The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1891-10-16
A BUNCH OF FLOWERS.
BY EMMA A. oPPER.

Ethel Hapgood was pacing the lon,
conservatory paths, gazing idly through
.he stcamy windows. An imaginatiy,
observer might have classed Ethel n.
hot-housc flower. She was slender
delicate!y formed; she had thick yellow
hair, starry blue eyes and a charmino q
lace, whose chief color was tho deem red
OF her lips.
But Ethel bore great resemblance n
her fathers father-a sturdy man who
working with his own hands, had laid
the foundations of the present largo
family possessions--a man of enerqy.
originality, fine qualities. ''
Sometimes Ethel, with all her delicate
beauty, looked oddly like him. She did
now
"What would poor mamma thipk9''
she murmured, guiltily. "She has done
everything for me. Why am dissatis-
fied9 What ails me9"
And then she went on recklcsslv to
answer the question.
I'm worn out--that is all. I've
danced all winter, and gone to concerts
and the opera and the theatre. and
bowled with two clubs, and What
Is the use in going over ita I've done
everything! I've been so popular that
mamma has been perfectly happy. I've
mad SO many favors at every German
that l got to be proverb. And Allen
Llfford proposed, and mamma was
grieved that didn't take him. And
MIR. Dinsmore-I shouldn't dare tell
mamma how / discouraged him-him and
his money. She'd be Mortified. Oh. 7
shall never see a man! 1 should know
one II ! saw one, I'm not afraid of that.
Be 0He' Of sshoSRssRbfss as ssE Rs b. sgabs
rich. Those things don't make man.
But if he was manly-if he had spirit
and ambition and brightness, and wasn't
contented doing absolutely nothing, and
didn't think his clothes were all-impor-
tant, and never drawled and never bored
how could like him! l shall never"
raid Ethel, with solemn emphasis, "never
see him. Well, and here we are at West
Bedford for the summer. To 'rest, ;
mamma says. And how could rest if it
wasn't West Bedford! I'd take the dogs
and tramp in the woods and hills all day.
But it's n resort, and the Stanley's are
here, and the Eameses, and mamma is
planning little teas and dances in this
great country place we've hired, and
there's picnic next week, and dance
at the finest hotel tonight, and mamma,
and l must go. And shan't get min :,
ute's rest before next season sets in. And
l shall forget all these funny notions,
and do as all the other girls arc doing
without qualm-dance some more and
iirt some more, and marry the best catch
that offers. Mr.. Dinsmorc, perhaps"
E.hc! laughed. euatcnc0 n wnlte pink,
tossed her pretty head, and strolled to-
ward the door, looking rather less like
her grandfather.
She was not the girl the world took
her to be-but nobody would ever know
she was not. What could she do: Moth.
ing ! and hopeless heart rebellion merely
made her uncomfortable. Goodbye to
it!
She almost stepped on the toes of
somebody hastily entering the conserva-
tory, as she would have passed out. A
man, and young man. A perfect
stranger.
al beg your pardon!" he said, in
breezy, bright tones; "but found the
proper entrance locked, and came
around here. The florist-can you tell
me where to find him2"
Somewhere in the shrubbery," Ethel
almost gasPed.
"Thank you! I'll hunt him up.
want some flowers, you know" said the
young man, briskly.
All! Ethel was quick of perception
She knew the rear door Of the conscrva
tory. 1t opened on the road, for tn.
convenience Of the gardener and florist
whose cottage was just across from it.
"Absurd arrangement, Ethers moth
er had observed, driving past. "Yo,
might take it for public hot-house."
And the interlopcr-thc tall, broad
shouldered, bright-faccd, agreeable in
terlopcr taken it for precisely that
Ethel looked down, looked up, smiled
family, then looked demurely inscruta
bic. Her girl friends had always dc
clarcd that she dared, if she chose, d.
just anything.
81 guess can get them for you, sh,
said.
ooh" He looked pleasantly SUI
prised. "fou're his daughterf'
Ethel nodded vaguely.
"WeIl, I'll be awfully obliged to you
Roses and pinks, please, and valle
lilies anything. hs big and nice
bunch as you can fix
Assuredly her mischievous plot had it
drawbacks. To be taken for tn
daughter of country florist! to be or
dered about like any serving maid! She
Ethel Hapgood Yet, why was it so ia
from being disa grceable' Was it tina
this man was so Idly to her taste, wit
his hardy young siren 9Th, his keen gaze
his careless, rough country suit-so lik