Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1904-06-08
MY TITAN HAIR
torlgiaal.l

| sixteen she took me to her home and
| treated me as daughter. She was in,
auenc~i in this by the absence of her
only child, young man OF twenty
who had just departed for three
years course at German university
She grew so fond of me that she con
ceived the idea OF marrying me to her
| son. who would inherit her pSperty.
| His like0esses were in every room IN
| tie house, and they were by no means
/ uuattractive.
| When Adelbert Turnlee left Ger.
many for home. had just recovered
from a fever, during which my head
| had been shaved, leaving ii as smooth
rs billiard ball. and at the time Of
| his return my hair was about the
length OF that on houses back |
thought / looked very piquant. but
Mrs. Turnlee was greatly distressed.
How unfortunate" she exclaimed
Il know this temporary defect will
turn Bert against you. He is artistic
in his taste and readily influenced by
beauty or defect. II your beautiful
golden hair were its full length it
alone might win him. What pity
What a ply
The dear old lady was so disap-
pointed that set my wits to work to
supply the deficiency.
What do you say to a wigg"
asked
The very thing"
But she was in quandGry as to her
sons favorite color for hair. He had
expressed himself as averse either to
black or blond or red. she couldn't re-
member which. But she found some.
thing he had written wherein occurred
the words beautiful Titan hair" and
she concluded that the wig should be
that color The one she selected
thought TO be too near red. but as
the hair merchant declared that IL was
true "Titian" Mrs Turnlee was cou-
WINGED and paid an exorbitant price
for IL.
Up to the time OF the arrival of the
expected victim had taken little or
no thought as 10 my own part in il.
yielding to Mrs. Turnlee as | would
humor child In getting up a charade,
but when l came 10 play the role OF a
fisher for n husband my maiden ma
ture revolted. When Mrs. Turnlee was
present | succeeded in treating Adel
bert fairly well, but when she was
absent my demeanor at once became
reserved. However. this did not seem
to be of much consequence. for. though
he seemed to enjoy chatting with me,
| could not discover the slightest in
dication of loverlike emotion To
tell the truth, was ut a disadvantage
under my wig. often caught Abel
bert looking mt 1t with a singular eX
preston and suspected that he knew
wore a mask on my head. Be this
as II may. a month passed, during
which | was convinced that as thing
Of beauty" | was not "a joy forever"
to Adelbert Turnlee. But we became
excellent friends, and when we parted
he declared that he would miss my
companionship very much. l took the
polite speech for what | considered II
worth and made one equally polite
He returned to Europe to lit himself
for professorship and was gone
two years. Meanwhile my own iuxu-
RANT locks had grown to their full
length, and as l stood combing them
before the glass | confess | thought
them very pretty. II they could only
be Titan" and l could meet Mr..
Turnlee again. not feeling that | was
trying to make dupe OF him, perhaps
his mother might have her wish.
was quite sure he would not care for
the pale shade Of my natural hair. SC
much less pronounced than that of my
caston wig.
One day he came. His mother was
very Ill, and | had cabled for him.
did net expect him for several days
after the day on which he arrived. /
was holding his mother in my arms
when the door opened, and he came
hurriedly into the room. He cast an
anxious glance at her. but It was i'm
possible for him to keep his gaze fixed
on her. and he turned, for he had evil
IDENTIFY been caught by my tiaxen hair.
What in the name Of
He stopped short and after kissing
his mother affectionately asked a null
titude of questions concerning her,
When he had learned that she was con
valescent and would soon be well he
breathed a sigh of relief Then he
looked again at my hair. l explained
the occasion OF my having been obliged
to don a wig TO conceal my shaved
pate.
IF You had chosen any color" he
| said, except that frightful red should
have detected that which now see so
| plainly. l detest red hair
What do you see plainlyY' asked
| Mrs. Turnlee.
Mother, you force me to speak too
| plainly Now that your beloved is free
from that hades tinted wig she is a
very pretty girl"
'Hades tintedr' said the old lady
feebly. II thought it was Titan"
II confess" Adelbert went on to me.