Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1898-12-09
ROMANCE OF DELL.

Dell was tall. He had hair naturally
blond and soft and 1t had been bleach
ed by sun and weather until 1t was as
lifeless as cured hay. His face was tan
ned and he walked with the uncertain,
lounging gait that comes from travelling
after the pillow, toiling over soft ground
and keeping foothold ON steep hillsides
Dell had lived to be "a without even
10 much as looking at a girl since his
schooldays. In fact, Dell would have
had little time to devote to girls He
was busy from early morning until
night about the farm, and when there
was few days respite there he hitch
cd up his team and drove to Groveland
to help his brother in his celery and
sweet corn fields,
| One day there was excitement in the
Mason farmhouse. Dell brought u lat
ter from the postoffioe TO his mother.
and she read that Miss Hamilton, who
had extensive forest interests In the
vicinity, would be her guest for day
or two while looking over her property.
do not make any fuss for me.
please, miss Hamilton wrote. II know
how busy you are at this season. Have
Dell run down hen and let me have
potpie for dinner. -
Dell smiled ut the mention OF his
name He had been too young to re-
member Miss Hamilton when she went
away, but he was proud 10 know she
remembered him. ....|
II suppose I'll have TO meet her at
the train" said Dell, with the pc
cuIiar drawl that had come down to
him from Puritan Green Mountain an
cestors IT suppose I'll have to dress
up"
"Of course, Dell, and put the lest
harness ON tho horses and take the wsg
on down 10 tho creek and wash of tho
mud -
guosa sne II get USED 20 NJ al.
said Dell.
When the train climbed the hill md
finally stopped at tho hillside depot,
Dell was waiting, holding tight rein
over his fractions farm horseA which
were unused to the "chaff ohuff" of the
exhaust Of the locomotive. Two women
were handed down from tho vestibule.
One Dell knew was Miss Hamilton and
a small blond person by her side was
q stranger.
"You are Dell, know, +" said Misi
Hamilton, coming up. This III my
friend, Miss Sayles. F" and tho blond
vision smiled ut Dell and showed her
pretty white teoth.
"Can you get inS'' asked Dell. for the
horses were restless and no couldn't got
out TO assist them, and all the way
down the hill he sat very straight and
handled the lines, conscious that the
prettiest girl no had ever seen was sit
ting behind him and probably contrast
ing him with the men who drove for
her in the park aud ON the city boulo.
wards. When no stopped the horses at
the farm gate and helped the ladies
down from the high wagon, he thought
TO himself that IL was like lifting u doll
when Miss Sayles put her foot ON the
step aud hold out her hands 10 him. II
she had been looking at him, sbblwould
have seen that he blushed clear up 10
his faded white hair. But she wasn Z
looking She saw only the farmhouse
hidden m the trees. was constdous OF
sthe drifting scent Of violets from the
garden and felt the sunlight falling like
benedictidn over all.
Dell watched her going up the path
IN meet bis mother standing ON tbs
norcb IN her hest calico Dress ana Yresb
bingham apron. ''She looks like q vel.
io,y hird be aoid n, bimaeIs tSou.
ssnd tinea bo had aean a oracsful bird
noise inst aa sho was noised ON tbs utsr
"a the noroh. seennin0lv yeady sor f,ioh,
into s,,oce
Tho s,orv NJ ho,v Nall c.,,a a., ,,,or
sbin ~ tha fair girl,s sbrina 60 n ahor,
ono Tho Ar, ,bina ba All ,hst r,,,,rn'
inc wss 10 nicL a great hunch ~ vicIa,,
Sre, ,ho hnrdar Co. nor In ~. &C.
noon ha was her ouide ,o The ,nncr,nos,
racnssas ,,,hnro n,,,nra oIidos ava,, ha,
snrin0 Jewels ~ benatioa and arbntps
IIa tbrco, stoncs ,,,d tbo eroet ,b., ~.
,aioh, c,cso ,git,,,,,,, ,.a,,3,,,, ho, datnt,
scn, 80 shn,gad b"r ,ahera tha S,in'
tnroreen herries orew thickss, ana
iangh.d hecanse sha was afraid m .a,
,ben uc did lot sav mncL DaI1 saI.
dom said mnch nm, bo lovod m hoa,
her tall
"Sho,s a nl,as,nt Oirl " said the
mother m Dell that night
"Yes. said Dell "she's a great
la1k-e-ru
Mis- saIves miObt not have felt com.
oIim.ntod II shs bad heard DeIl's com.
mont Il WINS sincere. To Dell II was O