The daily Alaskan., 1905-02-16
MY TITAN HAIR
IorislnaLl

always laying plans for my future. When was left penniless orphan at sixteen she took me to her hone and treated Ens as 6 daughter. She was in. fluenced in this by the absence of her only child, a young man of twenty, who had just departed for a three years course at a German university. She grew so fond of me that she con ceived the idea of marrying me to her son, who would inherit her property. His llkenesses were in every room in the house, and they were by no means unattractlve.
 When Adelbert Turnlee left Ger many for home, had just recovered from a fever, during which my head had been shaved, leaving it as smooth as billiard ball, and at the time of his return my hair was about the length of that on a mOuse's back. l thought looked very piQuant, but Mrs. Turnlee was greatly distressed. How unfortunate" she exclaimed. 'T know this temporary defect will turn Bert against you. He Is artistic in his taste and readily influenced by beauty or defect. If your beautiful golden hair were its full length 1t alone might win him. What q pity! What pityP
 The dear old lady was so disap- pointed that l set my wits to work to supply the deficiency.
 What do you say to a, wig?' l asked.
 "The very thing"
 But she was in Q quandery 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 a red, but as the hair merchant declared that it was true "ritian" Mrs. Turnlee was con vinced and paid an exorbitant price for 1t
 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 l would humor a child in getting up charade but when l came to play the role of fisher for a husband my maiden na- ture revolted. When Mrs. Turnlee was present 1 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- dlcation of a loverlike emotion. To tell the truth, l was at disadvantage under my wig. I often caught Adel- bert looking at 1t with a singular ex- pression and suspected that he knew wore a mask on my head. Be this as 1t may, a month passed, during which was convinced that as thing of beauty" l 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 l considered 1t 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- riant locks had grown to their full length, and as l stood combing them before the glass I confess l thought them very pretty. If they could only be a "Titian" and I could meet Mir. Turnlee again, not feeling that was trying to make dupe of him, perhaps his mother might have her wish. l 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 be came His mother was very i'll, and 1 had cabled for him. ] 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 at her, but it was im- possible for him to keep his gaze fixed on her, and he turned, for he had evi- dently been caught by my faxen hair
 What in the name off
 He stopped short and after kissing his mother affectionately asked q 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 wig to conceal my shaved pate. &
 'If you had chosen any color," he said, except that frightful red should have detected that which l now sees plainly. I detest red hair"
 "What do you see plainlyT' 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 tinted!" said the old lady feebly. q thought It was 'Titian.'"
 'I confess," Adelbert went on to me "to an absurd prejudice l conceived for you on account of your hair l noticed and admired you for those traits that endeared you to my moth