The spectator., 1919-06-27
A WOMAM'S TOUCH
By JACK LAYTON.

events Of n fast changing year, when misfortune had followed misfortune until she had been obliged to close her own home and dispense with the companonShip of the old nurse who had in her loneliness become her friend. Then Delight, in quest of nee essary employment. had answered a strange advertisement
 There were so few things that her home life had fitted her to do the un- usual advertisement seemed to have been especially written fer herself Duncan Reynolds of "The Towers required the services Of q young wom- an who could give to his great abode the home atmosphere.
 I've servants enough" he said "and good houSekeeper, but the place Is like an institution. 1 want" Delight fancied that the shrewd eyes softened -'I want d woman's touch, the right kind of flowers on the table, the sound of piano at night maybe-Im glad that you have applied for the position" With her arms folded now on the fence rail Delight marveled that she had become an inmate and necessary inmate of the great mansion on which she had looked with awe since the days of her childhood.
 The cratic old gentleman who was its occupant and owner had been re garded as q sort of ogre then.
 The old nurse had told to Delight weird tales of the great house on the hill-how. long ago, maidens had feared the wealthy and handsome young Duncan as suitor. because of his uncomfortable temper: and how at last he had gone upon long visit. ! returning with a beautiful, gentle bride, who had lived but Il few years | like prisoner behind the great house bars.
 Delight, looking up to the center | window of the tower, thought now of | the gentle lady her nurse had de- | scribed. and wondered if it was this woman's touch which the lonely man | had missed throughout these years. Last night Duncan Reynolds had searched her face with questioning eyes.
 "Why didn't you marry?" he asked with his usual brusqueness.
 Why" Delight had stammered, "T really don't know"
 You will make some man happy" ne had said and his rare smile erased the. lines of tirednesS from his face {; do not miss your opportunity when it comes. My life has been one of dis appointment. First l lost my wife, whom l have never ceased to love. Then the little girl. My daughter would have been about your age"
 oh! l did not know" Delight sympathized. that you had lost a daughter
 and son." the old man added sharply.
 And as she stcod reviewing her year with it's unexpected paths. she yearned to restore to him in his loneliness the | Joy he had known and lost. And she wondered little wistfuly if the hap piness he spoke of would ever be her | own.
 Then suddenly Delight was reused from her musings. X horse, tearing down the twisting road. reared wildly and tossed from it's saddle Il man who lay stunned for a moment--at her feet. Instantly she had slipped under the bars and was lifting the injured mans head. when his eyes opened, looking up at her.
 "Nothing seems to hurt but my ankle.' the young man said at last. If you can bear my weight on yol:r shoulder I'll try to stand up and see how bad that Is"
 Pretty bad," he gasped. white Tipped after the effort
 You had better rest back on the ground" Delight suggested. while l ! run over to The Towers and send n groom to help you"
 "The Towers "' the young man cx- 1 claimed, what are you doing there?" His suffering was so evident that shc ieEcrcd the rudeness and answered i his QGesIion.
 T am sure they will look after you 1 over at The Towers she added kind ly, If you will let me go for help "Is the great master there as savage as every" the young man asked.
 MT. Reynolds is not savage at all" Delight indignantly retorted; "he is a lonely old man who has acquired understanding through sorrow
 She told Duncan Reynolds of their enforced guest that evening.
 They have put him in the blue room" she said; "the doctors said his injury would not permit him to be moved furiher."
 Impatiently her employer turned to 1 descend the stairs. Long after she heard him calling to her from the hall; Delight wondered, as she responded, at the change in the old mans face. Its. grim lines seemed al, at. once to have changed to tenderness.
 .The young man up there" he said slowly, "is my son; we quarreled years l ago. and the boy ran away. That is