Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1901-07-26
Della and the
= SCOtChman.
A STORY OF
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.

S>%~~>~@>>~%>>@@>>a%~>@@<&
Before breakfast that morning De-
las voice summoned me into the kitch-
en-. | make point OF always Obeying
Della, and went.
Della pushed me In front of the dress
err, stretched out both hands and said
ecstatically, Look"
looked, but did not know what on
earth to look for. There was no speck
Of dust on the dresser. and 1t was won
derfully tidy. So | thought that Della
had been scrubbing II herself In fit
Of repentance. Our servant has an ar
tistic nature and IL an enemy Of all IT,
diness and order
well. 1t does look nice and clean"
said |, with enthusiasm.
How very dense you arel" said De-
lia. | had said the wrong thing, as
usual She clambered on to u chair
and took down an enormous plate from
the top shelf Of the dresser. The plate
was In gorgeous colOrs and represented
yellow dragon playing on red field.
Della held II up for my admiration
Now that is pretty" said. nOdding
my head wisely.
Pm 80 glad you like It," said Della.
Isn't 1t swectf bought 1t for shll-
ling In the Lanes. At Jackson's sale
they've got some AT four and eleven
that are not half 80 big"
turned the Thug over In my hands.
But it's lacked all down the back"
| sn'i ..I
I'm sure 1t Isn't" Della snatchrd II
from me IT'S only just little tiny
split In the surface" And she replaced
II on the shelf.
| mention all this because Il was the
beginning OF Delia's bad temper She
had not intended that ! should observe
the crack In her bargain.
We went N to breakfast. One OF the
lr.',rs Oh the table was an Invitation
for Della and myself from an uncle OF
mlne-an influential and enormously
rich uncle, of course. They always
are.
"Of course we'll CO." said Della. you
don't know how much he may be able
to help you"
should mention that am engaged
In making a career. but ! was pained
by Della's Inslnuation.
my dear Della" said. l. 81 regret
that you should make any observation
Of that kind. II we go. we go for the
enjoyment Of his company and nothing
else"
How good we're getting| said Della.
Then Della announced her intention
OF taking her Jewels with her. She has
rather valuable collection. what with
wedding presents and one thing and
another
"Or course | shall take them" she
said. with her head In the air when
tried to dissunde her. do you think
Pm not going to look nice when we
stay with your uncleT
MY dear Della" | said again. you
would look nice under any circun.
stances"
rather hattered myself at the policy
Of TINT speech. but Della was not ap-
pea Sod and would not be dissuaded.
very we'll" said | resIgnedly Have
your own way"
Drlia had her own way. She gener
ally does
We Travelled first for the sake OF APP
prarancp II would never do to let my
uncle think that we generally went see
Ond class Besides my own luggage.
took good sized bag IN the carriage
with us. and at the bottom Of that was
a small hand bag with Della's Jewels.
Delia thought that way was safer.
The train was Just starting when an
old gentleman climbed painfully into
our cnrriage He WAS peculiarly dress
cd IN very loud check ulster. aud he
wore Tam O'Shunter cap with two
ribbons hanging down at the bnck He
had white hair and a white beard and
fierce eyes was almost afraid Of
him, but Della whispered. what n nice
old gentlcnan" as he sat down In the
opposite corner.
The three Of us sat In strained 81
lence for long time. Suddenly the
old gentleman grunted "Stufryr' aud
looked round at us.
"Sturyw he grunted again, and then
he asked Della very politely II she
would mind him pulling the window
down.
Della didn't mind. and we got into
conversation with the old gentleman.
He was ScOtchnan going back TO bis
home In the north. His name was Nc
Colin--C0lln McCOlln OF Selgefs Brae.
Then he began talking about the
storms we had experienced lately. The
fishing people OF his district had sur
fered severely. Their boats had gone
out and not returned. and the families
were destitute. When he grew more
confdlng. he told us that as matter
OF fact he was Just returning from
business IN connection with these acci-
dents, for which he had been Organlz-
ing subscriptions. Immediately after
ward he seemed very sorry that he had
let the secret out.
Della had tears In her eyes. and
blew my nose. Della kept on nudging
my arm. | could not understand why
at first, but presently did.
"If you would permit me-" said l
Della was nudging my arm all the
time, ito offer-if you would accept Q
triae from us toward helping -thess'-
"My dear SIR" interrupted Colin Nc
Colin, 81 could not possibly allow VOC
TO do such thing"
But the poor people must be 20 un-
happy" said Della, "and We would b
only too glad"