The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-03-21
PHIP's AUDAOTY.

fal6 - AUDAUlll.
@Well, whynot?p said Phip coolly;
Society so ought to be, a mutual ben
eft concern. II my neighbor has and
can sparethat which need, why should
ent I give him a hint to that effect?"
"a very gentle hint, in this instance"
laughed Carter Vaughn. "You dare
not do it, Phip."
Dare not ? take care how you defy
me. Tomorrow I willbeard the lion in
his dem
"Phip, you are not in earnest, surely,
think ofsthe audacity Of the thing, said
Honor, anxiously.
Well audacity is o good thing some
times it takes cheek to get through
this world without being cheated" re-
torted Phip.
my dear Philippe, what an unlady-
like expression!" demonstrated her
mother.
@We won't have any st bouquets
staring up at one as if to SAY Look at
me; see how fine / be, pursued Phip, reg
nrdless of her mothers Mortified look,
but dear little clusters peeping out from
sly little hooks, and filling up bare
places; we'll have one lovely thing
though. We will put u round
tray on the bouquet stand-its just the
size, you know, and in the center of
that our small glass dish; then we'll
fill them with flowers and green. just
brim full, and sprays Of myrtle and smil-.
AK dropping down. It'll be perfect,-a
glowing mass OF color and beauty just
relapsed into o fit of silent ecstacy."
Seems to me you're counting your
chickens before they're Matched" said
Mr.. La.ell. dryly, as he turned his
paper. 1T would taken small cart-load
to do all you have planned"
well, I expect neighbor Gaunt to
do the thing up in royal style, you
know
"He's much more likely not to do it
ALL said Garter Vaughn.
"We shall see what we shall see" said
Phip, laconically, but with q wilful lit
tie nod.
The next morning as Phip pulled the
bell at the door of the next house, her
courage suddenly failed her, and she
was strongly tempted to turn about and
Zee. "No won't; I have started to do
it, and I will" she said resolutely.
The door was opened, and in answer
to her rather timid query as to whether
Mr.. Gannett was at home, she was ush-
cred into the library where the gentle
man sat reading the morning paper.
Mr.. Gannett rose and bowed, Good
morning, ma'am; be seated" he said,
pointing to q chair. Something in his
manner and speech.tickled Phip i'm
mensely, and she came very near laugh
ing outright; she controlled herself,and
seated herself gravely. Mr.. Gannett
looked ut her from under his shaggy
eyebrows, and waited for her to state
her errand.
Phip plunged into business OF once.
my name is Philippa Lazell, and 1 am
your next door neighbor. / have come
begging" !,
aSome poor family, l suppose, with a
dozen young ones. What's the amount ?"
he interrupted, abruptly, drawing his
pocket-book out.
well, not SO very poor; that is not
poverty stricken and there are no very
young ones either. We do not need
your money, sir it is something nearly
as valuable, however" Phip said, her
cheeks dimpling with merriment.
sob, begging for yourself, are you?
That's different thing" dropping his
pocket book into his pocket again.
aYou see. sir, / have a sister Honor
who is to be married this evening, and
III want some flowers to ornament the
parlor. But hot house flowers in the
dead of winter are quite too costly for
the family purse, which has been some
what heavily taxed of late, although
the dear girl has had the most moder-
ate oftrosseaux. AS for Carter Vaughn,
he has had all he could do to furnish
the house in which they are to live,
without buying flowers which are worth
their weight in gold. But q wedding
without flowers is not to be thought of,
and remembering that you had q hot
house full, I.wish you to understand
that tits my own idea entirely. Moth
er and Honor were shocked at my au-
dacity, but I could not see what OBJ
lection you would have to putting your
flowers where they could be appreciated
instead Of wasting their sweetness on
the desert air."
Hem! Vaughn! any relation to Ca
leb Vaughn who smashed upa dozen
years ago9n
His grandson. His mother is al
ways boasting of their blue blood, but I
think a little Of the azure tint and q lit
tie more of the other circulating medi-
nm" would be preferable. However,
Honor is suited, and Carter is q splendid
fellow III spite Of his mother and his
blue blood"
Mr.. Gannet looked more amused
than Phip would have believed possible
from the expression of his face when in
repose. He turned. to his table and
wrote q few words on q slip of paper,
Then pulled the bell-rope near him. a
servant entered.
aShow this lady to the greenhouse,
and give this note to MIR. Roberts, said
Mr.. Gannet, cutting short Phip's thanks
and bowling q grave alden MS hereturned
to hissnewspaper. So for the next half
hour, Phip reveled in beauty and fra
grnnee. She did not take half as many
flowers as, she wanted, for fear that MI.
Gannett Tor Gaunt, as she had nick
named him. would think that she was
abusing his kindness.
There, you zee what comes of hay
ing some faith in human nature she.
said. rushing into Honor's room, and
triumphantly displaying her floral
treasures.
Phip flew around arranging her
flowers MS she had planned, withthe ex-
ception of her floral stand; that she was
obliged to giyeup. She stood contem-
plating her work with pleased satisfac-