The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1906-1907, 1907-10-12
ring which l recognized.

ring which l recognized.
IF you don't want to be known
dad" ! suggested. "better let me weal
/ your ring"
He complied so quickly that / divin
ed that he didn't want to be known
He wasn't very laxative, and, as had
| troubles OF my own, wasn't inclined
TO entice him into conversation. 4 was
| glad, though, to see that he was going
into society again. Dad loved good
/ women in an age Of chivalry sort of
| way, and hated to see him waste his
| time on perverse Miss Delight Darling
Later Delight and |, masked and
robed, stole down back streets to the
charity ball, she turning my fathers
ring round and round on my finger, for
she held my hand as If 1t alone could
save her from destruction. l whistled
carelessly under my breath to give her
nerves chance to be quiet
She begged not to dance, though she
had proved an apt pupil, so we, lady
in scarlet aud Roman senator, sat in
corner and watched the merrymak-
| ers.
why, there's another lady in scar,
let!' she exclaimed. 1.-THE cOstumer
said she had sold another like this. I
wonder II she feels as reckless and as
as happy as l do"
Probably this isn't her first glimpse
into fairyland." l answered. "She
doesn't dance like an old timer. though.
Do you notice the Quaker with herr"
HE looks familiar" she said curl;
Ously. II wonder who he is"
was doing some wondering on my
own hook. too. but / was most con
cerned about the lady in scarlet with
him.
BY and by l took my lady into the
dimly lighted conservatory and pressed
her scarlet gloved hand. After a long
time she shyly returned the pressure.
Have you coldT' she asked con
STRANGELY Your voice doesn't sound
natural tonight
Perhaps | hadn't thought about 1t
Little girl, are you very, very happy?"
YES" she admitted.
"Of course you are, and you are do
Ing right to be happy. But this is only
the froth. The real substance is a
home and an honest mans love. 1t is
as natural for you to love as for these
orchids to bloom. Delight Darling, am
the man you lover"
Her head sank to my shoulder. From
her dark hair came perfume of violets
IF you must know 1t, Richard Cour-
tenay. | think you are a king among
men, and. renouncing all l have held
to be most worthy, will do your
will"
1t didn't sound like Delights spon.
taneity OF expression, but the senti
ment was so satisfactory that l was
about to lift the scarlet mask to prove
to her that her lips were made for Just
what | had said, when two ghosts and
the Queen of HeartR entered and obvi,
ously hindered the demonstration.
The fall OF the masks was the coup
de theatre of the evening, for four
people at least. It happened that we
stood close TO the Quaker and the other
lady In scarlet-my father and-my
own little rosy, girlish Delight. look
ell in amazement at the little lady on
my arm. Then ! know my face grew
purple.
Let's get out of here" chortled.
'Or I'll exploder'
Into the conservatory, where my sue.
cessful love making had been executed,
I hurried my indignant companion. the
small and decidedly fascinating aunt of
my little Delight
Now, Dick Courtenay. explain your
self!' the little lady commanded, her
eyes dangerously dark, her cheeks
matching her dress.
"oh. the joke is too rich to explain"
| wheezed, wiping my eyes. "Slt down
here. Miss Delight, till l bring my IA.
Their"
She sprang To grasp my arm, but
He'd. l met my father just darling in.
oh. boy, what fool I've made OF
myselfe' he groaned. I've proposed to
the wrong woman. and she's accepted
me! Confuund masquerades anyhow
pushed him into the conservatory.
The right woman is in there, dad. IL
you'll fix It up with her, I'll attend to
the other one."
"oh, Dick" caroled my own Delight
as | led her To the shadowy Yeranda,
I'm going to be your mamma?'
And Tan to he your uncle" l an
swered. but don't tell me you knew
IL was my dad all the time"
OF course | did" Her eyes were
dancing with mischief. And l knew
he thought he was talking TO auntie.
though l didn't know abe was here.
And. oh, Dick Courtenay, l have Just