, 1901-06-08
A TrifIe Short.
BY EVA WILLIAMS MALONE.

bl EVA WILLIAMS MALONE.
Copyright, 1901. by Daily Story Pub. Coz
"Marechal Niels-three dollars a
dozen! Rather dear; but hang it, so
is she.' he inwardly unused. Outward
ly he said:
Yes. I'll take the dozen-this note
is to go with them, the address is on
it. Be sure it don't get lost" If his
pocket was lighter, so was his heart
as he left the florists shop and went
to his law office.
There were two of them: and one
of her. Each hoped he was the right
one, yet was not quite sure. Indeed,
she was scarcely sure herself. One
represented wealth, ease, station-tne
things she had been taught We're the
ultima thule of human existence. The
other represented-she scarcely dared
say what; but when he was near her
pulses thrilled as if a strange sweet
secret were about to be revealed-and
afterWard dreams-such dreams as
maids from princess to peasant have
dreamed-haunted her pillow persist
emily.
Did I sign that note?" Hollister
asked of his Code as he went over it
an hour later-"seems to me l wrote
my name in full, Arthur Sullivan Hol-
lister. l think | recall how the II
looked. Yes, I'm sure | signed it all
right" And he tried to 60 back to
his brief with a quiet soul.
To be sure he had signed the note
In 100 - - .s3 -..
Arthur Sullivan HOLSTER; and it
doubtless would if CrOesus hadn't been
in the case. "CrOesus > she called him
that to keep well in mind what he
represented. But on Change where
he dwelt with others of his kind, he
passed as Anthony Semmes Hudson
and when that name was signed to a
check, it went!
She adored oses-mos of all Mare
chal NeiIs; and as she inhaled their
fragrance in luxurious whiffs she read
the note:
These will tell you what you are
to me. Wear them at Mrs. De Lands
tomorrow night. and l will know that
you have read their message Alright.
"A. S. H."
"A. s. H." that meant Anthony
Semmes Hudson-CrOesus, of course.
Roses were three dollars a dozen-no-
body else-and she took a hasty in
ventOry of her Enthusiastically else
would have sent the whole dozen. 1t
was quite pl in that it must be CrOesus
who was minded to play fower-god.
He deserved a kind, a very kind note
of thanks after the way she had snub-
bed him at the opera last night. No
doubt he sent the roses to convince
her that he did not cherish malice.
Before the note of thanks was writ
ten, the similarity in the initials oc-
Cured to her-could it be possible
and a warm glow suffused h cheek
no, it could not. He whom ale vague
ly wished might prove the rig..C me
had not TIM nor money III adch
methods of woOing He might have
stolen away from those musty law
books to tell her what she was to him;
but to intrust the tender secret to
those flowery messengers-at three
dollars a dozen, Oh. not was quite
plain hat Croesus was her Flora, and
the note of thanks was speedily dis
patched to him.
In the furry of the stock exchange
Croesus lost a promising batch of Erie
by lingering over that scented bit of
French stationery.
But Croesus could afford to lose the
Erie, seeing he played for a dearer
stake, and seemed to be winning, too.
"Flowers?" "thanks?" what does
she mean? Well. it seems that l am
in luck, and l won't give myself away
at any rate And the brokers won
dered how Hudson could smile so, on
top of losing the Erie.
"Sho might, at least, have hanked
a fellow" said HOLSTER to his familiar
demon when the day passed and no
acknowledgment of his roses came to
hand. All, well, her life is so full
of roses she has no time nor thought
for me or mine. | was a fool to have
fancied otherwise. What's a strug-