The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-15
The
9 Ie y
amanda Stubs Hair


nished gold" would be but poor praise in
deed. Captured sunshine" would not
portray to you the glossy, silken threads,
the golden glints and lights, the halo OF
glory, that was Amandas hair. 1t was
the envy of every girl in and about Moore
and was the cause Of much bitterness
among mothers of less fortunate lasses. 1t
was even said by the mothers Of the girls
with scanty locks that Mandy Stubs
needn't be so proud, fer she couldn't
keep Peter Mum taggin' round after
her nowhow. if it warn't fer her hair"
How untrue this was you will learn from
what I am going to tell you.
Over a year had passed since Peter had
first begun to wait upon Mandy. In
Ao1O, courtships were not needlessly
prolonged.
eight months after he's first took you
home from meetin' is plenty time to
wait for the wedding; that is, if he's
steady was the universal opinion, often
voiced By Matilda White, the most expe-
rienced and worldly-wise woman in the
town. Yet, Peter Mum, seemingly the
most devoted Of all the young SWANS of
Che village, hung back.
HE hasn't asked her<yet, and it's nigh
onto fifteen months. I know it amt
Mandy's fault" walled her mother in the
ear of the sister from Boxtown, who was
on visit to Moore. And Mandy's aunt
had answered consoHngly: '
Don't you worry, Martha, he'll do it.
he amt 80 foolish as to let a girl like
Amanda slip through his fingers, so handy
and havin' such hair, too
Peter himself was sorely troubled. A
dozen times he had been on the point Of
proposing to Amanda Stubs. but-her
hair. 1t happened that Dame Fashion,
Feigning with full force in Moore, had
decreed that all young ladies with album
dant hair should wear it puffed out (per-
Aaps six inches} on each side in delicious
waves and curls, and hanging in a free,
Aexitching fashion behind. Amanda re-
3oaced over style that so well displayed
her beauty. Peter sorrowed over it
Whenever he leaned over to speak to her
the puff brushed his face. It bothered
him. Brought up in house Of Puritan
paainness and neatness. he could not de-
eide to ask a girl whose hair, fluffy and
beautiful though it was, tossed and danced
every which way, to preside over the new
home. Ha wanted Amanda-and her hair
but he wanted the waving lengths
slowed under one Of the little lace caps,
that girls less fortunate as to hair were
wearing. he often pictured it to himself,
Ais dainty Amanda with the snowy head
Dress and the yellow curls Che did not
know that they were pure golO escaping
fncm It about her forehead.
Yet, ''all things come to him who
waits" It was warm Sabbath evening
a May. Peters mind was still troubled.
He and Amanda stroled past the meet
house. It was little too early to go
a, bat Mark Bales, the Foung janttor,
and Ellen Burrow. Amanda's closest
friend, were on the steps. SO they stopped.
''Help me light the lamps, Mum, then
veil have time for a short walk before
the folks eome,' said Mark, and the three
young people followed him into the dim
twilight Of the church.
Peter was standing on q chair with the
lnmp chimney in one hand fumbling in his
pocket for match.
'1'n get you one,' called Mandy from
Ire back Of the church, and she stood by
bis side as he struck a light. AS he let
the match with its glowing end drop, the
wind tossed the girls light hair towards
him. In moment there was q sizzling
fame in the waves of hair that hung
loose. Then, quick as thought, Peter
had his coat about Amanda's head It was
nOa, IOWefSE, WILL uOSl VI ule nuuy
length at the hack was burned. The pretty
ourls that clustered about the head were
untouched but oh, the humiliation of 1t,
the blow to the girl who had reigned belle
Of the town, and all because Of, so people
said. her hair. Amanda, too shocked and
grieved to CRY, made her way home with
Peter on one side trying his best to COM
tort her, and with Ellen on the other
weeping loudly.
'.Those little lace and ribbon affairs
that some Of the girls wear are nice
things, especially If girl has curls or
her forehead" Peter said, and Amanda
allowed herself to be eomforted little.
Hardly week later, when folks were
still talking of the unfortunate event and
saying:
pore Mandy, pore girl, faint likely
that Peter Mum Il want her now, y
Amanda Stubbs sat IN her room sewing
with def fingers On bit OF lace and some
blue ribbon
In the evening Peter called and Amanda
took him into the front room, while the
rest Of the family retired discreetly to the
kitchen. The little partlor was very in
wiling and his hostess In her most charm
ing mood. 30 1t was late before Petes
could tear himself away. Amanda went
Directly to her mothers room with eyes
shining and hand that trembled Slightly
as she laid it on her mothers.
Mother she said, peter has asked
ne to be his wife," Then, very softly, she
exept away into her own room, and the
vary atmosphere Of it with the fresh,
spring night wind waiting in seemed to b.
ana nf a hannv now 1ifa