The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1900-08-17
The CITIZEN FREDERICK MD FRIDAY MORNING AUGUST II 1900

little country town and -ptnching and saw
ing that | might study music, Itell w,
Chrisabel. Tr'felt mean. was hurt in
my feelings and in my pride, too, and l
was pretty miserable. Then | had an in
spiration.
'You see," she went on shyly, II had
grown $3.50 used to Fred and l knew
that he liked me, but he needed-what do
they call it in business ?-competitioni
He must know that some other boy want
ed the toy before he would value it prop
erly.
81 didn't stop to think; just sailed in.
If l hadn't, you and | wouldn't be sit
ting here, and Fred and wouldn't be
the hap"
"Never mind the raptures; proceed"
advised her listener.
while was at dinner that night the
bell rang, and the servant brought in
note for me and large box from a well
known florist. The box. of course, | d.
rected to be sent to my room, but Fred
had seen it, and the note read at once.
blushed, but not for the reason that he
supposed. 1t was stage fright. Once or
twice during dinner l caught his eyes
fixed upon me interrogatively, and, being
new in my role. became SO embarrassed
that left the table before dessert. | was
not, however. too confused to see that
Fred was taking notice in a most graft
flying manner. He'd been present at a
first night, but he didn't know it.
"From that time violets came for me
regularly. and my place was often vacant
at dinner. | contracted a happy little
habit of humming as | passed through
the halls. The moral effect upon Fred
was excellent when | happened to come
upon him Unexpectedly. to say nothing Of
its effect upon me. | became so used to
playing at being happy and having mil
lion dollar admirer in the background
that | half believed it myself and grew
quite agitated when my flowers came"
"Elinor Powers Carr. Do you mean to
say
But Elinor was not to be interrupted.
"Within ten days Fred was trying to
drop back into the old habit of lingering
for chat after dinner He even timidly
suggested that we hadn't read anything
together for ages. | was sweet and pleas
ant. but | had covert thereare-others
sort of an air. though all the time | felt
like perfect villain.
Things reached a climax when failed
to appear at dinner three successive
nights. | was eating Neufchatel cheese
and rolls in my room. but Fred thought
l was mingling with the happy and the
gay. The next morning he asked in de-
termined way whether had an engage
ment for that evening. | replied, politely
suppressing a yawn, that | must go to
bed early that night, but would go for Il
walk in the park next day. We were
standing at the foot of the stairs, and
just then the bell rang, and boy from
the florist handed in my usual box Of VIC
lets. Fred looked savage, and ! turned a
furious red, for by this time | was aw-
fully ashamed of myself.
"Wel. we went for the walk next day,
Upon my return | telephoned to the flor
list to countermand my standing order for
violets."
A moment later young woman with a
very red face dropped down beside the
divan. putting the face quite out of sight
at was horrid of me, Chris. wasn't it,
she said appealingly. Chrisabel looked
somewhat bewildered.
You certainly did reach out she ad'
mitted slowly, her eyes filling with won
der. "But how did the flowers happen
to arrive at the right time of day." she
continued in a puzzled tone.
Il attended to that" answered meek
voice Then, looking out from between
her fingers at her friend. she added ten
tatively, Flowers are awfully expen'
sive' No answer
Then remorsefully, Sometimes | think
I'll have to tell Fred"
"Don'tn circulated Chrisabel energet
ically.-New York Commercial Advertis
er.