Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1905-08-17
Delphine's
Choice
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright. 1866. by /. w. Hanson

Quence than pet dog, except that his
mind in his poor ugly body was like
the pearl in the oyster shell. so he was
more entertaining, and, besides being
mental genius, Jerry could sing. Ye
powers, How he could sing.
"Delphine," | began abruptly, lin
Holland they have four Sundays in No
vember"
you don't say" raising slender
hands in exaggerated surprise. DO
you suppose they ever have five?'
Listen -Four Sundays. known as
Review, Decision, Purchase and Pos
session. On Review Sundly all the I'M
look at one another, but don't speak
"IIow silly" remarked Delphine.
ION Decision Sunday each man who
wants wife bows low before the
maiden Of his choice. and by her re-
Spouse he judges Of her feelings to-
ward him"
DelplIine 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 IL eat
Delphine regarded me with amuse-
ment. Dick, think you are the sill-
est ever" she lauSlicl. as she and the
auto and Jerry went speeding away.
l looked after them, the girls 1.-THE
young figure, with the blue veil
streaming out in the stiff sea breeze,
and Jerrys pathetic form beside her.
Jerrys voice was music itseif and .Jer-
rvs handsome eyes could speak more
eloquently than a hundred tongues.
But what had to fear from Il crooked
back?
That evening my egotism was slight
ly Jared. Hathaway of the blond
head and the big heart joined me on
the porch. Hathaway was bubbling
over with something too good to keep.
| i
learned that Miss Delphine 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
wives. And why should she tell him
all that unless she was limiting to him
of an honorable way to break an I'M
willing promise?
Why, indeed? thought wrathfully as
later and alone | brooded over the
matter. leaving Hathaway and a doZ-
en- others to dance with Dclphine 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
ioied him into doing what l wanted.
Then we hunted up and explained to
ten other fellows, who, with one ex-
ception, entered merrily into the
scheme.
''But, hang 1t. Dick" protested the
exception, I'm already engaged
Don't worry, Jenkins" consoled
Hathaway. "She will accept Dick or
me. | know"
1T won't be Hathaway, | am sure"
I said shamming confidence I 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. s.
Delighted to see YOU" she said cor
daily Papa, viii You invite the gen.
| tlemen to dine at the hotel with usF' =.
Bewldered looking papa complied,
and Delphine motioned Jerry to enter
the car. :.
Don't see that anybody gained more
than anybody else" grunbled Hatha-
way as we followed the autos wake.
Except Jerry" grinned Jenkins.
AT the dinners close Delphine's IA
ther told us that they were going home.
They We're tired of the gay resort.
You fellows come over and dine
with US at The Oaks next Sunday" be
said genially.
We accepted with alacrity, glad TO
carry out the remainder of the pro.
gramme in the confines Of home IN
stead of a hotel, and every mothers
son of us was at the gate of The Oaks
at / O'Clock or the next Sunday-Pur-
chase sunday, the third in November.
We decided that after dinner would be
th" best time approach Delphine's
father.
You have to so first. Hathaway:
you're the biggest" said one of the
boys.
Let's draw lots for our places" sug-
gested jenkins.
II did draw number one. darned if |
didn't,'' exclaimed the big fellow. "Se~-
en- is the best. Who has the lucky
sevenfr
The crooked backed held up the mag
&c number.
Don't lose any sleep over 1t. boys"
he said mockingly you never for a
moment supposed that | was in the
running, did youf | followed along at