The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-03-28
Pretty PoIly's
|Corndtion@&
A RcHIBALD HACKETT. 70
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

n kCHIBALD HACkETT you
~ know you ought not to go on
is you are. Here you are putterine
away in that miserable conservatory
three days a week and your profession
is going to the dogs. You ought to be
rich man; people say you have abil-
ity enough, but doubt it. You ought
to think more of Polly and me, and
less of your cheap pansies and mi
gnonettes. It's shame"
Nancy" answered Archibald Hack
EFT TO his wife, IL don't put in three
days week in the greenhouse. ]
dont put in more than two hours a
day. and my profession isn't going to
the dogs. l make comfortable living
at it. and that's all / can do at the
law. for I'm neither a Charles O'Con-
or nor William Evarts. Let me put
ter away at my flowers. i love them.
and it's relaxation"
Mrs. HacketI's eyes snapped again,
but she said nothing further. She
never had been able in % years of mar
ried life to force an angry rejoinder
from this husband of hers. To-day
Mrs. Hackett was little more upset
than usual. Polly, her pretty daugh-
ter. had been invited to an extremely
swell affair ON Lake Vista boulevard,
and Mrs. Hackett did not think that
Polly could wear gown that she had
worn twice before, and. as Mr.. Hack
ct had said something about economy,
the wife and mother had become bit
wrathful.
Polly Hackett had overheard some
OF this parental dialogue, and now she
appeared on the scene. 81 can wear
the muslin again, just as well as not,
papa" she said. at looks dainty and
fresh. and. like Mrs. Cratchit, Ill be
brave in ribbons" si
But. Polly. the Bunkers are SO ter
ribiy fashionable, and everybody there
VIII have gown on that cost a mint.
I'm afraid Mrs. Bunker and Emily will
think you look dowdy."
Don't worry about the Bunkers.
Mary said Archibald, ''nor you, eth
err, Polly. l suppose they are swell
as things go, but l remember Jim
Bunker when he owned rendering es-
Enlistment in the little eastern CITY
in which | was born. There was more
smell than swell to that, though II
was an honest business, and Jim
Bunker was an, honest man. PERTAINS
] ought not to say it, but. Polly. he'll
be proud to have my fathers grand
child in his house, though she comes
in gown worn a score of times. And
now, my dears, l must get back to INV
flowers. BY the way, Mary, it's car
and not pansies and mi
gnonettes that am puttering with
now"
SWELL" said the still unmollified Mrs.
II wish it was a law case.
instead of carnation. You'll never !
get anything out of your flowers but
! blossom or two that will wither in
day." And Mrs. Hackett moved away
With her head in the air.
II was the night of the Bunkers'
Polly Hackett, prettier
han the proverbiaI picture in her mus
in and brave in ribbons as she had
said, was ready to go to the cab stand I
ng AT the door of her fathers little
house on the side street. Archibald
Hackett came into the room and saw
his daughter under the soft light. "You
ion't need furbelows, my child" he
aid, kissing her. "There'll be no pref
Ter nor sweeter girl there tonight.
iespite the muslin. Wear this. INV
lear; you don't need diamonds" And
'e gave Polly a beautiful full petaled
which showed a curious
ningling of rich colors.
Polly fastened the glowing blossom !.
u her dark hair, while her mother
aid: well, ] suppose, Archibald.
hats the sole result of the wears /
ime you've been wasting over carpa- /
ions. If you had spent the time In
our Office Polly might be wearing the
diamonds that you say she doesn't i
eed. The other girls have them. and
hose that Emily Bunker will wear to-
light cost fortune"