Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-07-05
When Della Was Seventeen
By 0ertle Dc s. weniwerth-Ja
A
 N ~
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.)

Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowles.) It is no use trying to keep daily diary, because things don't happer every day! but on birthdays something always happens, so from to-day, June 1. I am going to keep a birthday diary It Is now half-past ten; the sun is shining, and I turned 17 just four and half hours according to what mamma tells me!
 Seventeen!
 Of course everybody-at least. Lady Landor and Miss Cartwright and Erica-says that am too young for my hair to go up and my skirts to go down. and that ought to wait until next year, when 1 come out and am presented; but mamma agrees with me that an only daughter Especially when she hasn't any father) can't help grow ing up before her time; 50 I'm going to have years informal fun at home feeling like a woman. yet finishing my lessons at the same time!
 told Erica mamma had promised to give garden party on my seven teenth birthday, so that people might understand was ''ouI' in a quiet sort of way.
 "I think 1t pity, dear" said Erica Sometimes I almost wish that my cousin had made her home somewhere except with us, when her people went away, because she always argues out my pet theoriesD. You see, if girl 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 l lay in bed and watched the sun creeping through tie blind till 1t reached my new white frock and dyed 1t gold, thought about love, and tried to make up my mind whom I would marry.
 Of course, there is Dolf but then 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 I mean to marry early, he must be left out of the question. Bertie Rogers isn't tall enough, Archibald Wootton is too poor Cat least heard Lady Landor say his fathers financial affairs were in a very precarious state"), and Guy Lorne wears such hideous clothes. q think it's a positive crime for any man, par ticularly a husband, not to be we'll dressedD
 Then, as all those are impossible, it leaves only-Nigel Ross! And cer- tainly shouldn't mind Mir. Ross being left-as long as he was left to me! I never read over the description Gin The Worlds Real 1hings) of Roy Kethwick" without thinking of him.
 Strange, heavy-lidded. magnetic eyes, blue and full of things that should not be there; the mouth of a dreamer; the brow of poet; the chin of a voluptuary; and the chest of Morse king!" tsB
 He is just like that, only more SO!
 And now it's my birthday. He has sent me a great bouquet of white flow CTS; he is coming to the garden party this afternoon, and am going to wear my new white frock which touches the ground all the way!
 Isn't 1t all lovely, and isn't the sun shining?
 
 10: 30 p. m.: My first grown-up birth day is over, and I am sitting before the glass trying to get my hair out of tangle q French-combed it to make the plait thicker), and thinking how strange everything is.
 The garden party was lovely, until Dolf got silly and asked me to show him the new pups fin the stable. Of couyse I couldn't refuse. and I really felt rather excited when he suddenly grab my hand across little fat Toto's back.
 ''D-do you know I'm g-g-going away tomorrow, Delia?" he said. stutter. ing"
 "So. I didn't know you were off SO soon." I replied. isnguidly.
 Well, am, and--and-Delia, do you think you could-er-would care to-to-w
 ITO see you of a; the station, Dolf7" NO. no! I-I-doh't think 1 could stand that. because I'm going for years, you know"
 "Yes, know" fHere ( picked up one of the pups and kissed its pink nose)
 Well. Della, if you-ycu-don't find any one else who seems to-to-to- suit you. don't you sec. perhaps-oh!