The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-07-13


to me before she goes to sleep. DOM
wait for me, girls. If 1 stayed,
couldn't decide which one has done the
most nobly, for wonder at you all"
She glanced about at the garlands OF
roses which Eleanor had hung upon the
walls, at the twinkling candles, at the
faces turned affectionately toward her
What wonderful evening it had been
and each had contributed to its perfec.
ton. Through the open windows she
could see the glimmer of lights upon
the campus, and. the sound of music
and gay voices mingled with the sigh
of the night wind in the trees. She
treasured it all in this moment, that
its remembrance might bring gladness
in the coming years, for when she re-
turned the spell would be broken, and
all that remained would be to say good
night and good-by.
When the door closed behind the
slim, white figure, Lettice Clayton rose
abruptly at the head of the table.
The girls looked at her in surprise
and inquiry. Would she propose the
toast at once? Not one but would have
waited indefinitely for Delights re-
turn. Nothing was complete without
Delight.
Lettice looked from one to another
with curious expression.
Perhaps Delight Everett is the last
person competentto tell her own story"
she said, with a thrill in her voice.
IF you are willing, 1 should like TO
tell you something of this quiet life
in Durham"
''Do tell us, Letticew urged Dorothy,
and the rest nodded.
Perhaps you remember that it was
the desire of Delights life to go into
settlement work with me-" Lettice be-
gan, "and know of no one who would
be better fitted for the work. Besides,
she was IN orphan, and seemed unus-
ually free to follow her wishes. But
the summer after graduation the aunt
who had made home for Delight dur
ing vacations fell sick, and Delight
would not leave her. 1t proved to be
lingering illness filled with intense
suffering, and through it all the poor
woman clung to Delight as to her only
hope and comfort. For three years
Delight devoted herself to this mission.
doing the housewo-k as well. for the
doctors bills were heavy and the fam
lily purse was shallow"
She stopped moment, and her eyes
grew tender, while the others waited in
silence.
IL saw Delight once in that time,"
she said. softly. "She was the same
dear Delight-no word of complaint,
no sigh for her deferred hopes, no
consciousness of sacrifice, just sun
shine in a shady place 1t was only
when she was listening to the stories
of my work she begged for, that l
caught glimpse Of her hope denied.
But if you could have heard what the
poor sufferer said one morning in her
absence! Girls"-she threw out her
hands dramatically-"what would not
give to have such things said of me.'
Lettice stood turning rose in her
fingers while she waited to recover her
poise, her eyes looking beyond the
dropping petals of the flower.
81 went to Durham again." she con-
tinued, "when 1 heard that the poor
woman was at rest. This TIME l eX-
pected to carry Delight away with me.
The work needed her-I needed her.
But found somebody else had estab-
lished a prior claim. I cannot leave
poor uncle she said to me, with her
bright, brave smile. He is so desc
late and so helplessr
"When I urged that there were 9TH
ers who might shoulder that burden,
she shook her head: Uncle is pecul-
iar,' she answered, 'and if one did not
know him well. one might not under
stand, and might be impatient
The narrator laughed out suddenly.
Peculiar. she cried. "He was a
wizened little creature, but possessed
of a cantankerous spirit quite gigantic.
Indeed. if Delight had not stayed at
the helm, l doubt if anybody could
have been found who would take
charge Of that terrible old man. And
there our dear Delight has stayed, car
ing for him as tenderly as if he had
been her father, and finding time, too,
TO spend her love and sympathy N;on
every needy creature in that little
town. And now, at last, Delight is
free, for her uncle died this spring,
leaving her the poor little farm as
Il token that-somewherei in his gnar!ed
and twisted soul-he acknowledged her
loving service. And this is why De-
light has no story to tell Of the past
ten years"
Judith Graves looked across at the
narrator with eyes that were sus-
piciously bright. "'She hath chosen
the better part" she murmured.
Il have so often wondered that De-
light did not marry. sighed. Rose Alb
bott. "She would make a wonderful
wife and mother"
Lettice opened her lips impulsively,
then closed them again. Not even to
her had Delight confided the full ex.
actions of her duty. But she remem.
bered the day when her cousin, DR.
Philip Clayton, had come to tell her
that he must go alone to complete the
preparation in Vienna which should