The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-15
BY A HAIRS BREADTH.


GIam the Chi,sso Nsv-)
John Graham ought to have been hap
by man. tut. strange to say. he was not
Two months ago the mere fact that he was
walking down State Street with Mary
Nunscl would have been joy uuspeakable.
But that was two months ago. and today
This was not enough. He desired ether ard
greater privileges.
The distance between them was not
great literally. as they walked along. In
fact, they often, aad perhaps purposely on
his part touched elbows. But TO John
they seemed to be separated by an i'm
penctrable. insurmountable wall. The OBJ
sjaclc was. however. nothing so extensive
as a wall. but il was quite as material
Il was a "toupee"
How John cursed the day when he had
been tempted TO don the thing. Better iar
if he had made her acquaintance and paid
his addresses to her, bald as an oSssheii
as he was Then he might have at least
courtcd her with a clear conscience, and
without the moral obligation Of confessing
90 the fraud. Of the soft ambrCsial locks
which surrounded his handsome face.
John was not 4 coward; he was not in
the least faint hearted upon ordinary occa-
sions but he felt that never in his life had
he been Obliged to face a situation so trag-
ic so critical. How often had the thought
of that wrctched wig deferred MIN. when
an eloquent ayowal was ready 10 burst
from his lips. man in a wig was so ri
diculous. Any other infrmity would have
been less Objectionable. For instance, he
thought he might have owned to false
teeth with better grace.
Sometimes he resolved to keep silent on
the subject. and win her under false colors
So D. aHa-l lion
and modest self-depreCiatiOu he deemed
hardly possible Then would come the hor-
rihie thought that after they were married
the dread disclosure was bound to come.
She would never have confidence in him
after that Mary was the soul Of frank
ness herself, and had Lofty almost QUlNouc
notions Of truth and honor.
But then to preface a declaration Of af-
lection by the announcement that he was
bald was simply ridiculous, and try as he
would. John had never been able to ia
troducc the subject casually. Much as he
dreaded it. he often tried to lead up to it,,
Many times he had imagined himself say
ing in the most careless fashion.
oh by the way, did you know that I
wear a 'tOupee?' A terrible attack of ty-
phoid left me with the merest fringe OF
hair, and it has never come on again. Odd,
isn't it?"
But he never said it. He was always la
terrUpted by some trivial occurrence. which
his reluctance and sensitivencss made
sufficient cause for pOstpOnemGnt Of the
dreaded confession This very day he had
had such an excellent opportunity TO make
the break. They had stopped before
street window to Inspect some actor wigs,
and he had just opened his mouth when
Mary cried.
oh. John. look, Isn't that magnif-
cent?" And turning. he saw in the next
window a woman who advertised hair re
Storer by standing there. ami displaying to
the public gaze her long hair, falling like
veil until it swept the floor How John
hated hair restorers, He had tried every
enc on the market.
Mary inspected the splendid locks with
pleased interest Isn't it beautiful. she
said. If there is one feature OF beauty l
admire more than any other, it is a fine
head Of hair, and she cumplacently tuck
ed a hairpin back in her own shining coils.
That settled John for that afternoon. The
carefully arranged speech fToze upon his
lips, ana he became silent, depressed, and
miserable
To The pdssers-by they were remark
ably handsome and Weli-mated young cGu-
pie as they walked along t0gether-John.
erect. athletic in figure. and Immaculate
y -
a wcll-Gting yail0r-made gown and walk
ing hat tipped over her pretty eyes, and
resting iauutily on her bright hair.
AIary's own hair was beautiful. Red.
gold or bronze. according to whether you
saw ID i'm sunshine OF shadow. it curlei
about her face and neck 10 bewilderiug lit
lie rings. and lay against her well-shaped
head in many braids and coils, most Gun
ningly arranged John thought that IN
lOosed. 30 must be quite as long and spien-
did as that OF the woman in the window.
Alas, he thought be would never b. per-
mitted 20 see it thus. A wild notion seized
him Of casting his wretChed headgear away
and falling at her feet. crying tragically.
Take me as l am. or spurn me forever
from your presence" But he thought Of
his shining pate and groaned. No use"
he said drearily. to himself she would
simply laugh il | told her. and I could
never stand il TO have her laugh al me
though / shouldn't blame her. man 10
a wig is so silly" And while she seemed
50 uu9ttainabie, she had never appeared 50
desirable.
To the most casual observer 1t was quite
evident from their attitude that they were
both gone indeed. although each was hon
estly unaware OF the depth Of the others
feelings They had eyes and ears for
nothing So absorbed was their attention
in their own supremely interesting affair
that as they crossed the muddy street
they neither saw the frantic gestures OF |
the policeman who stood at the crossing |
nor needed The cIang0r OF the cable car
as Il swung around the corner. and that
was the reason why its admiralty arrang- (