sketches new and old-第55章
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tearful despair she almost regretted； like brokers who hold on and lose；
that she had not taken him at first； before he had suffered such an
alarming depreciation。 Still； her brave soul bore her up； and she
resolved to bear with her friend's unnatural disposition yet a little
longer。
Again the wedding…day approached； and again disappointment overshadowed
it； Caruthers fell ill with the erysipelas； and lost the use of one of
his eyes entirely。 The friends and relatives of the bride； considering
that she had already put up with more than could reasonably be expected
of her； now came forward and insisted that the match should be broken
off； but after wavering awhile； Aurelia； with a generous spirit which did
her credit； said she had reflected calmly upon the matter； and could not
discover that Breckinridge was to blame。
So she extended the time once more； and he broke his other leg。
It was a sad day for the poor girl when； she saw the surgeons reverently
bearing away the sack whose uses she had learned by previous experience；
and her heart told her the bitter truth that some more of her lover was
gone。 She felt that the field of her affections was growing more and
more circumscribed every day； but once more she frowned down her
relatives and renewed her betrothal。
Shortly before the time set for the nuptials another disaster occurred。
There was but one man scalped by the Owens River Indians last year。 That
man was Williamson Breckinridge Caruthers of New Jersey。 He was hurrying
home with happiness in his heart； when he lost his hair forever； and in
that hour of bitterness he almost cursed the mistaken mercy that had
spared his head。
At last Aurelia is in serious perplexity as to what she ought to do。 She
still loves her Breckinridge； she writes； with truly womanly feelingshe
still loves what is left of him but her parents are bitterly opposed to
the match； because he has no property and is disabled from working； and
she has not sufficient means to support both comfortably。 〃Now； what
should she do？〃 she asked with painful and anxious solicitude。
It is a delicate question； it is one which involves the lifelong
happiness of a woman； and that of nearly two…thirds of a man； and I feel
that it would be assuming too great a responsibility to do more than make
a mere suggestion in the case。 How would it do to build to him？ If
Aurelia can afford the expense； let her furnish her mutilated lover with
wooden arms and wooden legs； and a glass eye and a wig； and give him
another show； give him ninety days； without grace； and if he does not
break his neck in the mean time； marry him and take the chances。 It does
not seem to me that there is much risk； anyway； Aurelia； because if he
sticks to his singular propensity for damaging himself every time he sees
a good opportunity； his next experiment is bound to finish him； and then
you are safe； married or single。 If married； the wooden legs and such
other valuables as he may possess revert to the widow； and you see you
sustain no actual loss save the cherished fragment of a noble but most
unfortunate husband； who honestly strove to do right； but whose
extraordinary instincts were against him。 Try it； Maria。 I have thought
the matter over carefully and well； and it is the only chance I see for
you。 It would have been a happy conceit on the part of Caruthers if he
had started with his neck and broken that first； but since he has seen
fit to choose a different policy and string himself out as long as
possible； I do not think we ought to upbraid him for it if he has enjoyed
it。 We must do the best we can under the circumstances； and try not to
feel exasperated at him。
〃AFTER〃 JENKINS
A grand affair of a ballthe Pioneers'came off at the Occidental some
time ago。 The following notes of the costumes worn by the belles of the
occasion may not be uninteresting to the general reader； and Jerkins may
get an idea therefrom：
Mrs。 W。 M。 was attired in an elegant 'pate de foie gras；' made expressly
for her； and was greatly admired。 Miss S。 had her hair done up。 She was
the center of attraction for the envy of all the ladies。 Mrs。 G。 W。 was
tastefully dressed in a 'tout ensemble；' and was greeted with deafening
applause wherever she went。 Mrs。 C。 N。 was superbly arrayed in white kid
gloves。 Her modest and engaging manner accorded well with the
unpretending simplicity of her costume and caused her to be regarded with
absorbing interest by every one。
The charming Miss M。 M。 B。 appeared in a thrilling waterfall； whose
exceeding grace and volume compelled the homage of pioneers and emigrants
alike。 How beautiful she was！
The queenly Mrs。 L。 R。 was attractively attired in her new and beautiful
false teeth； and the 'bon jour' effect they naturally produced was
heightened by her enchanting and well…sustained smile。
Miss R。 P。； with that repugnance to ostentation in dress which is so
peculiar to her； was attired in a simple white lace collar； fastened with
a neat pearl…button solitaire。 The fine contrast between the sparkling
vivacity of her natural optic； and the steadfast attentiveness of her
placid glass eye； was the subject of general and enthusiastic remark。
Miss C。 L。 B。 had her fine nose elegantly enameled； and the easy grace
with which she blew it from time to time marked her as a cultivated and
accomplished woman of the world； its exquisitely modulated tone excited
the admiration of all who had the happiness to hear it。
ABOUT BARBERS
All things change except barbers； the ways of barbers； and the
surroundings of barbers。 These never change。 What one experiences in a
barber's shop the first time he enters one is what he always experiences
in barbers' shops afterward till the end of his days。 I got shaved this
morning as usual。 A man approached the door from Jones Street as I
approached it from Maina thing that always happens。 I hurried up； but
it was of no use； he entered the door one little step ahead of me； and I
followed in on his heels and saw him take the only vacant chair； the one
presided over by the best barber。 It always happens so。 I sat down；
hoping that I might fall heir to the chair belonging to the better of the
remaining two barbers； for he had already begun combing his man's hair；
while his comrade was not yet quite done rubbing up and oiling his
customer's locks。 I watched the probabilities with strong interest。
When I saw that No。 2 was gaining on No。 1 my interest grew to
solicitude。 When No。 1 stopped a moment to make change on a bath ticket
for a new…comer； and lost ground in the race； my solicitude rose to
anxiety。 When No。 1 caught up again； and both he and his comrade were
pulling the towels away and brushing the powder from their customers'
cheeks； and it was about an even thing which one would say 〃Next！〃 first；
my very breath stood still with the suspense。 But when at the
culminating moment No。 1 stopped to pass a comb a couple of times through
his customer's eyebrows； I saw that he had lost the race by a single
instant； and I rose indignant and quitted the shop； to keep from falling
into the hands of No。 2 ； for I have none of that enviable firmness that
enables a man to look calmly into the eyes of a waiting barber and tell
him he will wait for his fellow…barber's chair。
I stayed out fifteen minutes； and then went back； hoping for better luck。
Of course all the chairs were occupied now； and four men sat waiting；
silent； unsociable； distraught； and looking bored； as men always do who
are waiting their turn in a barber's shop。 I sat down in one of the
iron…armed compartments of an old sofa； and put in the time far a while
reading the framed advertisements of all sorts of quack nostrums for
dyeing and coloring the hair。 Then I read the greasy names on the
private bayrum bottles； read the names and noted the numbers on the
private shaving…cups in the pigeonholes； studied the stained and damaged
cheap prints on the walls； of battles； early Presidents； and voluptuous
recumbent sultanas； and the tiresome and everlasting young girl putting
her grandfather's spectacles on； execrated in my heart th
