Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1893-02-17
MiscellaMenms.
VINCENT DILKLEY'S PRIDE.

Barbara Dilkley had walked with her
brother to the gate of their neat little
garden. There seemed to be something
on her mind. AS he was about to lay
his hand on the latch, she detained him
with touch on the arm and raised her
eyes to his.
Vincent Dilkley's was handsome
face. All the Dilkleys had been hand
some Miss Barbara herself, in her
youth, had been well nigh beauty.
And even now she had fair, noble
womanly presence, upon which years OF
physical suffering had set peculiar
stamp of remuneration, even of spiritual
exaltation.
Vincent she said, and with the
deicacy of reticent woman and one
who respects the reticence of others, q
sensitive color mounted to her pale
cheeks, isis anything the matter y
Vincent Dilkley started from abstrac-
ton. lie changed color, though very
slowly, under the loving scrutiny Of
those clear blue eyes.
"NO, Barbara, nothing" he said, a
little hastily, but there was a wealth Of
affection in the glance that rested on
her for moment.
Then he was gone and Miss ,Dilkley
stood there an instant, looking after him,
her idol, her boy, yet the strong staff Of
her always ailing life. He had denied
that ought was amiss with him Well
that was his right. But Miss Barbara 4
heart was heavy as she walked back to
the little cottage
"Of course, he knows the Witons are
coming out in few days" she unused
They are getting the house in order. y
The cottage was smothered 10 clam
bering roses ut this time Of year. 1t wa'
u pretty place "for wretch Of poor
man." Vincent had sometimes said, with
a bitter laugh
"Why were you not vouchsafed mar
for brother, Bah, who could make biz
mark 10 the world and give you all you
should have2 instead of a good-for-noth
ing dreamer, a poor drawing master, al
impotent manufacturer of unsaleablt
pictures, who will be pauper and keel
you one to his dying day ?"
Then noticing the pain on Barbara
sweet face he would stop abruptly and
laugh.
"Never mind me, Bah. You see la
a good for nothing--as | say"
But it was unlike Vincent TO be bit
teri was only recently-only recently
that be bad changed.
Aud meantime Vincent Dilkley wal
plodding through the various stages o
his days drudgery 10 the heat aud dus
of the city. The schools we're about u
close and the drain upon his attention
and time, patience and nerves wal
heavier now than ever.
II was toward the middle OF the after
noon when he assembled the steps of I
large house on the upper part of Madi
son avenue. It had temporarily par
tally dismantled appearance, as thougi
10 anticipation of an early vacancy
Lowered awnings tempered the light
There was q cool fragrance of flowers il
the rooms which Dilkley entered, some
what dazzled by the glare outside.
A girl had been standing near one o
the windows. She wore a soft. pal
blue dress drawn in by satin ribbo,
that bound her round young waist. He
golden hair made nimbus about he
head.
"You are late" she said. half appe n
ingly. She had put out a slim high
bred little hand, but Vincent Dilkley ha
not seemed TO see il.
81 was detained" he said briefly.
lie began settling her drawing boar
and pencils
"Are you quite ready 10 begin, Mii
Wilton p he asked tremendously. II
b had glanced about the room.
"Ah. Miss Hersy is not chaperonin
me to-day" said the young girl pet'
lautly She sat down and took up h
D pencils with the wakefulness Of chill,
The drawing lesson began 10 silenc
,. To the invisible third looking on
would have made 10 itself pretty pi'
ture. The girl with her delicate DIRE
and her still more delicate fairness; h