Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-06-21
TEE WHITE JAPoNIcA.
By o. p.


greenhouse so BACKYARD afore Mt this
season Of the year. There's white
roses enough, and Cape jessamine as
is"
Il don't care for the roses and jessa-
Mines" sharply rctorted Miss Es-
mayne. 81 want IL white japonica to
wear In my hair tonight"
Morris, the gardener. shook his head.
II don't know us there's one to be
had in town, miss, for love or money"
Its always just So" pouted the
spoiled beauty, "when set my heart
on anything. If can't have white
japonica won't CO."
And Helena Esmayne tiounced out
of the pretty little conservatory that
opened from the second drawing room,
with a splteful fling that broke off the
heads of the two carnations and
knocked down pot of pink azaleas.
And then, considering over the de-
tails of her evening toilet, she be-
thought herself of piece of yellow
and priceless old point lace which she
had the day before sent to be mended
II may as well so and get that" she
said to herself. Anything to pass
away the time-and l do really need it
for my dress tonight. Kate Bucking-
ham hasn't got such piece of lace in
all her wardrobe! OF course, Lucy
Lee will charge enormously-all those
lace-menders do. can't see where
their consciences are. But l suppose
1 shall have to pay it. People seem
to think that because papa is rich they
can impose on him all they wish"
So Miss Esmayne got, grumbling,
Into her carriage and drove, grum-
bling, Off to the poor, little, shabby
genteel house where Lucy Lee starved
at her needle and tried to think she
was not SO badly off as her neigh
bors. Lucy was light and fragile, with
yellow hair that glimmered like pale
gold in the sunshine, and two hectic
spots glowed on her cheeks. But Miss
Esmayne took no note of these: neither
did she heed the sepulchral cough
which ever and anon shook the girls
frame.
SWELL" said she. ungraciously. 81
suppose you've finished that lace?'
Eyes, Miss Esmayne."
"How much do you expect for it?"
asked the heiress, fumbling at the
clasp of her portmonnaie.
"a dollar"
"a dollar!' A dollar for just tacking
together two little holes. Now, that's
nonsense" cried Miss Esmayne.
II worked four hours at it, Miss Es-
mayne," pleaded Lucy Lee. in her soft,
deprecating voice, and my eyes still
ache with the strain on them. It's a
very difficult stitch to match. and
think you will be pleased with the
manner in which 1t is DONE"
II shall be ruined between you ALL"
whimpered Helena. Madame Mer-
cereau charging $40 for making up the
white satin over-skirt and train, and
you expecting me to pay you n whole
dollar My goodness gracious"
turning round with a sudden jerk. as
her eye fell on something in the win
dow which had hitherto escaped its
vision, where did you get such
beautiful white japonica?'
1t stood there in the window, with
its heart of snow, rising up from
among dark green, polished leaves, the
fairest most royal flower that ever
reared its oriflamme to Gods sun
shine-and Lucy's cheek flushed with
conscious pride as she looked at it.
II raised it from slip" she said,
Tomorrow is my little consumptive
nephew's birthday. The flower is for
him."
II want just such flower for my
hair tonight" said Miss Helena Es-
mayne, greedily. "I'll give you so
cents for it, Lucy
The lace-mender's pale cheek flushed
even redder than before.
II could not sell it, indeed, Miss Es>
mayne," she answered.
"a dollar, then. Come. Ill say
dollar and half for that one flower"
persisted Helena. II don't want to be
mean about it"
Miss Esmayne," said Lucy. 81 have
watched that bud for weeks, and every
time have looked at it little Benny
was In my thoughts. Benny never
saw a japonica in bloom. He's pas
sionately fond of flowers. and if 1
should miss carrying that blossom to
his bedside tomorrow it would be
greater disappointment than either of
us could bear"
That's all idle nonsense" angrily
retorted Helena. Poor folks should
not set their hearts on such expensive
luXuries. You'll let me have it'll don't
mind saying dollar and seventy-tive
cents seeing you're SO oftisl about it."
Money could not buy it, Miss Els
mayne," said Lucy, quietly. Eyes, l
know that what you say is quite true
we are poor-but we have our natural
feelings and affections just the same
as you rich people. You cannot have
my white japonica."
every we'll, very WE'LL" said Hiss
Esmayne, tossing her head "Just as
you please. Lucy Lee, but it's the last
lace-mending you'll ever get from me.
Give me the lace please. can't stand
here chattering all day"
And she flung ragged one-dollnr
bill upon the table as her own servant
might have flung bone to starving
dog.
AS Lucy Lee stood with her back to
her employer taking the finished work
out of a drawer, sudden sparkle
came into the heiress' shallow gray
eyes. Leaning forward. with scarce
~ perceptihle movement she suddenly
snapped the regal flower from its stem
and slipped it into her muff.
Here is the lace. Miss Esmayne,"
said Lucy. Il took great deal of
pains with 1t and hope you will be
suited"
Miss Esmayne muttered some scarce
ly audible reply and swept out of the
room. And Lucy, all unconscious of
her loss, sat down to a ragged piece of
Mechlin lace which some millner had