The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-10-28
All For Fifty
Cents
By RITA KELLEY
Copyright, 1905, by Rita Kelley


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 walk
one morning when the peaked landlady
who Quarreled with all her kades peo-
| pie came to the door, pig in hand.
Miss Mattie,' she said, would you
like to buy some flowers for the table?
"Delightedv' Miss Matte finished,
pinning huge bunch Of violets on her
gray coat. What kind shall l get?"
"Welr-Miss Folke sat down on the
edge Of the divan and began shaking
the pig-''there's carnations and roses,
| and they usually throw in some ferns
or leaves. Just do as you please about
it. l thought there was more money
in here" She thumped the pigs head
on her knee until the last coin fell out
"Only Go cents" 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
| measure "WelP'-she stacked up half
dollar in pennies and nickels-"I guess
that will have to do
"How many ought 1 to get for so
centsY'
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 me" said
Miss Matte, ignoring Miss Folke's sug-
gestiOn. Don't ever worry. Miss
Folke III 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 80 cents inside
her glove, she swept in like a breath
! and stood in the midst of the most
| CHI no 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 like" He
waved his hand gracefully toward the
masses of roses and crimson carna-
| TONS
ooh, beautiful breathed Miss Mat
tie in an ecstasy. 81 should like"-she
clutched the coins slowed away in her
| glove and smiled dazzlingly-'a flower
| for penny"
"Whatv For a moment it looked as
| though the young man was going to
prove disagreeable.
Miss Mattie's smile became momen-
tarily more bewitching.
EYES," she continued, whirling her
muff airily around her hand; Il just
slaughtered the boarding house pig,
| and l want all the nice flowers you can
give me for so cents. Aren't those love
ly.' She pointed to some rare orchids.
| The young man was amused. Miss
Matte was good to look at and had an
unmistakable air Of being accustomed
to beautiful things. Yet so cents for
orchids, which she distinctly seemed to
favor. He coughed apologetically.
"Flowers are rather expensive" he
ventured.
Eyes, I know" laughed Miss Matte
''These must be terribly high She
touched the violets On her coat linSer-
ingly. "Think of the money you eXtort
| from rich young men, And I've only 90
cents. 1t was all the pig could spare.
We had to save some for Easter, you
know, and no one got many spots on
| the tablecloth this week"
The florist answered her smile.
''The pig gets the money for the
Spots" she explained.
The young man looked as though lie
were immensely interested-in the pig.
"What would you like?" he asked
again.
81 want just the most nice fresh
flowers you can give me for half dol
lar. 1t makes no difference what kind.
They told me couldp't get any for so
little money" Miss Matte smiled.
The man bowed low.
"I'll see what I can do for you,' be
said and strobe to the rear Of the store.
Miss Matte watched him admiringly
as he stopped to speak to one OF the
men before he entered the Ice room.
| She had not known such nice young
men kept florists shops. She moved
step or two to the right of the palms In
order to see him more distinctly.
He was taking down one crimson
of%ov tho ofhor CnraV OF