The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1920-10-16
GOLDEN
TRESSES
By ALDEN CHAPMAN.
Copyright. 1920. western NEWSPAPER union. !,

Every time that a sense of retrosnec
ton came to Edna Woods and as in {
dream she entered in spirit the lum
Der room of memory, picture fondly
cherished filed her mental vision. II
was that of herself, a girl of twelve
and of her friend and playmate, Bart
| ley Austin, two years her senior, weep
ing in each others arms upon the floor
Of a gloomy attic room where lay a
pair of huge scissors and a mass OF
rare golden hair that might have been
the envy of princess.
"You are the best friend 1 ever had y
sobbed the girl, and the lovely tinted
face looked strangely out of place
framed in an irregularly bobbed off
head of hair with a certain boyish
tinge now added.
I'm not much of a friend to cut off
that bunch Of loneliness" spoke Bart
ley Austin. "You look no more as you
did than lamb does after a shearing."
That's just how / want to look. )"
asserted Edna, eyes defiant. "But do
you think I'm willing to sacrifice what
I've been so proud of as if it was
nothing at all? I've got to get away
from those tyrants. the Marlows.
But where viii you go. Edna?"
asked Barley solicltously.
mo matter where 1 go, you will be
the only one of the people in this
town ever want to see again. Maybe
after all I may be the great actress
you say have the talent to be, and if
lever do shall send for you, and make
your fortune writing some wonderful
play for me. AS soon as it's dark I'll
put on the suit of clothes you brought
me, and I am sure no one will recog-
nize me as a runaway girl when Seth
MARROW and his family get after me-"
''Tll save this one prettiest curl of
them ALL" said BARLEY, "and I'll keep
it next to my heart until l get rich
and marry you some day. Good-by."
And there was an embrace, q kiss, and
those two young, innocent souls drifted
apart.
Edna was an orphan and had found
a home with the family of step-broth-
err of her mother, hard, harsh, cruel
slave driver. His daughters envied
their drudge her pretty refined face
and rare wealth of golden hair. Edna
felt all ambition and hope being crush
ed out of her. She had but one true
friend In whom she could trust, Bart
ley Austin, poor and lonely as her.
self. Going away into the unknown,
his chivalry, his sympathy were all
that made her have faith in the fu- |
ture.
-Four years later BARLEY left for a |
near city, and cast his lot in with a |
ambitious group of young |
fellows longing to develop their abil- |
ty with brush, pen and pencil.
A strange destiny had come to Edna.
By the merest chance she came across
4 strolling band of players. They
cared for her kindly and trained her
n some minor parts In their repertoire.
The company broke up, but their aged
John Brand, had taken a
'atherly interest in Edna. He had
some practical ideas in the moving pic
ure line, some capital, and at the end
# several years, her beautiful head of
lair restored and more beautiful than
'yer, her expressive face showing a
lew and more mature loneliness, fhis
nan adopted her andsmade her an ac-
queen in classic plays of
he screen. At eighteen Edna found
lerself the idolized daughter of the
uccessful Brand and capable Of earn
ng small fortune yearly.
With his wife and Edna, Mr.. Brand
esided in q beautiful home in a select
art of the city. One day Edna, on its
ear porch, CHANGING to glance where
blind lane extended behind the house,
oticed a young man who had come
from the street, sought the
heller Of the garage shed, quickly
tripped off his coat and vest and re-
laced them with thin, thread
are summer coat altogether too frail /
or the cool autumn breeze The
Dung man wrapped up his discarded
At that moment his face
anne into full view. Almost with
scream Edna ran to the next room.
reused Mr.. Brand from a pleasant | !,
everie. She seized his arm and rush
d him to the porch.
Father, quickv' she spoke breath
.ssly. "Follow that man. find out
here he lives. Oh, hurry! hurryi It !
leans everything for me-" t
The amazed Brand FASTENED to exc z
ute his mission. He returned in an |
our to find Edna in transport of
settlement and suspense
II followed the young man to
awnshop where he raised a pittance +
n some clothing, then to a restaurant, @
here he ate like a famished man" ex q
aimed Brand. T managed to get into
IS confidence. He is an author in hard I
mes, has been earning a little money
Y writing scenarios, has an ambitious E