Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1905-08-04
Delphine's
Choice

AAN ven HNNNAA
into her auto car with Jerry. the crook
od backed. He was OF no moro conse-
quence than a pet dog. except That his
mind IN hts poor ugly body was like
the pearl IN the oyster she'll, so he was
more entertaining. and. besides being
a Mental genius. Jerry could sling. Ye
powers! How he could singl
"Dclphine." l began abruptly, Elm
Holland they have four Sundays In No
vember"-
You don't sayg' raising slender
hands In exaggerated surprise. do
you suppose they ever have avo7"
Listen. -Four Sundays. known as
Review, Decision, Purchase and Pos
session. On Review Sunday all the un-
married men and women go to church,
look at one another, but don't speak"
How sillyl" remarked Delphine.
ION Decision Sunday each man who
wants a wife bows low before the
maiden OF his choice. and BY her re-
spOnse he judges Of her feelings to-
ward him"
Delphine Uttered.
ION Purchase Sunday no nskes her
parents consent and on Possession
Sunday they appear as actual or pro-
spective brides and grooms. / am tell
ing you because l was onco foolish
enough TO promise not to ask you to
marry me. 1 beg to remind you that
next Sunday is Decision Sunday, the
second In November; also that there Is
more than one way to kill n cat"
Delphine regarded me with muse
ment. "Dick, l think you are the SILL
est ever" she laughed as she and the
auto aud Jerry went speeding away.
I looked after them, the girls 1.-the
young figure, with the blue veil
streaming out In the stn sea breeze,
and Jerry's pathetic form beside her.
Jerry's voice was music itself, and Jer-
RVS handsome eyes could speak more
eloquentiy than a hundred tongues.
But what had l to fear from q crooked
back2
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 Eve minutes conversation I
learned that Miss Delphine had once
more made him promise that be should
not court her and that today she had
told him M interesting tale Of how the
men Of Copenhagen or South Africa OF
some other darned place get theiI
wives. And why should she tell hin
all that unless she was limiting TO hin
OF an honorable way TO break an IN
willing promise7
Why, indeed1 Thought w%ruthfully a
later and alone I brooded over IN,
matter, leaving Hathaway and a do7
en- others to dance with D~elphine at IN
casino I had other fish to fry, and
was going TO fry them good and brow.
too. At last my plans were perfected
Fastening TO the casino. l buttonhoie
tho reluctant Hathaway and finally ca
1oied him into doing what ! wanted
Then VIC hunted up and explained {
ten other fellows. who. with n e1
ception, entered merrlly into tn
scheme.
But, hing II Dick" protested Oh
exception, I'm already engaged
Don't worry. Jenkins" console
Hathaway. "She will accept Dick o
me, I know"
1T won't be Hathaway, I am sure,
I said, shamming a confidence ! dl
not own.
On Sunday morning. when Dolphin
and her father came out OF churct
their nstonished eyes behold twelv
men lined up near the rcd aut,
Twelve7 Aye, thirteen. for Jerry. wit
smiling lips and weary eyes, stood wit
us. We bowed as one man before he
and, unmindful OF the staring congr
CATION, the girl responded with a QuaL
little courtesy.
Delighted TO see you" she said co
daily. "Papa, will you invite the ge
tIemen to dine at the hotel with usf'
pewildcred looking papa compile
and Delphine motioned Jerry TO emit
the car.
Don't sec that anybody gained mo
than anybody else" gTumbled Hath
way as we followed the autos wake,
Except Jerry" grinned Jenkins.
At the dinners close Delphine's {
ther told us that they were going HON
They were tired OF the gay resort.
"You fellows come over and dill
with US at The Oaks next Sunday"
said genially.
We accepted with alacrity, glad
carry out the remainder OF the pr
gramme in the confines Of n home
stead Of n hotel, and every motheI
son OF us was at the gate OF The Oal
at / o'clock on the next ~sunday-Pu
ehase Sunday. the third In Novemb'
We decided that after dinner would
the best time 10 approach Delphin'
father.
"You have to go first. Hathawa
you're the biggest" said ono OF q
boys.
'Let's draw lots for our places" So
gosted Jenkins.
II did draw number one, darned II
dldn'tP' exclaimed the big fellow. Use
en- is the best Who has the lucI
severn
The crooked backed held up the ma
&c number.
Don't lose any sleep over 1t. boyi
Ne said m~ockingiy. You never for