New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1905-06-28
l)elphine's
Choice
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright, 1905, by I. w. Hanson
By INA WRIGHT HANSON
Copyright, 1905, by 1. w. Hanson

Throwing down my paper, started
In search of Delphine. She was getting
into her auto car with Jerry, the crook
ed backeH He was of no more conse-
quence than a 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
a mental genius, jerry could sing. Ye.
powers. How he could sing!
'Delphine," | began abruptly, s.in
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 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 wife bows low before the
maiden of his choice, and by her re-
Spouse he judges OF her feelings to-
ward him."
Delphine Uttered
"On Purchase Sunday he askes her
parents, consent, and on Possession
Sunday they appear as actual or pro-
spectiye brides and grooms 1 am tell
ing you because I was once foolish
enough to promise not to ask you to
marry me. l 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 silli-
est ever she laughed 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 Jerry's pathetic form beside her
Jerry's voice was music itself, and Jer-
rvs handsome eyes could speak more
eloquently than a hundred tongues.
But what had to fear from a 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.
After five minutes conversation 1
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 IN
| willing promise? ~@-..
Why, indeed? I thought wrathfully as
| later and alone l brooded over the
| matter, leaving Hathaway and a doz-
en- others to dance With Delphine at the
casino I had other fish to fry, and l
was going to fry them good and brown
| too At last my plans were perfected.
| Fastening to the casino, I buttOnhOled
the reluctant Hathaway and finally ca
! joled him into doing what I wanted.
Then we hunted up and explained to
tCu otucl IClloNS, WIZ, Will 'oi1c GA
ception. entered merrily into the
| scheme.
"But, hang it, Dick" protested the
exception, I'm already engagedr'
Don't worry, Jenkins" consoled
Hathaway. She will accept Dick or
me, I know" .>.
sit won't be Hathaway, I 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
| Twelve? Aye, thirteen, for Jerry, witt
smiling lips and weary eyes, stood will
us. We bowed as one man before her
and unmindful of the staring congre
i cation, the girl responded with quain
/ 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 looking papa complied
and Delphine motioned Jerry to ente
the car. r.. ..
Don't see that anybody gained NOR
than anybody else," grumbled Hatha
way as we followed the autos wake.
Except Jerry" grinned Jenkins.
i At the dinners close Delphine's ia
! ther told us that they were going home
They were tired of the gay resort.
you fellows come over and din
with US at The Oaks next Sunday"
said genially.
We accepted with alacrity, glad t
. carry out the remainder Of the pro
gramme in the confines of a home il
stead Of hotel, and every mother
: son Of us was at the gate of The Oak
at o'clock on the next Sunday-Pul
chase Sunday, the third in Novembe
We decided that after dinner would b
the best time to approach Delphine
father
You have to go first, Hathawa!
you're the biggest" said one of tt
boys.
Lets draw lots for our places" SUI
gested Jenkins
II did draw number one, darned if
| didn'tr, eycIajmad the big fellow s'Se