The Topeka state journal., 1902-12-27
Pretty POIIy'S CarnatiOn.
[From the Record-HeraId.l

and your profession is going to the
dogs. You ought to be rich man;
people say you have ability enough, but
1 doubt it. You ought to think more
of Polly and me and less of your cheap
panSies and mignonettes- It's shame
Nancy" answered Archibald Hackett
to his wife, i don't put in three days 4
week in the greenhouse. don't put III
more than two hours day, and my pro-
fession isn't going to the dogs. l maAe
a comfortable living at it and that's all
l can do at the law, for I'm neither
Charles O'Conor nor a William Evartsi
Let me putter away at my flowers.
love them, and it's a relaxation
Mrs Hackett'S eyes snapped again.
but she said nothing further. She never
had been able in twenty-five years OF
married life to force an angry reJo1nder
from this husband of hers. Today MIS-
Hackett was a little more upset than
usual. Polly, her pretty daughter had
been invited to extremely swell
affair on Lake Vista boulevard, and Mrs
Hackett did not think that Polly COT
wear a gown that she had worn twice
before. and as Mr.. Hackett had said
something about economy the wife and
mother had become a bit wrathful.
Polly Hackett had overheard some of
this parental dialogue, and now she ap
peared on the scene. 4 can wear the
muslin again just as well as not papa,
she said. 1T looks dainty and fresh.
and, like Mrs. Cratchit. I'll be brave II
ribbons.
But, Polly. the Bunkers are SO ter
ribly fashionable, and everybody there
Will have a gown on that cost mint:
I'm afraid Mrs. Bunker and Emily VIII
think you look dowdy"
Don't worry about the Runkerss
Mary said Archibald, nor you either,
Polly. I suppose they are swell as
things go. but remember Jim Bunker
when he owned a rendering establish
ment in the little eastern city in which
l was born. There was more smell than
swell to that. though it was an honest
business, and Jim Bunker was an hon
est man. Perhaps I ought not to say it,
but. Polly. he'll be proud to have my
fathers grandchild in his house, though
she comes in a gown worn score or
times. And now, my dears, / must gee
back to my flowers. By the way. Mary.
it's carnations and not pansies and
mignonettes that I'm Duttering with
now
Well said the still unmollifedf mrs.
Hackett, Il wish it was a law case in
stead of a carnation. You'll never get
anything out of your flowers but a blos
som or two that viii wither in a day
And Mrs Haekett moved away with her
head in the air.
1t was the night of the Bunkers' re-
ception. Polly Hackett. prettier than
the proverbial picture in her muslin and
brave in ribbons" as she had said, was
ready to go to the cab standing at lhe
door of her fathers little house on the
side street Archibald Hackett came
into the room and saw his daughter under
the SOlL IS0I. GU OOn L n6eQ
lows, child" he said, kissing her
"Therell be no prettier nor sweeter gnI
there tonight despite the muslin. Wear
this, my dear: you DON'T need dia-
monds. And he gave Polly beautiful
full Detaled carnation, which showed
curious mingling of rich colors
Polly fastened the glowing blossom in
her dark hair. while her mother said:
We'll, I suppose, Archibald, that's the
sole result of the years time you've
been wasting over carnations If you
had spent the time in your office Polly
might be wearing the diamonds that
you say she doesn't need The other
girls have them. and those that Emily
Bunker will wear tonight cost a for
tune
Never mind the diamonds, mamma:
ia rather have dadds carnation," and
Polly Hackett kissed both parents light
ly and disappeared through the front
door and into the waiting cab.
The Bunkers' ball was over, and Polly
was sleeping soundly in her bed the
next morning. The bell rang. and Mrs
Tattler was ushered into the parlor. She
had come to call on Mrs Hackett. Mrs
Tattler had been hidden to the ball the
night before, and now she had come as
early as this to talk it over with Mrs.
Hackett. "Oh, Mrs. Hackett." she be-
gan. you don't know how lovely it was,
and you don't know how perfectly
sweet Polly was. And what do you
think-I know all the other girls are
just by the ears today. You see Mrs.
Bunker really gave this ball because
that swell young Farrell of Baltimore is
visiting John Bunker Farrell is awful
ly handsome and awfully rich. He's one
of the Farrells of Farrellton You know
all about them, of course One of their
ancestors signed the Constitution of the
United States or something like that
never do get history ystraight-and young
Farrell didn't have eyes or ears for any,
one the whole evening but for pretty
Polly
Mrs. TattIer fingered for some time
and talked on, but finally the door clos
ed behind her and Polly appeared just
as her father came in to luncheon.
We'll, Polly he said. did you have
nice time last night?"
Splendid. daddy. Mr.. Bunker was
awfully nice to me. He told me he knew
grandpa in the east, and he was always
glad when he asked him round to the
homestead. Mr.. Bunker said grandpa
was a gentleman of the old school,"
Mr.. Bunker was good to you, Polly.
was hep asked Mrs. Hackett. WAS
there-was there anyone named Farrell
there?''
At this Polly blushed furiously. Eyes,
there was Mr. Farrell there from Bal
| timore,' she said. He was very polite
to me-
What did you do with your carna-
tion, Pretty Poll?' asked her father.
Polly blushed more furiously than be-
fore. "Oh, papa; that was one of the
funniest parts of it. Mr.. Farrell was 1
can't help saying it, very attentive to
me. He danced with me and brought
me refreshments. 1t was near the end
of the ball. when he looked suddenly at
the carnation in my hair and then ask
ed me if he might have it. I thought
that was little forward from a person
whom had met only a few hours be-
fore, and 1 must have looked it too, for
he said quickly: I meant nothing pre-
sumptuous, Hiss Hackett but I want
you to tell me where you got that car
nation and I want to send it to my
I father