Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1919-07-04
A WOMANS TOUCH
sy JACK LAYTON.

Copyright, 1919, Western Newspaper unloH3
Delight gazed across the far-Feach-
ing fields as she leaned against the
old fence that bordered the roadway.
She was reviewing a little sadly the
events Of a fast changing year, when
misfortune had followed misfortune
until she had been obliged to close
her own home and dispense with the
,Ompanionship of the old nurse who
had in her loneliness become her
friend Then Delight, In quest of nee
essary employment. had answered &
strange advertisement.
There were 50 few things that her
home life had fitted her to do the I'M
usual advertisement seemed to have
been especially written for herself.
Duncan Reynolds Of 1.-THE Towers"
required the services of a young wom-
an who could give to his great abode
the home atmosphere.
"Tve servants enough" he said, land
good housekeeper, but the place is
ike an institution | want" Delight
Iancied that the shrewd eyes softened
IL want a woman's touch, the right
kind Of flowers on the table, the sound
Of piano at night maybe-Im glad
hat you have applied for the position"
With her arms folded now on the
fence rail Delight marveled that she
had become an inmate and a necessary
inmate Of the great mansion on which
she had looked with awe since the
days Of her childhood.
The erratic old gentleman who was
Its occupant and owner had been re-
Sarded as sort of ogre then.
The old nurse had told to Delight
weird tales of the great house on the
long ago, maidens had
feared the wealthy and handsome
young Duncan as a sutton, 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 a 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 II 1t was this
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. *
really don't know"
"YOu will make some man happy"
he 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
First / lost my wife,
whom have never ceased to love.
Then the little girl. My daughter
would have been about your age"
"0hl I did not know" Delight
shat you had lost q
"-and a son." the old man added
sharply.
And as she stood reviewing her year
with Its unexpected paths, she yearned
10 restore to him In his loneliness the
Joy he had known and lost. And she
a little wistfully If the hap
piness he spoke Of would ever be her
own.
Then suddenly Delight was reused
from her musings. A horse, tearing
down the twisting road, reared wildly
and tossed from its saddle a 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 your
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
Delight suggested, while I
run over to The Towers and send
groom to help you"
"The Towers !" the young man ex.
claimed, "what are you doing there?'
His suffering was SO evident that
she ignored the rudeness and answered
his question.
II am sure they will look after You
over at The Towers" she added kind
", IF you win let me 30 for help"
''Is the great master there as savage
Is everf" the young man asked.
"Mr. Reynolds is not savage at all,
Delight Indignantly retorted; ''he In
| lonely old man who has acquired
through sorrow"
She told Duncan Reynolds Of their
guest that evening.
''They have put him in the blue
she said "the doctors said his
injury would not permit him to be
moved further"
Impatiently her employer turned 10
descend the stairs. Long after she
heard him calling to her from the hall;
Delight wondered. as she responded
1t the change in the old mans face.