Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1904-04-25
DAILY SHORT STORY
NV Titan Hair.
[Original.I

ways trying TO do something for me,
always laying plans for my future.
When l was left Il penTGless orphan at
sixteen she took me TO her home and
treated me as daughteo'. She was in
| fuenced in this by the absence of her
only child, Il young MAN of twenty.
who had just departed for u three
years course at German university.
She grew so fond of NE that she con-
ceived the idea of marrying me to her
son, who would inherit her property.
His hkenesses We're in every room in
the house, and they were'byJnO means
unattractivc.
When Adelbert Turnlee left Ger
many for home. had just recovered
from 4 fever. during VIII kch my head
had been shaved, leaving it as smooth
as Il billiard ball, and at 1he time Of
his return my hair was about the
length of that on Il houses back. l
thought l looked very IdQuant, but
Mrs. Turnlee was greatlyY distressed.
How unfortunate" she exclaimed.
Il know this temporary defect will
turn Bert against you. He is artistic
in his caste and readily influenced by
beauty or defect. If your beautiful
golden hair were its full length it
alone might win him. What u pity!
What Il pity"
The dear old lady was so disap-
pointed that I set my wits to work to
supply the deficiency.
What do you say to Il wig?" I
asked.
The very thing"
But she was in Il 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 l
thought to be too near Il red. but as
the hair merchant declared that it was
true Titan" Mrs. Turnlee was con-
WINGED and paid an eXorbitant price
for it.
Up to the time of the arrival of the
expected victim l had taken little or
no thought as to my own part in it,
yielding TO Mrs. Turnlee as 1 would
humor Il child i'll getting up a charade,
but when l came to play the role of Il
fisher for n husband my maiden ma
ture revolted When Mrs. Turnlee was
present l 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.
l could not discover the slightest in
dication of II lOverlike emotion. To
tell the truth. / was at n disadvantage
under my wig. l often caught Abel
bert looking ut IL with 4 singular eX-
precision and suspected that he knew
l wore mask on my head. Be this
as it may, Il month passed, during
which l was convinced that as n thing
of beauty" | was not n joy forever
to Adelbert Turnlec. 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 it
worth and made one equally polite.
He returned to Europe To fit himself
for a professorship and was gone |
two years. Meanwhile my own luXu- |
RANT locks had grown to their full |
length. and as | stood cOmbing them |
them very pretty. If they could only |
be Titan" and l could meet Mr.. |
Turnlee again. not feeling that l 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. so
much less pronounced than that of my !
castoff wig.
One day he came. His mother was |
very i'll. and l had cabled for him. l |
did not expect him for several days |
after the day on which he arrived. l |
was holding his mother in my arms |
when the door opened, and he came |
hurriedly into the room. He cast an |
anxious glance Mt her. but it was i'm |
possible for him TO keep his gaze fixed |
on her. and he turned. for he had evil |
IDENTITY been caught by my flaXen hair. |
What in the name Of
He stopped short and after kissing |
his mother affectionately asked Il null
titude of questions concerning her. |
When he had learned that she was con-
valescent and would soon be we'll he |
breathed n sigh of relief. Then he |
looked again at my hair. l explained |
the occasion of my having been obliged |
to don u wig to conceal my shaved |
pate.
IF you had chosen any color" he /
said. except that friShtful red l should |
have detected that which | now see so |
plainly. l dctest red hair"
What do you see plainly?" asked /
Mrs. Turnlee.
Mother. you force me to speak too |
plainly. Now that your beloved is free !
from that hades tinted wig she is i /
very pretty girl"
'IIades tinted"' said the old lady |
feebly. Il thought it was Titan"
Il confess" Adelbert went on to me,
''to an absurd prejudice l conceived |
for Won ON nccnmnt of Nonr lair |