yet, in my opinion, she was far
more so before you changed her com
pleXion. But this may be a mere mat
ter OF taste. i, being swarthy as a
gypsy. naturally admire blonde
Blonde men, on the contrary, might
fancy this dark beauty. Besides. as
you justly limited, II was necessary, Fer
two reasons, 70 change hec rata II hlrI.
nette; first, TO make her nI.ecogniza-
BILE to her friends, and, secondly, 10
render her saleable as IL quadroon.
@ have done your work admirably,
NittDIlue.
Thank you. Monsieur"
And now TO the boat
The woman arose and followed the
man to the deck. Here at the star.
board gangway lay the boat, manned
by six rowers The captain handed
Vlctorine in. took the place by her side.
n gave the order to put Off. The
boat left the ship and was swiftly
rowed toward the island. When they
cached the shore the woman sprang
lightly upon the sands, and the boat
was again turned with It's head toward
the ship. As the beat receded from
the land. the captain stood up in the
stern, waving his cap in adleu and
saying:
"Remember the rendezvous on the
first CT June Mt Balize."
The first Of June mt the Balize, 1
shall remember replied the
as she turned and walked rapidly
through the shrubbery toward the
bouse.
Day was just breaking as she glided
up the stairs to the upper porch and
passed through the French windows
and re-entered the desolate chamber OF
Astrea.
The girl. Fifine. was sitting there In