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Show BERENICES HAIR- "Please indulge me iu tliia, Fred?" You know thtttl otject tosputidiug the Btimruer in sucb an out of the way place, Norft. Next winter I must go to work agaio in good earnest; earn-est; and I wanted a little pleniant travel and recreation duriug the warm weather." "Oh, nonaenael Berry aays it's splendid, and ahe ought to know, for she epent two months there with her aunt last summer. The nicest hotel in the world, with a ohaded terrace that overlooks o pleaaaut green There are lovely walks and drives, too, and the dearest little lake, with a boat upon it. The village is perched upon the top of a hill, and it'seuch a cool, breezy place, with a fine view of the surrounding scenery." "8top and take breath, Noral" exclaimed ex-claimed Fred, putting up his handa in dismay. "Does Berry talk like that? If she does, I should decline goiou to the place, even if it were an Jfilysium." "Oh, Berry would make a desert deliehtfull She' was the dearest friend I had at school a lovely little blonde, with such beautiful hair long and heavy and shining, and she arranges it bo prettily! She wasalwayB the first to adopt the new styles i school." "Probable her father was a "hairdresser, "hair-dresser, and she assisted hiin when at home." "You 6bberl Her father was a wealthy gentleman, when living; and Berry is an orphan, residing with her aunt. ! It's really romantic the way she was named. Her mother had long, beautiful hair, like Berry's and her huaband, who admired it very much, used to call her 'Berenice sometimes for a pet name. Boon after Berry's birth, he died, and her mother called her Berenice, because he loved the name.. Berry used to look at her constellation, as Bbe called it, every Bummer night, when the moon was not too bright. I never oared for it before, it is so dim; but now I always think about it when I'm looking at the stars. Came, Fred , you-are interested inter-ested in her, X know.; Be a good brother, and promise me we'll go, for I told Berry I was almost certain of it." "Very well, Nora. If you are sure youwill be satisfied with the place, we will consider it settled." Two weeks later, Fred Lewis and his sister Nora arrived at the hotel in the little village which Nora had described as so enchanting. Berry was immediately notified ot their advent, ad-vent, and was delightbd to meet her friend. Fred, for a wonder, though he had heard her praiBed bo often, was uot disappointed in her. "Don't yon think Berry is beautiful?" beauti-ful?" asked Nora of her brother upon ihe first opportunity. Now Fred had half lost liia heart already; but thinking "discretion the better part of valor," looked a little bored and answered, "Well, ye yes" lingering on the "yes" "yes" 'rather." "You know very well she is but you won't confess it, because I wish you to like her," said Nora, Bharply. This was quite true, for Fred loved to tease bis sister, though usually he was very indulgent. He was a noble-nearted noble-nearted fellow and very handsome, and Nora was really very fond of him. He met Berry almost constantly, for their two parlors were adjoining, and both opening upon the terrace, and he soon grow very fond of her society, though he still indulged his propensity to tease Nora about hor. One evening they were all Bitting on the terrace, enjoying the Btarlight and the cool breeze. "Your constellation is quite distinct to-night, Berry," said Nora. "Yes," returned Berry; "though usually it is scarcely brighter than the Milky Way." Fred smiled, and gallantly quoted: "Behold The glistening msto of Berenice's hair; Forty the etars, but such as seem to kies Tho flowing tresses with a lambeut flame." And Beiry, feeling slightly flattered, was very decided in the opinion that Nora's brother was ft perfect gentleman, gentle-man, and could be very entertaining if he liked. The ardor of her imagination was somewhat dampened, however, upon the following afternoon. She was : looking unusually charming in a dainty white muBlin, her hair a wilderness wil-derness of smooth braids and soft curls. Fred admired her exceedingly, and rendered himself so very agree Able that Nora was highly delighted. Berry stepped into her own parlor a moment in pursuit of a book, and Nora remarked, "How beautifully Berry's hair is arranged to-dayl" "Yes," returned Fred, provokingly cool now the object of his admiration was absent. "Yellow hair is very expensive, I'm told. I wouldn't wonder if the mass Bhe haq on her head this afternoon ooet twenty pounds." Nora was about to ory, "For shame!',' when a vision of Berry in the doorway ohecked her. She bad returned unperceived, and Btood half hesitating a moment. Then she advanced ad-vanced slowly, the soft white train of her drees ruBtling in her wke, her face crimson, her eyes flashing, and, in spite of her anger, a suspicion of tears. "I wouldn't take a thousand pounds for the hair I'm wearing to day, Mr. Lewiel" she