New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1883-03-07
consul, received an involuntary duck

Miss Delmar had, as they asserted,
risen hastily to point out something and
destroyed the balance of the mouldy
black velvet-lined old conveyance.
At all events, Miss Delmar was upset
directly in front of the palazzo where
Mr.. Lilford occupied the first floor.
OF course Mr.. Lilford sent out his
valet to offer his services.
OF course they carried Miss Delmar
in, and laid her on sofa, and made
much of her.
But how ridiculous all this isl said
Miss Delmar with merriment cleaning
in her beautiful dark-blue eyes. II
am little wet, to be sure, but other
wise I am entirely unframed. Why
didn't they put me in the gondola again,
and send me back to my uncle's
palazzo?''
Mr.. Lilford, however, was far too
hospitable for that.
Miss Delmar gaZed curiously around.
How angelically beautiful she looked,
wrapped in the violet velvet cloak
edged with ermine, her cheeks flushed
with softest rose, her eyes sparkling,
her hair hanging in fringe Of gold
over her forehead.
'Where is Mrs. Lilford?'' she asked
abruptly.
Mr. LilfOrd WINGED
She has been dead year, y he said
you were acquainted with my late
Wlfe?'7
''Oh no, not at all,'' said Miss Del
mar. "Only of course all the world
has heard of her. She was famous
beauty, wasn't she?''
"She was very lovely said the Wild
over.
When Miss Delmar was carried away
in newly summoned gdfdola, whose
picturesque oarsmen were more to be
relied upon than their predecessors, Mr..
Lilford asked permission to call at the
consulate, to enquire how she was, in
the course of day or two, and Miss
Delmar accorded the permission as
young queen might have done.
Miss Delmar was young, beautiful
and piquant
Mr.. Lilford, whose life had been
nearly badgered out of him by the
caprices, exactions and varying temper
of his late wife, was charmed by her
sunny brilliance, and at months end
he came to Mr.. Delmar, the United
States consul, to ask permission to press
his suit with his niece.
Mr. Delmar looked conscious.
"Didn't you know" he said, ''she
is engaged?''
Engagedr' repeated Mr. Lilford,
bis heart seeming to turn to ice within
him.
"Quite an old affair, I believe said
Mr.. Delmar, "But perhaps you had
better see my niece herself about it. I'll
give you her message. She can decide
to suit herself
Miss Delmar was prettier than ever
in her cool muslin dress and pale-blue
ribbons as she sat among the jassamine
and pomegranates of the consulate re-
ception-room the next day to receive
Mr.. Lilford
He had a speech carefully prepared,
wherein all the nominatives and SUBJ
jectives were carefully balanced. and the
exact words stationed in their exact
places; but he forgot it all at the fair
vision Of her perfect loneliness, and
could only stand helplessly before her
and say:
: MISS Deludf, love you!
$50 you have been driven to confess
it at last" said Miss Delmar, ''after all
these years.
81 don't understand you,' said Mr..
Lilford.
"You have forgotten me- said May
sci.
"That would be impossible" assev-
Grated Mr.. LilfOrd earnestly.
t'But it's the fact" said she. 81 am
Maysel Mayton, who was engaged to
you under the chestnut trees at 49,,
nearly nine years ago, and here is the
engagement-ring," holding up slender
gold hoop, with an opal glimmering in
its center.
''No. I am not at all surprised that
you didn't recognize me. I was a child
them am woman now. And after
my parents died, when Uncle Delmar
adopted me, Itook his name instead of
my own But I have never quite for
gotten the pang of bitter jealousy that
pierced my baby heart when you were
married to Mary Huntingdon.
"But dare 1 hope, y began Lilford,
''that you still care little for mep I
know it seems like presumption, but
,,
''Yes you may hope,'' whispered
Maysel, half-laughing, half-crying. II
do care for you-more than alittle. y
The consul gave them his blessing.
g 1t was she herself who told me to
say she was engaged said he, patting
Maysels head. Little puss! She is
always full of her mischief
Il wanted to be revenged,' said
Maysel. "But I have quite forgiven
Gol I - I