The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-04
THE HAIRDRESSER.

Amor q the crowd at the Hotel Cont
mental, Paris, just as the arrivals by the
English train were expected, a young
man, with pale, anxious face, stood watt
ing at the door Of one Of the numerous
lifts
He was merely the coiffeur, who had
come to dress the hair < beautiful Eng
lish girl, as he hat; afs. Ioae during the
Parisian season for the last six years
He was tall and slim, with long, nerv-
GUS fngers-a painters hands, with the
slight backws I'd twist Of the thumb. He
had begun LIE In a Breton village as an
only son, but Els Intelligent face lacked
the strength of Breton, abd he was too
slightly built to show hiS origin.
His taste for painting attracted the no.
tice Of M. 10 Cdre, who persuaded his IA
Their and mother that having no daughter
for whom to Get aside IDIOT" they might
we'll afford to send their son to Paris to
study.
In Paris, and the Latin Quarter, among
real and false Bohemians, he alternated
until bis work changed, and Its originality
gave place to monotonous study Of form
and color. He grew less timid as be saw
his drawings resemble those around him,
and after few months he knew one or
two men at the ogfe where he dined. They
included rich Hnglishman who posed as
painter and q poor Scotchman who
thought himself worth nothing and was
famous after for two happy years In Lon
don Until bis wsarisome cough put an end
to his modssty and fame There were
many others who taught the young Breton
what Paris Ia ct night, and in a years
time there was little club which met
once week to sing Of Beranger and drink
to their own favorlte Lisette. The Breton
father and mother died within a few
months of each other, and when he re-
turned to the village to sec the latter laid
In her grave the cure bad forgotten his
painting and advised him to be content
with his small inheritance and seek work
Of O new kind In Paris. He smiled bitter
ly and faced his difficulties for year long
or, till art would have nothing to do with
starvation, and he married his Lisette He
learned after time to take part in the
work of hor fathers shop Lisette was no
longer his ideal. She grew stout and fret
ful, negligent mother, but an excellent
woman Of business. Then her father died
and left tho whole Of his property to her.
self and her children.
He thought Of her scarlet dress and red
face as he waited In the corridor Of the big
hotel, and there was sudden flush on his
face as the door was flung open and he en-
tered the lift, as II the scarlet remembrance
had come into comparison with something
else
The mother Of the English girl WAS walt
ing In the corridor above She met him
hurriedly, and In hard voice, In which
the concealed pain found later seconds
expression, said quickly
"You are very late"
Madame, was out when your mes
sengsr came, but p
She interrupted: "You know she Is i'll
You are net to look surprised, and you are
to cut her hair short and then curl It, We
expect como one by the English boat. Do
you know II the train Is lateP"
He was flushed and stammered a little.
"It--yes, ii Is late; they were saying so.
madame, down stairs.
well, she Is growing excited and fever
ish." Her voice changed and her lips
shook. "Come quickly"
The coiffeur followed her down long
passage, and as she opened the door his
eyes met those of the young girl. Her hair
was spread over the white pillows, and
amid the silk and lace Of white wrap she
wore two little, thin hands beat the bed
clothes impatiently.
"You are late" she cried and then stop
ped Perhaps there was something star
Ting In his eyes after all.
She turned her face away and added,
with a little sob In her voice: Come and
cut my hair short at once. get 80 hot at
night, and 1t worries me. And then curl
1t nicely very nicely" she continued
breathessly.
They propped her up somehow among
the mass of white linen and lace. The bed
was strewn with books, which she kicked
away with one foot
He saw hor aunt and the garde malade
give way for him to pass, her mother stoop-
cd to whisper something, and the girl cried
aloud: "Cb, Is the train late-really later
am so glad" ~
The coiffeur drew nearer and took the
soft brown hair In bis hand She lay very
still, the better to aid him, and once
glanced up to assure herself that he did
pot look startled then he smiled down at
her.
"You always wanted your hair to be
short" he said
Eyes, even three years ago"
"Slx," he corrected
"Oh, not so manyl Is 1t, mammal
~ don't remember, darling" The
mother moved farther away, as If the sight
of the soft hair lying in the ooiffeur's hand
was unbearable
The girl glanced after her and thon said,
with an uneasy expression In her beauti-
iul eyes, "It suits me, doesn't IT."
"It is very NICE" the ooitfeur answered
briefly.
II want to be little pretty, as used
to be-" che said, an obvious apology for
asking the former question. "And, you
soc, Mr.. Haddon Ia coming this evening.
You know, I was engaged to him last
year"
~ had not the honor Of seeing you last
year, mademoiselle.
"Ah, no. 1 remember we staid only a
week in Paris OH our way back from
Monte Carlo, apd shopped all the time.
while Mr. Haddon looked up old friends.
He seems to know half Paris,
There was regret In her voice, and she
,uou uilant for toro TINA