answered.. . . And she was scarcely coquette enough to hide the pain in her voice Fred flushed hotly, aud he would have given almost anything to be ,Me to recall bis words. Be rose to his feet, and, bnwing, said, "Misd Berenice, I humbly beg pardon for my ill natured remark. I only made it to tease Nora, lor, of course, I had no idea " "Apologize to Nora, then, not me," Bhe answered quickly, and, turning, left the room. She crept away by herself, and t,at down, feeling, in epitB of her efforts to conquer the sensation, hurt aud sore at heart. It was nothing, she told herself; Bhe surely didn't care what Mr. Lewis thought about her, or said, either. And then came a smh e she thought he did not care for her, or he could nevr have ridicultd her in any way, even lo his sister. And then, though she was not vain, nhe bad always looked upon her hair s a sacred birthright bet-lowed by her .lend mother, and had evet nesociated 'he beautiful couBleliation "Berenice" with thought ol her mother in heaven; 1 i childish fancy, but it bid clung to her aa childish fancies will cling to ui all. That night, before retiring, she braided her hair in two long braids, and in the morning she combed it out and lelt it flowing, only drawn away from her forehead, and banded by a blue ribbon. The braiding had made it wavy, gulden ripplps, like a maullo of "cloth I of gold," far below her waist. Fred smiled halt triumphantly, when he saw it. "I didn't dre-un bhe cared blf so much forme," bethought. i Berry ob-ervtd his peculiar eiui'tt, and the wrath appeared on her cheeks "1 wonder if Ir,n wearing my heart upon my sleeve?" she anketl herself. And then she told herself, in a little' comforting whisper "Walt." Not long afterwaid, Fred sat down to the table and began writing letters. Presently, Berry came flying into the room. "Nora!" she called, in the softest little voice in the world, whirling around, on one fjot, and carelessly tOiBUii: uiide her hair with her hand. Out flow the bright, gulden ripples, and Fred's pen went spuming along the carpet. "Oh, pardon me!" she cried. "My new wig is a little troublesome to manage, yet I've no doubt but that I shall become as;u8tomed to it iu time;" and away ehe sped, leaving Fred lo pickup his pen aod resume his writing as best he might. This was more easily said than done, for there was a zigzag mark over his letter, as the pen had fallen upon the point, it was bent nearly double. Vexed as he was, he leaned back in his chair and laughed heartily. "That was gracefully done, I'll nc knowledge," he said. The afternoon was flue, and Lady 'Eatou, Berry's aunt, called them all upon Ihe terrace to view a distant mountaiu, which showed very clearly, the air being m pure. Fred brought his telescope, and gallantly held it wl.ile Berry peered through, with euoh a look of disinterested curiosity, one would suppose ehe had no thought for anything ibis side of the mountain. moun-tain. "How pretty I" she exclaimed, giving giv-ing her bead a sudden toea, . Away flew a lock of bair, straight as an' archer's arrow, into Fred's eyes. He nearly dropped the glass, and uttered ut-tered an angry exclamation in suiden pain. "Excuse my careletisness," Bhe said, quietly, "I had forgotten, for a mo cient, you were so near." Fred went into the Iioubb and bathed his eyes in rather a reflective mood: but when he again appeared, Berry seemed so entirely unconscious of having done anything wrong, and ehe was eo pretty and engaging in manner throughout Ibe evening, he lorgot oia vexation, and was as agree-1 agree-1 able as possible. The next day she appeared with her hair in the same style, and Fred, all the morning, was on the look out ior another hostile attack. None came, however. In the afternoon they went out to have a row upon the lake. After rowing awhile, Fred rested bis arms and his oars at the same time, under the pretence it was1 nicer to float slowly along. He took1 out a cigar and lighted it, saying he must make the most of it, for it was his laBt, He asked for some musio while he puffed away, and the girls began a vocal duet. Iu the midst ol Ibe song Berry took ofl her hat, making an excuse to fan herself with it. As she drew the classic cord suddenly from beneath it, out flew her shimug hair like a glittering flag at the head of the boat, and away went Fred's "last cigar" into the water. "That was too criiell" he exclaimed; but Berry sang on, her soft voice flo.tiog so Bmootbiy above Nora's alto, that he swallowed his wrath, and sat with his eyes half shaded by bis hat, lor fear of another dash, and thinking she looked and saug like a ; siren uf the sea. That evening he moved bis chair to a remote corner of the terrace, at a sa(9 di-tance from Berry, and smoked his cigar in Bilence, glancing meditatively medi-tatively toward the two girls, who sat near each other, engaged in lively conversation. "I'm tired of this one-sided warfare!" war-fare!" be said to bimbelf, reflectively, reflec-tively, "Of