The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1882-11-23
LADY DELIGHT.
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- oNs>eAA A@'ssA ~ ASSA0 4A1A a14 y 'k1uE PIC
dress-you wonld not understa1 per
haps, when you heard them call her La
yDelght, until you observed her grace.
fal, exquisitely modest manner, and
heard the enunciation of her speech.
Hardly the place you would look for
eithe1-s tumble.down hut, half fisher
mans home, half farmhouse, on. the
flats Of Jerse.~. It was but 4 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 4 more pretentious
house, all the way to the town over the
bill in the hollow-Belletown, q rather
gay seaside resort. At least, it had .
pretty good hotel, and summer boarders
from the neighboring cities. The hotel
was the Larch house, where Lady d.
sight's father, Skipper Doyle, sold his
sash frequently; but his daughter never
came thither, and could lnot 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
aud retiued. The present Mr.. Doyle
. Wss not intelligent AMI refined
She was energetic and unrepressed-
or, rs the neighbors said, "driving and
Scolding," and perhaps it is not to be
wondered ut when -! add that the good
-omon bo1 aoroD sopa o~I boroa<l,, nm,
deavored to do her duty by them. They
were not like Delight, but they were
her brothers, and she loved them all,
from the S.year-old twins to Dan who
was Is, and old enough 70 raise the pota-
toes and catch the fsb when his father
vas ill-as occasionally happened. The
fanily's only other sources Of income
Of Mrs. Doyle, who raised chickens, cul-
tivated asparagus, made butter and se wed
straw II was strange that in none of
these undertakings Delight had. ever
been allowed to: share much. Mrs.
Doyle, though the mother of many chill
dren, had no taste for the care ofthem.
II can't pu:ter around all day with the
children, Delight. You have knack At
getting along with them. Just keep
them from under my feetto-day, for I've
got to get the eggs and asparagus to mar
ket, wash, churn. and finish Oft q dozen
Of them straw hats" = - $3.50
So Delight. winning, persuasive. kept
the four littlest boys under her rule,
while she ran with them up and down
the yellow sands in the bland summer
weather. When she was Is, taller and q
little more setate, 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-in the autumn q fine merino,
in the spring an organdie; taught her 70
sew exquisitely, and encouraged her
taste for flowers. She was a splendid
old lady, portly and brave in snowy caps;
and Rick had her blue eyes and hand
some s9,a.,p 1 1;Ie9 Skipper Doyle's family
light was l6, his firm tread was often
heard on tho 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 lingeringly in the moonlight.
you'll be taking Delight away from
us some day." Mrs. Doyle remarked,
fixing her black eyes on him sharply.
; 81 hope 7so," he replied, fearlessly;
aud she was faint to turn away, halffret-
ted, half fattered. -,
"What shall l do with the children
when Delight marries?-Com, and Ned;
and Ben, and Will, and-the-baby!''
for soon there were eight sons under
the rooftree. >. 49, =, :
J But, come what might, LADY DELIGHT
never fretted nor ~frowned. She en-
brOidered the baby's flannels, swung it
t0.sleep In q hammock made ola 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. 80 ~. -
''Bunnyn sleep, mother. I've had
him out in the fresh air oil the after
noon. And I'll finish the little jacket for
Ben In the morning! and the sunshine
would CLEAN across the golden head and
purple dress as Lady Delight fitted
away to meet her lover. ,t;'s.T
;94lte plain enough TO be seen the way
things are going; and III have my sister
Roxy come and live with me, i" murmured
t Ms' n D9T' I'll, not going to be left in
50: 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
ative's graces. AS for Miss Roxy, she set
her cap instantly at Rick. -
Hes engaged to Delight" said Mn.
Doyle, in low; tone. -. ~.
~ don't care" answered Roxy. HE
s s. II. az gssa539Sif3nE 'ls~ around
Delight overheard this conversation:
but R,ck.did not. He did not recognise
Roxy Reed - bold and interruptions:
the red clleokss aud .ii,npled ahoulders
ana veil Of curis cast glamour
over bis eyes. And at first It was
only Offering civility TO one Of the
s: when he took Roxy ont in, hie
little white boat the Petrol, which was
large enough to hold but two. But tho
girl was full ofani.nal spirits and buoy
ant life which was exceedingly attractive;
it was plain that Rick was soon fascinated.
! he - full Of fun, and witty capital
company. l don't see why you don't
like her" he said to Delight,
did not say that I did not like her"
answered Lady Delight, with gentle sur
mo, but you never, seem to caro- for
her society. You hardly spoke word
all last evening; just rocked that dread.
'lul baby" ,.....- .s.. a.t.t - F.
The baby isn't WE'LL" interrupted
Delight, and mother is worn ont with
Privately, she thought Roxy might
have taken care of the child, uuder the
circumstances.
, "oh! I beg Your; pardon, but you
know I'm not partial to babies. At
least prefer them asleep, looking like
slumbering angels. BY George! but ito
fun enough to hear Roxy laugh"
T.. This speech hurt little Lady DeliRht,
Il did not sound like: Rick, who she
knew was fond of children, and who
bad always been tender and considerable.
But she only said: Eyes, she had no
ticed Roxy's hearty laugh" and mo,
she could not 70 ont In the ''Petrer to-
night, and certainly he might take
Roxy :jaEn.{ ~ n9Etsf.'.''lIt&s1 :
Soon. 90 soon, there WAS IN end Of the
sunset walks and moonlight rows. Rick
and Delight drifted apart, and she never