Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-07-06
an AFTERNOON nap now

|
haggard, as If from loss Of sleep. If his
clothes were somewhat shabby they
were well cut, and he carried them
with easy grace.
II like his face" said each little vlo-
let to the other as they preened and
prinked their petals while eying the
stranger, who was lingering some loose
change in his pocket, quizzical smile
on his lips.
you florists are a species Of high
way robber," he laughed to the clerk.
"Haye you any violets not worth their
weight in gold?'
"Not violet in the place. Every one
went before noon. The matinee girls
just made raid on them"
The violets felt their hearts sink.
II wonder what he calls us-cab-
bages" murmured one Of the little
bunch, still sore from the orchids
taunts.
The young man regarded with a du-
bious air the flowers heaped about so
prodigally.
"Oh, but. say, what's this?" as he
caught sight Of the violets that seemed
to have deepened in hue in their efforts
to be seen.
"Oh, would you want those-that is,
we hardly expect to sell them to our
patrons. We bought a lot Of them as
a sort Of charity from little lame girl
in Bronxville and should probably have
given them away to a footman or other
servant Of some custOmer-just give
them away as grocer does a chrome
with pound Of tea. If you want them
quarter will pay for the lot"
When the violets saw the coin given
and felt themselves lifted from the
glass they breathed a sigh of content,
and when the clerk, wrapping them il
tissue paper, placed them in Il pretty
box fragrant breath of excitement
escaped them.
This must be the padded brougham
the orchids spoke of to the roses.
Think how We were heaped in the
corner of basket this morning. Oh.
exclusiyeness has its charms"' And
they winked contentedly in their soft
Wrappings.
The cracking Of wood fire-for the
spring day was damp-was the next
Thing the flowers heard as they We're
Fitted out and put in water At first
their eyes were daZed, but after few
moments they absorbed the details of
the place.
The big, bare studio looked rather
eerie in the approaching dust, and with |
its half finished canTases, its walls |
covered with studies in glowing color,
it looked more a workroom proper
than a home. But it was the home |
of youthful, ardent and dominating
dreams, and as Robert Dorset looked |
about it in his eyes was a blending Of |
the enthusiasm of genius and the !
steadfast tixity Of purpose that an
initiates all obstacles to reach a goal. |
I've always felt | must succeed, |
even when the inpolite and intrusive
wolf sat grimly on my door mat" he
thought. "And now that Marchmont,
the magnate, has just ordered his por-
trait, l have little to fear"
He walked over to where an unfin-
ished canvas on an easel showed
girls charming face.
"How different this winter is from
last!' he musel. Then you We're my
at the art classes, MY lit
tie friend from the country. studying,
oh, SO faithfully. but painting so bad
~; this year the protegee of your rich
aunt and chronicled in the papers as
Miss DelOrme, the new beauty. l can
her ideas when she de-
,ided you were worth chaperoning.
Her own girls Ere placed-one the wife
If a consumptive lord, the other of
banker close to seventy. Now you are
IN the auction block, going, going but
lot yet gone-not yet, thank heaven"
And the eyes In his pale face had the
expression of soldier In battle. 1--WE
aiken Aunt Mary's polite and unmis-
akable hint that l am to her an un-
Welcome worshiper at your shrine-'no
,eggars or artists allowed'-but I may
vim yet"
He took letter from his pocket. It
howed signs Of many readings. Now,
With his head thrown back as he
ounged in big chair before the fires
'laze, he read It again:
This Is the last night OF the opera, my
riend. Why don't you go? I've discover :
d the ethics of Aunt Marys campaign.
nd l know why you come more. In :
act. my visitors are now narrowed ex-
lusively to those who know the merry !
lip Of the scissors as the coupons fall.
I'm right. let's have our vengeance. 4
o to the old place in the gallery tonight. q
here I've so often sat with you and Ted
nd Mabel and Will again. We can make {
ye notes about Melba, with the horseshoe =
weeping between US. What fun to cheat
unit Mary! She thinks. foolish woman :.
m easy to mold because I'm little; but
Though I've made no fuss over her treat q
ent Of my old friends. I've my own way f
getting my own way. I've given aunt a
er fling with me this winter TO please
other. so for the nonce I'm pleasing