The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-11-26
ROMANCE OF DELL.

led by sun and weather until it was as
ilifeless as cured hay. His face was tam
sned end he walked with the uncertain;
Aousging gait that comes from travelling
,sfter the pillow, toiling over soft ground
and keeping foothold on steep hillsides.
lt<bell had lived to be "a without even
~ much as looking at girl since his
rcuhoeldays. In fact, Dell would have
A,ad little time to devote to girls He
was busy from early morning until
night about the farm, and when there
tsvao q few days respite there he hitch
"a up his team and drove to Groveland
no help his brother in his celery and
Bweot corn fields
b Ono day there was excitement in the
Mason farmhouse. Dell brought let
ter from the postoffice to his mother,
and she read that Miss Hamilton, who
laad extensive forest interests in the
vicinity, would be her guest for day
/, q two while looking over her property.
X. DO not make any fuss for me,
tF1sase, Miss Hamilton wrote. II know
jhow busy you are at this season. Have
lDell run down a hen and let me have
. potpie for dinner
! Dell smiled at the mention of his
name. He had been too young to re-
msmber Miss Hamilton when she went
away, but no was proud to know she
Renembered him.
= 81 suppose I'll have to meet her at
the train said Dell, with the Pc
0uhar drawl that had come down to
him from Puritan Green Mountain an
oestors. II suppose I'll have to dress
Up"
I "Of course, Dell: and put the best
harness on the horses and take the wag-
on down to the creek and wash off the
mud.
I 81 guess she'll get used to IN I'D"
mid Dell.
When the train climbed the hill and
hually stopped at the hillside depot,
Dali was waiting, holding tight rein
Uysr his fractions farm horses, which
were unused to the "chaff chuff' of the
exhaust Of the locomotive Two women
Eero handed down from the vestibule
One Dell knew was Miss Hamilton and
= man blond person by her side was
= stranger.
"You are Dell, know said Miss
Hamilton, coming up. This is my
friend, Miss Sayles," and the blond
vision smiled at Dell and showed her
pretty white teeth.
, "Can you get in?" asked Dell, for the
Aosses were restless and he couldn't get
out to assist them, and all tho way
Gown the hill he sat very straight and
hAndled the lines, conscious that the
Arsttiest girl he had ever seen was sit.
ting behind him and probably contrast
ting him with the men who drove for
ther in the park and on the city boule-
sands When he stopped the horses at
+khs farm gate and helped the ladies
down from the high wagon, be thought
,to himself that it was like lifting doll
when Miss Sayles put her foot on the
stap and held out her hands to him. If
Bhe had been looking at him, she would
Shave seen that he blushed clear up to
his faded white hair But she wasn't
Hooking She saw only the farmhouse
hidden i'll the trees, was conscious of
)tbe drifting scent of violets from the
iAraen and felt the sunlight falling like
p isnediction over all.
h Dell watched her going up the path
~ meet his mother standing on the
tp4roh i'll her best calico dress and fresh
kangham apron. She looks like vel
How bird, ~ he said TO himself. A thou.
sard times he had seen graceful bird
pcise Just as she was poised on the step
cf the porch, seemingly ready for flight
irtn space.
THO story Of how Dell came to wor.
ship at tho fair girls shrine is short
sease. The first thing he did that morn
Ing was to pick a great bunch of violets
from the border for her III the after.
noon he was her guide to the innermost
recesses where nature slides away her
Spring jlt'els Of hcpatica and arbutus.
H. threw stones into the creek that she
might cross without wetting her dainty
feet. He showed her where the win
tergreen berries grew thickest and
laughed because she was afraid to eat
thenl. He did not say much Dell sell
dom said much, but he loved to hear
her talk. 's.
n "she's pleasant girl" said the
mother to Dell that night
:. eyes" sud Dell, shes great
t-s-l-kc-r"
= Miss s;lyes might not have felt COM
plimentcd if she had heard Dells com,
spent 1t was sincere. To Dell it was
great thing to be able to talk well.
The days following were full Of dc.
Night to the girl. All the glories Of the
sprng were heapcd upon her. Birds
awakened her in the morning with
Thousand musical voices. She brought
home loads of delight from the fields
fHand woods in the afternoon and in the
'svening Dell told her stories of autumn
hunts and huskings. He told how
woman he knew had become mission.
Ary. -e ..-s~.r.' -
l. '"And she has gone to teach the heath.
hnr' asked the girl s.
N-o' LAWFUL btil. l guess sllo
What you d call home missionary She
goes around backing stoves
j Del's mother explained that the
woman in question had a lightning
backing outfit, and she went about tho
neighborhood backing stoves without
,charge just to occupy her time and
benefit the appearance of her neighbours
kitchens.
= There was world Of tenderness in
Dell's voice when he talked to the girl.
Eeldom did he grow tender in his words,
however, only once when they were
sitting On the porch toward evening and
. mosquito came humming about Dell's
ears. He struck at it with his open
haEd and it few toward the girl.
!, Don't send your mosquitoesover this
Rey to bite no. she said.
"That what I'd do if was Il mos.
.A-u-i-t-o, said Doll without smile
Snd with degree of oarneatncss that
almost frightened her 81" went into
ehe house then, and Dell saw her no
more that evening, and thor" wa, lit
Ne strain in his left side that almost
NhDka1 him, tub,,, a.. I