The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1920-10-21
GOLDEN
TRESSES
BY ALDEN CHAPMAN.

Every time that sense of retrospec-
ton came to Edna Woods and as In
dream she entered in spirit the lura-
Der room of memory, picture fondiy
cherished filled her mental vision. II
was that of herself, 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
pair of huge scissors and q mass of
rare golden hair that might have been
the envy of princess.
''You are the best friend ever had
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.
'Tm not much of a friend to cut off
that bunch of loveliness," spoke Bart
ley Austin. "You look no more as you
did than lamb does after 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 IL II was
nothing at all7 I've got to get away
from those tyrants, the Marlows.
"But where will you go, Edna?"
asked BARLEY solicitously.
mo matter where l go. you will be
the only one of the people In this
4 In
after all / may be the great actress
you say / have the talent to be, and If
ever 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 | am sure no one will recog
nize me as a runaway girl when Seth
NARROW and his family get after me-"
"I'll save this one prettiest curl of
them ALL" said BARLEY, 'and I'll keep
1t next to my heart until | get rich
and marry you some day. Good-by."
And there was an embrace, kiss, and
those two young, innocent souls drifted
apart.
Edna was an orphan and had found
a home with the family of step-broth-
er of her mother, hard, harsh. cruel
slave driver. His daughters envied
their drudge her pretty ra.is.::.-e -es:.=
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
near city, and cast his lot in with a
struggling. ambitious group of young
fellows longing to develop their abil-
ity with brush, pen and pencil.
A strange destiny had come to Edna.
BY the merest chance she came across
a strolling band of players. They
cared for her kindly and trained her
In some minor parts In their repertoire.
The company broke up, but their aged
manager, John Brand. had taken a
fatherly interest in Edna. He had
some practical ideas in the moving pic
ture line, some capital, and at the end
Of several years. her beautiful head of
hair restored and more beautiful than
ever, her expressive face showing a
new and more mature loveliness, this
man adopted her and made her an ac-
knowledged queen in classic plays of
n. A trra{
herself the idolized daughter of the
successful Brand and capable of eGrn-
ing small fortune yearly.
With his wife and Edna, Mr.. Brand
resided In beautiful home In select
part OF the city. One day Edna, on its
rear porch, CHANGING to glance where
q blind lane extended behind the house,
noticed a young man who had come
suddenly from the street. sought the
shelter of the garage shed, q&ickly
stripped off his coat and vest and re-
placed them with thin, thread
bare summer coat altogether too frail
for the cool autumn breeze. The
young man wrapped up his discarded
garments. AT that moment his face
came into full view. Almost with
a scream Edna ran TO the next room
aroused Mr.. Brand from pleasant
reverie. She seized his arm and rush
cd him to the porch.
Father, quick?' she spoke breath
lessly. 'sFollow that man, find out
where he lives. Oh, hurry! hurry! 1t
means everything for me-"
The amazed Brand FASTENED to exe-
cute his mission. He returned In an
hour to find Edna In transport OF
excitement and suspense.
II followed the young man to a
pawnshop where he raised pittance
on some clothing, then to a restaurant,
where be ate like famished man." ex.
planned Brand II managed to get into
his confidence. He is an author in hard
lines, has been earning little money
by writing scenarios. has an ambitious
one he wishes me to read and rshm tn
see him again tomorrow. What Is this
mystery, Edna. Why. as you say, does
1t mean so much to your"
She told him. and her hig-hearfed
benefactor fell In with her plans al
-. n.