The Monticellonian., 1906-07-12


 T shall never. never forget you or leave of loving you all my life!"
 Sometimes l can hear those words as i he said them that wonderful June l. i just eight years ago. when was :ull of child girlhoods arrogance. Perhaps then-oh, here comes some one to break my solitude. Cannot they leave me alone with my birthday thoughts?
 p. m.-Aithough never believed that this birthday entry would divide itself into two halves. like some Of the others, nevertheless, 1t has done so.
 began my diary on the riyer-l conclude it in the bedroom (such a tiny bungalow bedroom. where my din- ner froek IS laid out ready. The some one" who came through the trees to break the solitude of my birthday thoughts was-Dolf!
 The boy-iover, bronzed and grown into strong. almost stera-loekng. man.
 T thought I would bring your pres ent myself this year. Delia," were his first words. as he stepped into the punt and dropped packet into my lap.
 In a strange. inexplicable way wasn't surprised to see him; 1t almost seemed as though the water and the wind and the birds had prepared me for his coming.
 'I-I-thought you had f-f-forgotten me this year, I stammered, tearing the string and paper off the packet.
 ''I told you eight years ago that l should never, never forget you," he answered quietly. as raised the lid of small cardboard box, and
 There was my birthday gift
 Another gold heart-just like the one he had given me when l was IT,
 ''I have come home to give you my heart over again. Will you take it this time, Delia?"
 Then I realized that there are some men who never forget"-and thank God for theml
 But, Dolf, l have changed so much let me move into the sunlight here, so that you can really see my face; and remember, I powder-nowi Nc, mo- you must hear me! 1 have loved some one very much, and-and he gave me up. tJilted me. DolfD You will be only taking the leavings of another man; you can't want me Dolf. you cant want mel
 With a tender smile on his face Dolf took both my hands in his.
 Yes, dear, I can want you. and do want you, he answered 'I have want ed you all these years-lonely, blazing years. Della; and in my own way I've been praying all the time that some day we might be together"
 A sudden feeling of resentment rushed over me (perhaps his prayers had been responsible for my being loved-and leftD; but then as I saw the great honesty of his eyes, nothing but thankfulness and humility re- mained in my heart
 If you really mean it, Dolf, I-I am ready; but it is a risk for man to pick up broken threads after eight years said.
 It is no risk, because, with me, the threads have never been dropped"
 Then he bent down and kissed my hand.
 Now the second gold heart q lest the first one years agoD is hanging round my neck, and everyone knows We are going to be married.
 We have been up to the houseboat, ard Erica has kissed and cried over us both. and mamma is so happy, too
 Everyone seems happy. and-surely 1t can't be true-but is it that 1 am happy as we'll?
 It would be wonderful if it were so, but q sit opposite the glass as l write) it almost looks like it
 I caught myself smiling without knowing it, and the smile has taken away that long line; I'll put on my white frock and-and-why, tonight l believe l can bear to wear roses,
 An, there is Dolf; he is calling to me from the garden below.
 When are you coming down, you vain little girl"
 Little girl, l,"-girl-girl,'
 Not clever woman"-but just vain little girl.
 At last have come back to my keri- tage am 25-but some one has called me girl"
 It is very dear to be loved, and my thankfulness is great.
 Please God, the future will be all right think 1t will,
 Where are the roses?
 I'll put one in my hair, and cluster on my breast.
 Yes. Dolf. I am coming!
 A little girli.,