Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-09-06
Delphine's
Choice
Copyright, 1905, by I. W. Hanson
By INA WRIGHT HANSON


ed backed. He was of no more conse-
ouence than a pet dog, except that his
mind In his poor ugly body was like
the pearl in the oyster shell, 50 he was
more entertaining, and, besides being
a mental genius, Jerry could sing. Ye
powersl How he could sing!
"bclphine, l began abruptly, 'in
Holland they have four Sundays in No
vember"-
"You don't sayw raising slender
hands in exaggerated surprise. do
you suppose they ever have fiye?"
Listen. -Four Sundays, known as
Review, Decision, Purchase and Pos
session. On Review Sunday all the I'M
married men and women go to church,
look at one another, but don't speak"
"How silly" remarked Delphine.
"On Decision Sunday each man who
wants q wife bows low before the
maiden of his choice, and by her re-
Spouse he judges OF her feelings to-
ward him."
Delphine Uttered.
ION Purchase Sunday he askes her
parents consent, and on Possession
Sunday they appear as actual or pro-
spective brides and grooms. / am tell
ing you because | was once foolish
enough to promise not to ask you to
marry me. / beg to remind you that
next Sunday is Decision Sunday, the
second in November; also that there is
more than one way to kill cat"
Delphine regarded me with amuse-
ment. "Dick, think you are the SILL
est ever" she laughed as she and the
auto and Jerry went speeding away.
I looked after them, the girls 1.-THE
Young figure, with the blue veil
streaming out 10 the stiff sea breeze,
and Jerry's pathetic form beside her.
Jerrys voice was music itself, and Ier-
rvs handsome eyes could speak more
sloquently than hundred tongues.
But what had ! to fear from crooked
back?
That evening my egotism was slight
" Jared. Hathaway Of the blond
head and the big heart Joined me on
the porch. Hathaway was buhbling
over with something too good to keep.
After five minutes conversation l
learned that Miss Delphlne had once
more made him promise that he should
not court her and that today she had
told him an interesting tale of how the
men of Copenhagen or South Africa or
some other darned place get their
wires. And why should she tell him
all that unless she was limiting to him
of an honorable way TO break an I'M
willing promise7
Why, indeed? Thought Yrathfully as
later and alone l brooded over the
matter, leaving Hathaway and a aoz-
en- others to dance with Delphine at the
casino. ! had other fish to fry, and !
was going to fry them good and brown
too. At last my plans were perfected.
Fastening to the casino, l buttonholed
the reluctant Hathaway and finally ca
toled him into doing what wanted.
Then we hunted up and explained to
ten other fellows, who, with one ex-
ception, entered merrily into the
scheme.
."But, hang it. Dick" protested the
exception. I'm already engaged!
Don't worry, Jenkins" eonsoled
Hathaway. "She will accept Dick or
me, know"
ut won't be Hathaway, 1 am sure"
I said, shammlng a confidence 1 did
not own.
On Sunday morning, when Delphine
and her father came out of church,
their astOnished eyes beheld twelve
men lined up near the red auto
Twelve? Aye. thirteen, for Jerry, with
smiling lips and weary eyes, stood with
us. We bowed as one man before her,
and. unmindful of the staring congre-
CATION, the girl responded with quaint
little courtesy.
Delighted to see you." she said cor
daily. Papa. will you invite the gen.
tlemen to dine at the hotel with us|
Bewildered locking papa compiled
and Delphine motfoned Jerry to enter
the car,
Don't SEES thar anybody gained more
than anybody eiss.r grumbled Hatha'
way as we followed the autos wake.
except Jerry" grinned jenkins.
At the dinners close Delphine's IA
theF told us that they We're going home
They were tired of the 81 resort.
you fellows come over and dine
with us at The Oaks next SUNDAY" he
said genially.
We accepted with alacrity, glad tc
carry out the remainder Of the pro
gramme in the confines of a home In
stead Of a. hotel, and every mother'f
son of us was at the gate Of The Oaks
at / O'Clock Oh the next Sunday-Pur
chase Sunday. the third in November
We decided that after dinner would bt
the best time to approach Ilelphipe'
father
"You have to go first, Hathaway
you're the biggest" said one OF thu
boys
"Let's draw lots for our places" sug
gested Jenkins.
'I did draw number one, darned II
didn'tw exclaimed the big fellow, "sev
en- is the best Who has the lueKS
severn
Ths crooked backed held up the mag
ic number
Don't lose any sleep over it. boys
he said mockingly. "YOH never for
moment supposed that was IN th'
running, DID you? followed along al
erst Just to see the fun. but I'm on
now"
Going up the palm lined drive III
and fell behind the others.
Don't desert us now, Jerry" sail
N Soft Cd