Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1905-09-06

absently, my mind coming my request
before Delphine's father
sDo you think I'd have the face to
ask her to burden her splendid young
life with me?' he demanded fiercely.
"She seems to favor you" ven
tured feeling that l had to say some
thing.
1.-THE sweet. tender pity of her would
give more attention to the wounded
dog than the we'll bodied one" he an
swered, with infinite pathos. II did
know man once whose body was as
bad as mine, and he.was married to a
saint and the father Of lovely children.
| couldn't dream of hardening Del
phine, though, even If
My pity for poor Jerry was forgotten
at Delphine's welcome. Surely there
was an answer to my warm pressure
of her little hand; surely her dark eyes
held In their roguish depths a gIeam
of love. sat beside her at the table,
too. with Hathaway at her left. re-
member what he had said-"It will be
Dick or me-" Hathaway looked too
complacent for my comfort, though.
Delphipe's father took the converse
ton pretty much into his own hands.
AS we ate our soup he talked OF
Dyak or Borneos betrothal customs;
then he went from one foreign people
to another, Jerry meanwhile helping
him out with a gay suggestion or
witty remark. The rest of us had lit
tie chance for speech. We didn't crave
1t. We would rather look at Delphine,
gray gowned, with crimson rose at
her throat and a chaplet OF autumn
leaves In her hair
AS the coffee was served her clear
voice took up the conversation.
GYou left out the prettiest Of them
all, papa" she said. smiling at him
"the custom Of the Yao Midas, Bur-
mese-Tartar people, They WOO only
by music. The sutton sits under a de-
sire tree and plays his favorite instru-
ment. AS the girl of his choice APP
proaches he plays louder and with
more feeling. If she pass by he real
ICES that she will have none Of him,
but should she stop and lay a flower
upon whatever instrument he is play
ing he knows that he has won her.
"HumY grunted her father as we
rose from the table Delphine and her
guests went to the veranda, While the
man in whose hands lay our fate went
to bis library.
Presently Hathaway, with a very red
face, slipped in. He came out with
swagger that made me want to punch
bis blond head. Next was Jenkins
who came out looking scared.
~ don't see how she can accept more
than one of u.s." 1 thought.
When my turn came-the twelfth
found Delphine's father looking ex-
ceedingly bored.
"Permit me to say that think you
fellows are a pack Of fools" ne re-
marked pleasantly. However l am
instructed to say that you may have
her, and bless you, my children"
Dizzy with Joy, / was staggering
from the room when he observed dryiy:
Each of you has the same answer,
so you're welcome to what encourage
ment you can get"
A hard slap, sure enough what
pextH
After ! Joined the others jerry out
under the great oaks, began to sing"
"See the Yao under bis desire tree -
remarked jenkins nervously.
The song was.a love song OF renun'
citation with weird words and wild
melody. Ye lovers, how that cripple
sangl As the marvellous voice died
away Delphine,-sobbing, ran down the
steps. Snatchlng the crimson rose
from her throat, she knelt before
Jerry and held 1t to his lips. we heard
the boys exclamation; then Delphine
cried out something and put her own
sweet mouth in the place Of the rose.
It was Hathaway who broke the
spell.
We've lost fellows" he mptteFed
huskily. Jerry was in the running
after all.