The Washington herald., 1914-12-30
DAILY SHORT STORY.
BRUNETTE OR BLOND?
By HARMONY WELLER.


During the eighteen months Of her
arrangement and preparation for her mar
rage Martha had never quite become re-
conciled to the fact that she had chosen
for life partner a man Of brunette
tyre Always. from her earliest dreams
of love. she had pictured a mate whose
hair reflected the glory of the sun ana
whose eyes were blur-blue as the night
sky.
But alas for ideas when Haunted by
facts. Martha had fallen in love with
David McVicker. and his hair was as
black as the ravens wing and his eyes
were the deep brown OF the Arabs dusky
orbs
oh. dear she sighed. Il seem to get
so weary looking at dark hair" Martha
cast a feeting glance at her reflection,
which revealed tresses as black as the
shadow Of the mountains and eyes only
less dark because OF the glow Of dull
led within their lovely depths. But |
suppose since | am TO sail Saturday Tor
London and to meet David again. ] had
better cheer up and forget my golden
haired knigl1 of fancy"
Martha had not seen David MCNicker
for eighteen months.
Martha bIushed over the fact that she
had succumbed to David's wooing after
which had been spent on shipboard.
After a second week David had returned
TO his native land. leaving Martha with
a most lovely solitaire on her finger and
a more or less startled acknowledgment
OF her engagement.
The six months that were expected 20
intervene between meetings had dragged
irto eighteen and it was with slightly
lessened enthusiasm that Martha made
preparation for the lOng-delayed trip.
when the New York sailed into British
waters and the mail came on board Mar
that got a letter from David ~ which
he regretted the fact hat he could not
meet her at Liverpool. He had been sent
to Belfast for at least three weeks on
business. Martha sighed, but was not
DESPERATELY disappointed David had IN
formed her that Andre LequeuX, a Bel
gian, who was stopping with him. would
meet her and pilot her safely to London.
Martha found herself wondering what
Andre Lequeux would be like, and think
ing that she would rejoice in knowing
any one from the now famous country
OF Belgium. She pondered on the ques-
ton as to how he would he able to find
her among the passenger list, but Martha
had not reckoned on David having pro-
yided Iequeux with a photograph.
1t was not difficult then, upon reaching
the wharf at Liverpool to find herself
facing a most wonderfully golden-haired
yoJng mar who introduced himself as
Andre Dequeux.
Martha smiled and enjoyed the firm
grip of the Belgian's hand. She smiled
again inwardly when she observed that
his eyes were the deep blue of the night
sky. II she sighed, Andre did not know
that she was comparing him favorabiy
with her dream man of past days.
Lequeux seemed a most capable person
and had seen to her luggage, and Gus
toms inspector had put her and her small
bags on the train before Martha quite
realized It, She found his slightly for
eign accent delightful, and realized that
she was going to like David's friend very
much, indeed.
The trip up to London passed without
event. save a swift sense of understand
ing between Lequeux and the girl to
whom David was engaged. The Belgian
did not leave her until he had seen her
comfortably ensconced in the little pri-
yate hotel In Holland Park.
A fter that IL seemed as IL ALL life
centered in that which concerned
Andre Lequeux. Perhaps it was the
absolute calmness with which he ac-
cepted the fact that he was a refugee,
deprived of his home and robbed of
the business he had built up in Ant
werp that first attracted Martha to
him. He had been in the civic guard
at the time of the bombardment of
Antwerp and after seeing his home
and his business premises blown up
! by the enemy's shrieking shells he had