Union gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1899-1900, 1899-12-22
A LOCK OF HAIR.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CERTAINLY there was nothing
~ about Abram Smollet to suggest
~ the gay Eothario. He was the
most commonplace, not to say plainest,
looking Of m6rtals. respected member
OF the board OF trade and a thorough
business man. don't suppose any
woman except Smollett's wife ever
looked at him twice. and yet Mrs Smol-
lett was inordinately jealous
Lydia got Il In her foolish head that
Abram was spending more time In his
office than he eought, and became fright
fully Jealous Of the typewriter, whom
she pictured in her own mind as siren
Of unlimited power over the other sex.
When she made an unexpected de-
scent upon the office. however. she
found 3 longlegged, red-haired boy bat
tering the keys Of the machine, and the
only woman on the premises was the
scrub woman. Of whom even Lydia
could not be jealous.
SmoIlett Is as methodical In his habits
as well-regulated town clock. On
certain day every spring he leaves Oh
fannels, and on q certain day In the
fall he puts ON overshoes. Once In
every two years he has his watch
cleaned at tho jewelers.. The time for
renovating his chronometer came
around lately, and Smollett left It with
jeweler on Broadway. In the shop
ping district.
Stocks were rather shaky about that
time, and he had to be at his desk early
and late to watch matters. He couldn't
find time to go around after his time
piece. and Its absence was always both
ering him. for he had to depend upon
church clocks, q French mantel clock
that was never known to be right half
dayat time. or his wife's chatelaine.
and was always missing cars and being
late at appointments.
So dear Lydia. with the best OF inten-
tions. found the jewelers. ticket and
went herself after the watch. saying
nothing to Smoliett about IT. When she
presented the. ticket to the Jeweler. he
looked att and then at her.
This is a gentleman's watch, miss"
Lydia blushed prettily. t.Oh, yes; it's
my husband's.r she said.
He brought It from the safe and said:
II think IT'S all right. ma'am." He
snapped The case and opened the back
OF the watch to look at the works. AS
he did 50 a tiny lock Of hair slipped out
upon the show case.
The jeweler glanced at 1t and then at
Lydia. Her hair is golden brown.
The lock which had dropped out Of the
watch was yellow.
The Jeweier was wise man: he was
married himself. He glanced sIyly at
Lydia. Her eyes were flashing and a
red spot burned In either cheek. she
had seen the lock Of hair, but he, out OF
the goodness OF his heart, tried to shield
the victim, He closed the watch with
out putting back the hair, and started
to pack the timepieee In q box.
You have forgotten something" said
Lydia, In a hard voice.
Il beg your pardon"
"You haEe forgotten something she
repeated. pointing to the yellow lock.
which he had sought to hide with his
coat sleeve.
"Oh, thatr said this blessed Ananias.
guess you're wrong, ma'an. That's
q bit OF hnfr a customer OF mine wanted
me to putin iocket Tor him"
4 saw 1t drop" said Lydia, with a
calmnesst that quelled the jewelers. Glib
tongue. Put 1t back In the watch"
He obeyed; she paid his bin and swept
regally from the store. That is why
Smollett. going home that night after a
peculiarly Hsxing day. and longing to
forget business for few hours in the
society Of his charming little wife.
found In her place an iceberg.
Smollett was puzzled, but made no
comment. With women. as In business.
Smolletts was waiting game. He al
ways went on the theory that, II he
waited long enough, the other fellow
would show his hand. SO after dinner
he retired to the library with his paper.
His theory was again proved correct.
She soon appeared. but glance at her
face assured him that there was little
change In the weather. He wished he
had ordered James to light a fre In the
crate. She stood beside the table and
placed BOX upon It.
There is your watch"
"Oh, thank you, my dear" said the
unsuspicisus Smollett 'I'd never found
time to so around for It"
She made no comment, but watched
him take; 1t out, snap 1t onto his watch
chain. and slip 1t Into its accustomed
place In the left breast pocket Of his
vest
.sYou beasti you bruter' she cried.
tragically, and as the hurricane Of tears
burst she ran from the room and shut
herself into her own apartments again.
Poor Smollett was thunderstruck. He
| tried, In q sneaking way, for the ser
wants were greatly In evidence, to gain
| audience with his wife: but she would
not open her door and he spent the
night on the couch In the library and
went down town the next morning in a
most bewildered state OF mind and an
empty state of stomach.
| !. Lydia's actions SO worried him that
| he could rot keep his mind on his busi-
ness. He was irritable and generally
+ Efractious, and the red headed young
men suffered accordingly. About noon
/ Charlie Paget, an old friend and a good
EIawyer. came in. Charles eyes
Ftwinklad, but his manner was solemn.
/ .See here. Abram,~ : he said. what's