The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1882-11-23
LADY DELIGHT.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.

LADY DELIGHT.
BY ESTHER sERLE KENNETH.
A golden haired little girl in purple
| dress-you would not understaI d per-
haps, when you heard them call her La
dy Delight, until you observed her grace
full, exquisitely modest manner, and
heard the enumeration of her speech.
Hardly the place you would look for
either-a tumble-down hut, half fisher
mans home, half farm !louse, on the
flats of Jerse:". 1t WAS but Il brown dot
upon the wide yellow sands, where the
blue sea turned line of white surf for
! miles in line upon the bare salt shore,
! and yet there were other brown dots,
With now and then a more pretentlous
| house, all the way to the town over the
hill in the hollow-Belletown, a rather
gay seaside resort At least, it had q
pretty good hotel, and summer boarders
from the neighboring cities. The hotel
was the Larch house, where Lady De-
lights father, Skipper Doyle, sold his
fish frequently; but his daughter never
came thither, and cou|''Inot have learned
her nice speech and the gentle manners
| of the city people. Her neighbors re-
marked this, and observed that she was
"like her mother" who was intelligent
ami refined. The present Mrs. Doyle
Wa, not intelligent and refined.
She was eneryeti: and unrepressed-
or. as the neishbors said, ''driving and
scolding," and perhaps it is not to be
wondered at when 4! add that the good
women had seven SONS and honestly en-
dca,' ed to DO her duty by them. They
were not like peli-t'', but they we're
her lro5h hers, and she loved them ill,
from the 3-yea; old twins to Dan who
was Is, anu old enough to raise the pota-
toes and catch the fish when his father
was il-as occasionally happened. The
! famiiy's only other sources OF income
were derived from the prodisious labors
Of Mrs Doyle, who raised chickens, cul-
tivated asparagus. made butter aAu sewed
straw. 1t was strange that in none OF
these undertakings Delight had eve,
| been allowed to share much. Mrs
| Doyle, tn )ugh the mother Of many chill
| dren, had no taste for the care of them.
! 81 can't putter around all day with the
! children, Delight. You have a knack at
getting alon. with them. Just keep
them from under uly feet to-day, for I've
! got to get the eggs and asparal gus to mar
| ket. wash, churn. and finish off Il dozen
of them straw bats
! 50 Delight winning, persuasive, kept
tn. four littlest boys under her rule,
/ -, ~ Il 4
the yellow sands III the bland summer
little more se'late, she often CHANGED to
meet Rick Revere, who strol!ed with
| them, or took them out in his boat.
The Reveres were more prosperous than
the DoyleS; they had more fishing boats
a larger farm; and then Grandame Re-
we're was Delights godmother. 1t was
| she who gave Delight her pretty purple
| dresses-ln the autumn q fine merinO,
in the spring an organdi6; taught her to
| sew exquiSitelv, and encouraged her
| taste for flowers. She was a splendid
old lady. portlv and brave in snowy caps:
| and Rick had her blue eyes aud hand
some presence. Skipper Doyle's family
always liked him; but after Lady De-
! light was Is, his firm tread vas often
hesrd on the bare floors. his ringing
laugh under the low roof. He walked
on the shore with her sometimes when
the children were not with her; or the
two rowed away toward the sunset and
parted lingcringly in the moonlight.
you'll be taking Delight away from
fixing her black eyes on him sharply.
Il hope so," he replied, tearlessly;
aud she was faint to turn away, half fret
ted half fiattered
"What shall do with the children
when Delight marries?-rom, and Ned,
and Ben, and Will, and-th e-baby!'
for soon there were eight sons under
the rooftree.
But, come what might, Lady Delight
never fretted nor frowned. She en-
broidered the baby's fannels, swung it
to,sleep in a hammock made of a fishing
net, played with the twins, taught the
others to spell, and sewed for the whole
family. Only she must have her eve
ming stroll with Rick.
"Bunny'll sleep, mother. I've had
him out in the fresh air all the after.
noon. And I'll finish the little jacket for
Ben in the morning and the sunshine
'uld CLEAN across the golden head and
purple dress as Lady Delight fitted
away to meet her lover.
"It's plain enough to be seen the way
things are going; and III have my sister
Roxy come and live with me, murmured
Mrs: Doyle. "I'n not going to be left in
the lurch this way"
So Roxy Reed came from her own
crowded fathers family to make one OF
Skipper Doyles. She had curly black hair
she was plump, she was coquettish. Mrs
Doyle plumed herself on her young rel
| ofivo'c rraoo, Ao for Misc pow abo cot
her cap instantly at Rick.
Giles engaged to Delight" said Mrs
Doyle, in low tone.
II don't care answered Roxy. HE
is t'e only good-looking fellow around
here, and III get him if l can"
Delight overheard this conversation:
but Rex did not. He did not recognize
Roxy Reed as b,ld and INSCRIPTIONS;
the red CHEEK: AM: rtimDIed shoulders
ana veil Of c,,rls cast glamour
over his eyes. And at first it was
only offering civility TO one of the
family when be took Roxy out in mis-
lutte white boat, the Petrol, which was
large enough to hold but two. But the
girl Was full of animal spirits and buoy.
ant life which was exceedingly attractive;
it VAS plain that Rick was soon fascinated
'>he is full Of fun, and witty-capita]
| company. L dOHt see why you DON'T
like her." he said to Delight
81 did not say that did not like her,
answered Lady DELIGHT, with gentle sur.
prise.
| NO, but you never seem to care fol
her society. You hardly spoke a word
all last evening; just rocked that dread
jul baby"
THE baby isn't WE'LL" interrupted
Delight, "and mother is worn out with
toothAche.'
Privately, she thought Roxy nigh
have taken care of the child, uuder thu
circumstances.
"Oh! / beg your pardon, but 20,
know Pm not partial to babies. Al
least prefer them asleep, looking like
slumbering angels. BY George! but it,
fun enough to hear Roxy laugh"