The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-06-04
Della and the
- SCOtChman.
A STORY OF
MISPLACED CONFIDENCE.

Before breakfast that morning De
LAS voice summoned me into the kitch-
en-. I make point of always Obeying
Della, and went.
Della pushed me in front of the dress
er, 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 it was Won
derfully tidy. So thought that Della
had been scrubbing it herself in fit
of repentance. Our servant has an ar
tistic nature and is an enemy of all IT,
diness and order.
"Well, 1t does look nice and clean, .
said /, with enthusiasm.
How very dense you arew said De-
liza. / had said the wrong thing, as
usual. She clambered on to a chair
and took down an enormous plate from
the top shelf of the dresser. The plate
was in gorgeous colors and represented
a yellow dragon playing on red field.
Della held it up for my admiration.
Now that is pretty" l said, nodding
my head wisely.
'sI'm so glad you like it," said Della.
isn't it sweet? | bought it for shil-
ling In the Lanes. At Jackson's sale
they've got some al four and eleven
that are not half so big"
/ turned the thing over in my hands,
"But it's cracked all down the back. y
/ said.
I'm sure it isn't" Della snatched IL
from me. ITS only just little tiny
split in the surface" And she replaced
1t on the shelf.
/ mention all this because it was the
beginning of Delia's bad temper. She
had not intended that | should observe
the crack in her bargain.
We went in to breakfast. One of the
letters on the table was an invitation
for Della and myself from an uncle OF
mine-an influential and enormously
rich uncle, of course. They always
are.
"Of course wen co. said Della. "You
don't know how much he may be able
to help you"
l. should mention that am engaged
in making career, but ] was panied
by Delia's insinuation.
my dear Della" said /. 81 regret
that you should make any observation
of that kind. If 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 a valuable collection. what with
wedding presents and one thing and
another.
"Of course l shall take them," she
said. with her head In the air when
tried to dissuade her. "Do you think
I'm not going to look nice when we
stay with your uncle?"
my dear Della" said again, "you
would look nice under any circum-
stances"
/ rather fiattered myself at the policy
of that speech, but Della was not ap
peased and would not be dissuaded
every WELL" said resignedly. "Have
your own way"
Della had her own way. She gener
ally does.
We Travelled first for the sake of ap
pearance. 1t would never do to let my
uncle think that we generally went sec
ond class. Besides my own luggage,
took a good sized bag in the carriage
with us, and at the bottom of that was
a small hand bag with Delia's jewels
Della thought that way was safer.
The train was just starting when an
old gentleman climbed painfully into
our carriage. He was peculiarly dress
ed in very loud check ulster, and he
wore a Tam O'Shanter cap with two
ribbons hanging down at the back. He
had white hair and white beard and
fierce eyes. l was almost afraid OF
him, but Della whispered, what nice
old gentleman as he sat down in the
opposite corner.
lence for long time. Suddenly the
old gentleman grunted "Stuffyp and
looked round at us.
"Stuffyp he grunted again, and then
he asked Della very politely If she
would mind him pulling the window
down.
Della didn't mind, and we got into
conversation with the old gentleman
He was Scotchman going back to his
home in the north. His name was Nc
Colin-Colin McColin of Seige's Brae
Then he began talking about the
storms we had experienced lately. The
fishing people of his district had suf-
fered severely. Their boats had gone
out and not returned. and the families
were destitute. When he grew more
confding, he told us that as a matter
of fact he was just returning from
business in connection with these acct
dents, for which he had been organic
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 al the