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 lono
conservatory paths, gazing idly through
The s'camy windows. An imapinat;vo
observer might have classed Ethel as y
hot-honsc flower. She was slender
delicate!y formed; she had thick yellow
hair, starry blue eyes and a charming
lace, whose chief color was the deem red
Of her lips.
But Ethel bore great Resemblance -
her lather father-a sturdy man, who.
working with his own hands, had laid
the foundations of the present large
family posscssions--a man of enerov
originality, fine qualities.
Sometimes Ethel, with all her delicate
beauty, looked oddly like him. She did
now
"What would poor mamma think 3i
she murmured, guilty. "Shc has done
everything for me. Why am dissatis-
fed2 What ails me7"
And then she went on recklesslv to
answer the question.
'Im 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 it, I've done
everything! I've been so popular that
mamma has been perfectly happy. I've
had SO many favors at every German
that l got to be proverb. And Allen
Lifford proposed, and mamma was
grieved that didn't take him. And
Mr. Dlnsmore-I shouldn't dare tell
mamma how discouraged him-him and
his money. She'd be Mortified. Oh T
snail never see man! should know
one 1t | saw one, I'm not afraid of that.
he might be gentleman, too; he might
be OF fashionable set; ne mIgut Uo
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 n-impor-
fant, and never drawled and never bored
how l could like him! shall never"
raid Ethel, with solemn emphasis, "neyer
zee 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 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 a dance
at the finest hotel tonight, and mamma
and l must go. And shan't get a min
ute 8 rest before next season sets in. And
l shall for get all these funny notions,
ana 40 as all the other girls urc- doing
without qualm-dance some more and
iirt some more, aud marry the best catch
that offers. Mr.. Dinsmorc, perhaps"
Ethel laughed. snatchcd white pink,
tossed her pretty head, and stroled 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.
'I beg your pardon" he said, in
breezy, bright tones; "but found the
proper entrance locked, and came
around here. The florst-can you tell
me where to find him2"
Somewhere in the shrubbery," Ethel
almost gaspctf. -~
"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 the
convenience of the gardener and florist,
whose cottage was just across from it.
"Absurd arrangement, Ethel's moth.
er had observed, driving past. "You
might take it for public hot-housc."
And the interloper-thc tall, broad
shouldered, bright-faccd, agreeable in
terloper-had taken it for precisely that.
Ethel looked down, looked up, smiled
family, then looked demureIy inscruta-
BILE. Her girl friends had always de.
clared that she dared, if she chose, do
just anything.
guess can get them Tor you, she
taid.
ooh" He looked pleasantly sur.
prised. "You're his daughter7'
Ethel nodded vaguely.
"WeIl, III be awfulIy obliged to you.
Roses and pinks, please, and valley
lilies anything. As big and nice a
bunch as you can hx."
Assuredly her mischievous plot had its
drawbacks. To be taken for the
daughter of country florist! to be or
dered about like any serving maid! She,
Ethel Hapgood! Yet, why was it so far
from being disa greeable2 Was it that
this man was 80 o Idly to her taste, with
his hardy young strength, his keen gaze,
his careless, rough country sut-so like