The Cairo bulletin., 1906-06-27
When Della
Was Seventeen
By Gertie De 5. Wentworth.Jamcs
l! - n,

every day. but on birthdays somethin
always Happens, 50 from to-day. Jun
/ !, am going 10 keep birthday diary
| Ii is now half-past ten; the sun /
| shining, and | turned II just four an,
a half hours ago according to wha
| mamma tells me!
Seventeen!
or course everybody-at least, Lad,
Lander and Miss Cartwright ant
Erica-says that am too young for m,
hair to go up and my skirts to &c
down, and that | ought to wait unit
next year, when | come out and an
presented; but mamma agrees with ms
that an only daughter especially when
she hasn't any father can't help grow
ing up before her time; so I'm going
to have a years informal fun at home
feeling like woman, yet finishing
my lessons at the same time,
told Erica mamma had promised
to give a garden party on my seven
teenth birthday. SO that people NIGH
understand | was ''out" in a quiet SORT
OF way
Il think it pity DEAR said Eric3
sometimes almost wish that M
cousin had made her home somewher:
except with US, when her people Wen
away, because she always argues op
my pet theoriesD. You see, if a CIR
begins--er-things too early. she uses
up all her best emotions before she
is at an age really to understand the
luxury of feeling.
This morning as | lay In bed anC
watched the sun creeping through ia
blind till 1t reached my new whit
frock and dyed it gold, thought abom
love. and tried to make up my minc
whom | would marry.
OF course. there is Dolf; but ther
he's going abroad for goodness only
knows how many years-six seven
perhaps, making me an old woman
when he comes back; SO. as mean Is
marry early, be must be LETT out 0:
the question. BERTHE Rogers isn't tai
enough, Archibald Wootton is too pooi
tat least | heard Lady Lander say his
fathers financial affairs were in e
very preearious state'), and Guy LornC
wears such hideous clothes. Il think
it's a positive crime for any man, par
ticularly 4 husband, not to be well
dressed!1
Then, as all those are impossible. II
leaves only-Nigel Ross! And GER
.ainly shouldn't mind Mr. Ross being |
eft-as long rs he was left TO me! | /
never read over the description (ln /
The Worlds Real 1hings) OF Roy |
<ethwick" without thinking OF him.
Strange, heavy-lidded, magnetic
yes, blue and full OF things that
hould not be there; the mouth OF a
Ireamer; the brow of poet; the chin
f vouptuary; and the chest of
Morse king!'
He is just like that, only more so!
And now It's my birthday. He has
ent me great bouquet of white flow
rs; he is coming to the garden, party
his afternoon. and l am going 10 wear
ny new white froek which touches the
round all the way!
Isn't 1t all lovely, and isn't the sun
Inning?
1890 p. m: My first grown-up birth
ay is over, and | am sitting before
he glass trying to get my hair out OF
lngle Il Freneh-combed 1t TO make the
ait thieker). and thinking how
range everything is.
The garden party was lovely, until
off got silly and asked me to show
i'm the new pups in the stable. OF
purse | couldn't refuse. and really
IL rather excited when he suddenly
my hand across little
t Toto's back.
DIDO you know I'm g-g-going away
morrow, Delia?" he said. stutter-
g"
No, | didn't know you were of so
ON" | replied, languidly.
We'll, am, and-and-Delia, do q
N .hink you could -er-wOuld care [
TO-" {
TO see you off at the station, Dolf?' q
NO. no! l-I-don't think could S
and that, because I'm going for years,
IA know"
yes, know" (flere picked up /
e of the pups and kissed its pink
SCI v
We'll, Della. If -you-don't find I
y one else who seems to-to-to- /
it you, don't you see, perhaps-oh'
ng 1t all. dear, love you awfully,
d | want you to promise to marry c
: when I come back" o
But you'll forget me after a month, il
If, | said, leaning back against the Z
rk stable door and smiling up at &
N. h
I shall never. never forget you or p
We of loving you all my life.' he II
swered, in a voice that sounded very h
/, although the Duchess" in The N
,rld's Real Things says that the u
ST truthful man becomes a liar when
dabbles in love- /.
ust as | was thinking how dark and L
ong Doll looked. and wondering ex- d.
" what | would do if he mentioned b;
sing me. saw Nigel Ross turning
nd by the coachhouse. hi
1 must got" I cried. dropping Spot
on his mothers back must go
lnce." OF
ON, Della. stay and hear me. An l