course I take a lively interest in it, wondering what she will do next; and then she's sure to act when I'm entirely ofl my guard. I believe I'll surrender at once, and throw myself upon the mercy of the, enemy!" Fortune Beemed to favor him, for soon after Nora rose, and eaying she promised to read aloud lo iiady Katon, she passed into the house. Berry was about to follow her, but Fred came quickly forward. "Berenice," bo said, rather abruptly, "will you never forgive ine for that unlucky speech?" She turned almost coldly. "To what speech do you refer, Mr. Lewis? J was not aware you were an orator." "You cannot help knowing what I moanl" he cried. "And you are still unforgiving, though I acknowledge it was both ungentleuianly and unkind." un-kind." . . . She was silent for a moment, a hush seeming to hover over her, whether from anger or excess ot emotion, he could not tell. 'I agree with you," ehe said concisely. Not a very encouraging remark, and he felt it, but wan actor reined io have done with BuapeiiHe. I "I wish to recall what I Haid," he went on, hurriedly. "I'll say you have the most beautiful bail in the world; for you have, Berry. I'll Bay you're an angel; and I'll say and do anything you desire lor the rest of my natural life, if you'll only forgive me. and be be my wife." "I'm not an tinyt;!," Bhe answered. "And ifyou are worthy to be the husband hus-band of an angel you are too good for me." She spoke in a cold, hard, unnatural un-natural tone of voice; but Fred was too muob excited to notice it. "If you will only love me, dear, I'll try to be worthy of you," he aaid, gently. Her hps were growing unsteady, and she set her teeth bard together. "Can't make the ai tempt," she said, at last. "It would he impossible for me to learn to lovo you." And she swept into the house, Fred began to walk the terrace hurriedly. "I don't underatind these women," he said, as thousands of men have aaid be lure him, and thousands more will say alter bun. A lew moments later, Nora came running out. "What's the matter, Fred?" she asked, "Here you are looking like a thundercloud, and Kerry la in bur room, crying as though her bunrt would break; and I can't hud out what alllicts her! ' "Barry cryiug?" echoed Fred, in astonishment. "Yes, indeed. Havo yua been quarreling?" Fred wns unable to epe.tk I rum amazement, and Nora begun tu bus pect tne truth. "I dou't cte how it is with you two," she continued. "I kuow ii. love each other, and yet yu u ver agree upOD any subject." Leaving Fred lo ponder uu litr word?, she went iuto the hulul tu try aud comfort Berry; and succeeded so well, that before many minutes had elapndtho two girls came out to-getner. to-getner. Berry wjb auriouu to Bhow : Fred how indifferent she was. and the star light told no tulos boul the evidences evi-dences of tears. "Come, Fred," said Nora, "Jou'l ait mining by yourself; il's awfully dull this evening." I So she gradually drew them into conversation, and then withdrew to the opposite end of the terrace makiug an excuse to H-ten to some singing in the rooms; and Fred, without loiiug a moment of time, bpgau the conversation conver-sation wbrro il lefl ofl before. "Berrv," lie Baid, eriftly, "cannot ynu see how wretched l am? Do forgive for-give me!" he entreated. "Hush!" she exclaimed, under her breath. "Nora will bear what you are saying" her heart all in a flutter. "Whatever you may think of what I have done aud said," he continued, dropping hie voico a little for her sake, "I lovo you dearly dearly. Aud" here a little strategy crept in "it almost driserf me wild to know vou dislike me so much." "I I didn't say I dialikod you I" And she seemed bo troubled, Fred drew nearer, and pissed his hand caressingly over her flowing hair. "But I know you do!" still clinging cling-ing to artifice, since its u;e resulted favorably T know by your manner. You call me Mr. Lewis, iuBtead ol Fred, and you torment me without Ihe slightest compunction. You swept your hair in my eyes yesterday, ana a i must bliuded them. They pain me yet, sometimes." This last was an awful story, and only lold.fjr eflect; but he managed to look bo mi Her able that woman-like, I ehe believed I every wurd. "I'm sorry if I give you so much pain, Mr. Fred," she said in a contrite httle whisper. UiB heart gave a bound. He leaned closer, very much in earnest now. "Take pity on me, dear," he said extending his hand. She still hesitated, half alraid; Nora came quickly forward, and seizing Berry's little band, she placed it in Fred's eager palm, and then left them together. "She beard ual" gasped Berry, drooping her head until her face was hidden by the bright falling hair. Fred parted it, and smoothed it back gently with his disengaged hatid, twining it tenderly around his fingers, and drawing her head to his breast. "No mailer, my darling," he Ba':d. "We won't care ifyou only lo7e me, and you must give me the right to call you mine, all mine, before the world, very eoon!" |