The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1880-12-09
DOLLY, THE FLOWER GIRL,
BIZ HELEN FoRREsT Grave.

ty Flower Girl, they call her, don
they? Old Frixham has doubled h
custom since she came there!"
Sand the best of all, +" added Fitzalal
with a laugh, sis that she is quite III
conscious of her own attractions-a Ii
tie country lassie, who thinks only {
her own business, and never dreams thf
she herself is the sweetest flower of til
assortment"
Lets go in and buy a Mareehs
Neil bud and two or three sweet vel
bena leaves" said Calverly. 81 shout
really like to see this modern Flora {
yours"
Dorothy Penfeld stood behind tn
counter of Ike florists store, sorting owe
pile of fragrant blossoms which lay o
tray of damp green moss. Trails c
smilax wound their green garlands u
to the ceiling heaps of gold and rose
petaled buds lay in the window; drift
of purple heliotrope perfumed the air
and white carnations lay like hillock
of snow against the panes of the show
window, while spikes of perfume
hyacinths and cape,jessamine flung thei
subtle scents upon the air.
And Dolly herself, with her round
dimpled face, pink cheeks and soft
brown eyes, exactly the shade of he
rippled hair, which was brushed simpl,
back from the broad, low brow, was /
fitting accessory to the scene.
She looked up as the two gentlemen
entered, and a soft crimson SHADOW
overspread her face for a second.
F'Have you one of my favorite but
ton-hole bouquets made up, Miss Pen
feId?" Fitzalan asked with a careless
bow and smile.
81 know" said Dora, softly. GA rost
bud and a sprig of heath, and tive
or three myrtle leaves-that is wha
you like. No; l have none made up
just at present; but l can tie up 8
bouquet in half minute, Mr.. Fitza
Ian"
Zone for me, too, if you please" said
Calverly, touching his hat.
"Just the same?"
Dolly lifted her long eyelashes, which
were like fringes of brown silk, and
gave him a shy glance.
GA little different, please. Consult
your own taste, Miss Penfeld."
II like the double blue violets," said
Dolly, gently, with geranium leaves.
"Then they shall be my favorite
flowers also" said Calverly, gallantly.
The gentlemen had hardly taken their
leave, when old Frixham, the florist,
hustled in, with round, red face, shin
ing bald head, and an air of business all
over him.
'Isn't it time you had the theater
bouquets ready?" said he, looking crit
cally around, and moving glass OF
freshly-cut callas out of the level sunset
beams which at that moment fell, like
golden lancets, athwart the deep bow
window.
81 shall have them ready directly, "
said Dolly, starting from her reverie.
The flowers are all sorted out"
eve have too many carnations on
hand, said the florist, fretfully; "and
those gaudy Cape bells are so much
dead loss. Let the man from the green
houses know, please, there's a demand
for half open rosebuds and forced lilies.
eyes" said Dolly, dreamily. 81 will
tell him-when he comes"
The closed country wagon, with its
freight of fragrant leaves and delicious
ly scented flowers, came early in the
morning, long before the fat florist was
out of bed, and while the silence almost
of an enchanted land lay upon Upper
But Dolly Penfeld was there freshen-
ing up the stock of the day before with
wet moss and cool water, and clipping
the stems of the rosebuds.
'tNo more carnations, John" she said,
briskly "nor amarylls flowers and we
want plenty of camelias and scarlet
geraniums, and those bright flowers"
81 thought, perhaps" said honest
John Deadwood, who measured six feet
in his stockings, and had the face of an
amiable giant, ''you might want to go
back with me to-day, Dolly. Your
aunt has come on from Kansas, and
there's to be a dance out in the old barn,
and plenty of candles and evergreen
boughs. And mother would be proud
to welcome you to the old farmhouse,
Dolly. Your oleander tree is kept
at the south window, and"
Dear me !" carelessly interrupted
Dolly; why don't they put it in the
greenhouse ?"
Because, Dolly" said the young
man, reddening, sit reminds us of you.
And the meadow-lark in his cage sings
beautifully /; and old red Brindle has a
spotted calf"
HAS she ?" questioned Dolly, indif-
John Deadwood looked hard at her.
Dolly" said he, ''you don't care
about the old home any longer I"
Eyes, | dc" said Dolly, rousing her
self; "but-"
She paused suddenly, the rosy color
in carmine tide to her cheeks,
IN involuntary smile dimpling the cor
ners of her fresh lips, as she glanced
through the smilax trails In the win
dow.
John Deadwood, following the direc-
ton of her eyes glanced, too, just in
time to see tall gentleman lift his hat
and bow as he went jauntily past.
Is that it ?" said John bitterly.
Is what :" petulantly retorted Dolly.
I'm sure / don't know what we are
standing here waiting for, and | with
twenty-eight bouquets to make up by
2 o'clock. That's all, John, think.
Don't forget the lilies-of-the-vaHey."
But you haven't answered me yet,
Dolly"
Answered you what97
About the dance in the old barn,
md coming back with me when the
wagon returns, nit 5 o'clock.