The Ely miner., 1906-07-13

4O-udy lS the urSt Clmo Sluc0 Wo
said good-by on my seventeenth birth
day that no gift has arrived from the
blazing east.
| l expect l shall hear by the next
mail that he has taken unto himself a
wife-some young fresh-skinned thing
sent straight over from home in order
to test the Anglo-Indisn marriage mar
ket before she runs the gamut OF ex-
| persive London seasons.
| Poor Dolf! He was full of all a
| boys passionate fidelity.
Il shall never, never forget you OF
leave off loving you all my life!"
Sometimes | can hear those words as
| he said them that wonderful June l.,
| just eight years ago, when l was full
| of child-girlhood's arrogance.
Perhaps then-oh! here comes some
one to break my solitude Cannot they
leave me alone with my birthday
| thoughts?
p. m.-Although l never believed
that this birthday entry would divide
itself into two halves, like some of the
others, nevertheless, it has done so.
/ began my diary on the river-I
conclude 1t in the bedroom (such
tiny bungalow bedroom, where my din
ner frock is laid out ready.
The "some one" who came through
the trees to break the solitude of my
birthday thoughts was-Dolf!
The boy-lover, bronzed and grown
into a strong, almost stern-looking,
man.
Il thought l would bring your pres
ent myself this year, Delia,' were his
first words, as he stepped into the
punt and dropped a packet into my
lap.
In a strange, inexplicable way
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." l stammered, tearing
the string and paper off the packet.
Il told you eight years ago that l
should never, never forget you," be
answered quietly, as l 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 II!
81 have come home to give you my
heart over again. Will you take it this
time, Delia?"
Then l realized that there are some
men who never forget"-and thank
God for them!
But, Dolf, I have changed so much
let me move into the sunlight here,
SO that you can really see my face;
and remember, l powder-now!
No, no, you must hear me! I have
loved some one very much, and-and
he gave me up. (Jilted me, DolfD
You will be only taking the leavings Of
another man; you can't want me
Dolf, you can't want mel"
With tender smile on his face.
Dolf took both my hands in his.
"Yes, dear, / can want you, and do
want you," he answered.; Il 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 left!); but then as l saw
the great honesty of his eyes, nothing
but thankfulness and humility re-
mained in my heart.
IF you really mean it, Dolf, IL
am ready; but it is risk for man to
pick up broken threads after eight
years." I 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 lost
the first one years ago!) is hanging
round my neck, and everyone knows
we are going to be married.
We have been up to the houseboat,
and Erica has kissed and cried over us
both, and mamma is so happy, too.
Everyone seems happy, and-surely
it can't be true-but is it that l am
happy as we'll?
1t would be wonderful If it were so,
but q sit opposite the glass as l write)
it almost looks like it.
l caught myself smiling without
knowing it, and the smile has taken
away that long line; I'll put on my
white frocE and-and-why, tonight
believe I can bear to wear rosesl
All! there is Dolf; he is calling to
me from the garden below.
when are you coming down, you
vain little grill"
Little girl, l,"-girl-girl!"
Not 'clever woman"-but just vain
little grill"
At last have come back to my heri-
tage. l am 25-but some one has
called me girl"
1t is very dear to be loved, and my
thankfulness is great.
Please God, the future will be all
right think it will!
Where are the roses?
I'll put one in my hair, and a cluster