Smyrna times., 1905-08-02
All For Fifty
Cents
By RITA KELLEY
Copyright, 1905, by Rita Kelley

back. 1t was standing joke at Miss
Folke's boarding home" that when
any one dropped a spot on the table
cloth he had to drop a coin into the
pigs hungry sides. Once a week the
porker was slaughtered and the pro-
ceeds used for flowers.
Miss Matte was dressing for a walk
one morning when the peaked landlady
who Quarreled with all her trades peO-
pie came to the door, pig in hand.
Miss Matte" she said, would you
like to buy some flowers for the table?"
"Delighted!' Miss Matte finished,
pinning huge bunch of violets on her
gray coat. "What kind shall get"
''WelT-NIiss Folke sat down on the
edge of the divan and began shaking
the pig-"theres carnations and roses,
and they usually throw in some ferns
or leaves. Just do as you please about
it. 1 thought there was more money
in here" She thumped the pigs head
ON her knee until the last coin fell out.
"Only Go centsv' Miss Folke had a
way of making people conscious of
their shortcomings. The pig looked
glum.
"But aren't you glad you didn't get
your tableclOth all spotted up?"
"Oh, that isn't it. But we shall have
to save some money for Easter Sun
day, and you can get so few flowers for
so cents" Miss FOlke had grievance
against her trades people, and they re-
taliated by invariably giving her short
cho cfo o1 N I,oI
dollar in pennies and nickels-''I. guess
that will have to do"
''How many ought l to get for so
cents"
They'll turn up their noses at you
at florists and give you two or three
stale flowers that will be all withered
the second day. You'd better go to the
street booth over by the Il station and
tell them if they give you good flowers
you'll come again"
"Stick up their noses at mer' said
Miss Matte, ignoring Miss Folke's sug-
gestiOn. Don't ever worry, Miss
Folke. I'll get some flowers that will
make you gasp with surprise and pleas
ure I'd just like to see them stick up
their noses at me-" she threatened as
she paused to smile bewilderingly at
Miss Folke before closing the outside
door,
She passed several exclusive florists
shops before she found one to her sat
isfaction. 1t was by far the handsom-
est of all Gripping her so cents inside
her glove, she swept in like a breath
and stood in the midst of the most
beautiful flowers she had ever seen. A
remarkably handsome young man was
standing in the rear beside a bank of
palms, holding some smilax.
"Some flowers" she said, smiling and
nodding at him.
He looked up surprised. Then, look
ing at some one behind the palms, he
turned, spoke to one of the assistants
and came forward eagerly.
''Now, what would you likeT He
waved his Aand gracefully toward the
masses of roses and crimson carna
tions.
"Oh, beautifulr' breathed Miss Mat
tie in en- ecstasy. 81 should like'-shC
clutched the coins slowed away in hel
glove and smiled dazzlingly-"a flower
for penny"
"What" For a moment it looked al
though the young man was going t
prove disagreeable.
Miss Mattie's smile became mOmen
tarily more bewitching.
"Yes," she continued, whirling he
muff airily around her hand; Il jus
slaughtered the boarding house pig
and l want all the nice flowers you cal
give me for 80 cents. Aren't those love
lyv' She pointed to some rare orchids.
The young man was amused. Mis-
Matte was good to look at and had a
unmistakable air of being accustome
to beautiful things. Yet so cents fo
orchids, which she distinctly seemed I
favor! He coughed apologetically.
''Flowers are rather expensive" b
ventured.
"Yes, l know" laughed Miss Matte
''These must be terribly high" Sh
touched the violets ON her coat lingel
ingly. think of the money you extol
from rich young men. And I've only
cents. 1t was all the pig could spar
We had to save some for Easter, yo
huOW, anu no Olt gut many SpOAS Y
the tablecloth this week"
The florist answered her smile.
"The pig gets the money for Il
Spots" she explained
The young man looked as though
were immensely interested-in the pi
''What would you like?' he askt
again.
81 want just the most nice frei
flowers you can give me for half dc
lar. 1t makes no difference what kin
They told me / couldn't get any for
little money" Miss Matte smile
The man bowed low.
"Tll see what l can do for you"
said and strobe to the rear Of the stol
Miss Matte watched him admirinq
as he stopped to speak to one Of t
men before he entered the Ice roo
She had not known such nice you
+ men kept florists shops. She moved