The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1905-10-26

sbsently. my mind coming my request
before Delphlne's father
do you think I'd have the face TO
ask her TO burden her splendid young
life with me?7 he demanded fiercely.
"She seems TO favor you" ven.
tured, feeling that l had to say some
thing.
THE sweet. tender pity Of her would
give more attention 10 the wounded
dog than the well bodied one" he an
swered. with infinite pathos. Il d.I
know a man once whose body was as
bad as mine. and he was married to %
saint and the father Of lovely children.
| couldn't dream Of burdenlng 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 CLEAN
Of love. | sat beside her at the table.
too, with Hathaway Mt her left I re
member what he had said-"It will be
Dick or me-" Hathaway looked too
compliment for my comfort, though
Delphine's father took the CONVERSE
ton pretty much into his own hands
As we ate our soup he talked of a
Dyak or BorneO's betrothal customs.
then he went from one foreign people
TO another, Jerry meanwhile helping
him out with a gay suggestion or a
al -.
tie chance for speech We didn't crave
IT, We would rather look at Delphine.
gray gowned. with a 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.
You 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 suitor 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. II she pass by he real
lies 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"
Hum grunted her father as we
rose from the table. Delphine and her
guests went 10 the veranda, while tile
man in whose hands lay our fate went
20 bis library.
Presently Hathaway, with very red
face. slipped I'm. He came out with a
swagger that made me want to punch
bis blond head. Next was jenkins,
who came out looking scared.
Il don't see how she can accept more
than one of us / thought.
When my turn came-the twelfth
found Delphine's father looking ex-
ceedlngly bored.
Permit me to say that think you
fellows are a pack Of fools, he re-
marked pleasantly However, ! 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 dryly.
Each Of you has the same answer.
SO you're welcome 10 what encourage
meut you can get"
A hard slap, sure enough. What
nextI
After joined the others Jerry, out
under the great oaks. began to sing"
"See the Yao under his desire tree"
remarked Jenkins nervously.
The song was love song Of renun-
citation with weird words and wild
melody. We lovers. how that cripple
sang. 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 II 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.
IL was Hathaway who broke the
spell
We've lost, fellows" he muttered
huskily. Jerry was in the running
after all.