DELILAH

We have another viceroy now,— those days are dead and done Of Delilah Aberyswith and depraved Ulysses Gunne. Delilah Aberyswith was a lady — not too young — With a perfect taste in dresses and a badly-bitted tongue,

With a thirst for information, and a greater thirst for praise, And a little house in Simla in the Prehistoric Days. By reason of her marriage to a gentleman in power, Delilah was acquainted with the gossip of the hour;

And many little secrets, of the half-official kind, Were whispered to Delilah, and she bore them all in mind. She patronized extensively a man, Ulysses Gunne, Whose mode of earning money was a low and shameful one.

He wrote for certain papers, which, as everybody knows, Is worse than serving in a shop or scaring off the crows. He praised her “queenly beauty” first; and, later on, he hinted At the “vastness of her intellect” with compliment unstinted.

He went with her a-riding, and his love for her was such That he lent her all his horses and — she galled them very much. One day, THEY brewed a secret of a fine financial sort; It related to Appointments, to a Man and a Report.

‘ Twas almost worth the keeping,— only seven people knew it — And Gunne rose up to seek the truth and patiently pursue it. It was a Viceroy's Secret, but — perhaps the wine was red — Perhaps an Aged Councillor had lost his aged head —

Perhaps Delilah's eyes were bright — Delilah's whispers sweet — The Aged Member told her what‘ twere treason to repeat. Ulysses went a-riding, and they talked of love and flowers; Ulysses went a-calling, and he called for several hours;

Ulysses went a-waltzing, and Delilah helped him dance — Ulysses let the waltzes go, and waited for his chance. The summer sun was setting, and the summer air was still, The couple went a-walking in the shade of Summer Hill.

The wasteful sunset faded out in Turkish-green and gold, Ulysses pleaded softly, and — that bad Delilah told! Next morn, a startled Empire learnt the all-important news; Next week, the Aged Councillor was shaking in his shoes.

Next month, I met Delilah and she did not show the least Hesitation in affirming that Ulysses was a “beast.” We have another Viceroy now, those days are dead and done — Of Delilah Aberyswith and most mean Ulysses Gunne!