Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-08-13
SIR CUPID OF THE
PURPLE HEART
By GRACE ROWAN


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The fates selected Paul Harvey's de-
votion for his sister as their tool, and
with it drove him straight to his doom.
| His idolatrous affection for his tall,
stately Virginia, who had "mothered'
him ever since the death of their
parents, made superstitious women
shake their heads and his club friends
| smile When Virginia married rich,
easy going James Drew people said
| things would change and Paul would
certainly marry and settle down, just
as such an eligible person as he owed
it to society to do.
But things did not change. Paul ex-
| planned that Virginia's heart was
roomy enough for them both, and
while he dwelt nominally at his uni
versity club the real hearth fire con-
tinued to burn for him in Virginia S
beautiful home.
And SO it happened that when Vir-
ginia's second birthday after her mar
riage drew near the question of Sc
lecting a suitable gift for her exer-
cised PauIs mind considerably more
than the fate of certain stocks he had
on the market. His broker was paid
to look after his business. There was
no one he would trust with the selec-
ton of Virginia's present.
To his bewildered brain it seemed
as if there was nothing which she did
not have. Then he remembered the din
ner she was to give when a certain
art connoisseur should arrive from
Paris, and he decided that some
unique decoration for her table should
form his gift. Further, it should be
orchids in some shape or form, for
orchids of peculiar pinlzish lavender,
with great purple hearts, were Vir-
ginia's hobby. This idea he carried to
Mrs Donnelly, a sympathetic friend
whose fad was charity bazaars, and
from her he obtained the address of a
young woman who made silk candle
shades of exceeding daintiness.
"But, my dear Paul." added Mrs.
Donnelly, as she wrote the address on
her card, Miss Carr's prices will prob
ably stagger you. She charges fear
fully for those fiimsy little things, but
she gets her price and you must stand
for it. You see, Mrs. Van Allen and
her set have taken her up and she has
all the orders she can fill"
Paul smiled as he slipped the card
in his pocket. Compared to the pearls
he had given Virginia last year, a
couple of silk candle shades would be
mere bagatelle. But what pleased him
and he knew would please Virginia
was the personal thought the gift
would carry Virginia was absurdly
sentimental for a woman feet 10
who affected tailor made clothes.
And that is how Paul Harvey stood
before the small, private entrance of
ing, with bit of pasteboard in his
irreproaehably gloEed fingers. the pop
ular air of a new musical comedy on
his lips and ignorance of impending
danger in his heart. Then she opened
the door, and he found himself clutch
ing after bit of pasteboard that was
slipping from his fingers. The soft
whistle died on his lips, and peculiar
something in the place where he had
heretofore supposed his heart rested
clicked out danger signal
He introduced himself, presented his
friends card and stated his errand, but
all quite mechanically. His real self
was asking itself the most absurd
questions, such as whether copper col
ored hair like hers wasn't much more
effective than Virginia's blond locks,
and why girl with a carriage like
siderate, snobbish women, instead of
making some good, appreciative chap
ridiculously happy.
He was SO busy thinking this out
that he was quite annoyed when, seat
ed in the diminutive drawing room, he
found himself face to face with mass
of silk things in many colors, shades
Of poppies, of roses, of violets, of chrys-
anthemums. He wondered if a flower
grew that could hold the warm light
of her wavy hair, or if ever lily was
of an ivory SO pure as her face.
SIS there anything here you likeY'
she was saying, and he gripped hard
on his cane.
mo; you see, Virginia goes in for
orchids. She has such jolly good
taste
EYES," suggested the girl sympa-
thetically.
"Her favorite is q purple with u
deeper purple heart, and l want the
shades just like her favorite flower"
"Well, shall we have large shade
hung with small orchid blossoms, or
each shade single bloom?"
"Bless me, don't know. You look
as If you knew best about that And
he almost added "and everything else" "
The girl was looking a bit perplexed.
''If only could see one of the flowers
I could reproduce its tints very closely
in silk"
Paul beamed.
1.-THE very thing! I'll call cab and
we'll drive right down to Shoreley's.
His orchids are the finest in town"
A deep flush spread over Sylvia
Carr's face, but she said quietly and
calmly:
''That is quite impossible My
mother is not well enough for me to
leave her today"
But Paul was already groaning In
spirit, Cad that I am to think she
is the sort to ride round in cabs with
strange fellows quite forgetting that
he was an eligible in favor with all
chaperons Then his face frightened.
'.I'll have some sent up, and please
make dozen shades. l forget how
many candles she uses, but she must
have plenty of light. And, by the
way, you wouldn't mind if I dropped
in occasionally to see how they are
coming on? You know, Virginia is a
jolly good sort, the best sister in the
world, and-well rather think take
more pleasure in making her gift
than she does in receiving it. It's such
good fun to think of how surprised
and pleased she'll be-"
! Sylvia hesitated, then smiled.
| Il will have some ready to show you
by Friday"
And Paul realized that the interview
was over.
An hour later Sylvia opened flo
rist's box and gave cry of delight.
Never had she seen such tints as met