The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-04-14
THE EVENING STOR Y
Easter LiIies-and others.
by Ethel HarringtOtn.l

and dirt of the city. Here, was every
variety of obtainable flower and plant
Here, the mingling perfume of rich
exotics, the exquisite feast of color, the
daintiness Of the green background
against which the blossoms were
massed, formed a never failing delight
to the owners granddaughter.
Perhaps in that riot OF beauty the
girl loved most the purity of the flower
after Which she had been called. As
she bent over an Easter lily, tying up
| the blossoms whose weight and frag-
rance seemed almost too heavy for its
support she appeared well named. Her
/ inquire was as slender, the pale gold
head and paler cheek equally frail
| While about her radiated that dainty
IeII3lnlnlty that IS to womanhood what
perfume IS to the flower. Completing
her task she set the plant far back be-
hind numbers of a like species. Hen.
shaw paused to demonstrate.
Set it further out, Lii, it's the beauty
of the lot
Il know it, grandfather, but-that is,
I'm keeping it for one of our regulars
Nodding, satisfied, the old man bus
tletd away to some fresh patrons. Lily,
though constantly busy, kept watch on
each new conner. When at last tall
young man entered. the quick dropping
of her long lashes showed him to be the
one expected.
My buttonhole ready?' he asked
suddenly across the counter. For reply
she handed him a white carnation.
which he at once fastened in his coat.
Pretty busy, I guess?'' he continued.
lingering moment after she mad made
| the change.
Yes. Dent-any order for Easter?
We're selling so fast. it win be safest
| to let me know now" Her eyes ques-
toned with an eagerness that she did
not permit her tone.
NO" An answering embarrassment
I
4 lows face. He seemed about to add
more. but changing his mind, turned
abruptly on his heel
Lily watched his departure abstract
eddy. In school days he had been her
playmate and confidant. That he had
pushed on to success, both in business
and social relations, was to her mat
ter of sincere pride, openly expressed;
If in secret she suffered at the Inowl-
edge of the widening gulf between
them she denied it stoutly even to her
own heart. following his career with
loving interest from her humble van
tage place.
That he never had quite forgotten
the old bond, he proved by dropping
in frequently on his way from the
office, accepting with equal friendli-
ness her greeting and choice of bou-
tonieres.
With woman's intuition. and power
of putting this and that together, she
/
of the beautiful Amy Strath. Had
not Lily, often with tremulous fingers,
arranged Dents bouquets for the de-
butante's acceptance?
Until lately was it not she who had
made the real selections of his offer
ings, violets for her birthday, white
and. gold ehrysanthemums at Christ
mas, and lilies, always. for Easter?
She had heard of a misun derstanding
with complex feelings, but for Dents
e-a4F
to gauge his suffering in the separa-
ton, that at Easter his floral remem-
brance might heal the rupture.
Towards this end she had selected a
specially beautiful lily, but if he did
not intend to send a peace offering to
what end her scare2 On the other hand
should Dent slight the spoiled beauty
at such a season it would but cement
the trouble Men we're so blind to
their own interests. for watching him
the girl fancied him grown worn of
! late, and her heart ached for him.
On Easter eve, however, a daring
scheme entered her brain. to try if
perchance she might help to set mat
ters right.
without giving herself time to
weaken in her resolution she tied white
streamers about the cherished lilies.
catching the long loops with a dainty
/ knot OF blue forget-me-nots. Handing
it to the driver she followed him to
4 the door, repeating her instructions
4 that 1t was for Miss Stratn.
card with it?" enquired the man.
mo. the forget-me- are instead;
/ that is the idea" With sudden blind
ing tears Lily retreated into the store
Would the other girl fail to recognize
/ the implied donor. and the meaning in
/ the gift-liIies at Easter, and forget
me-notes for happiness?
The self-appointed peacemaker could
not however, repress guilty start
ing for some lilies. She would have
sent a boy to show him, but the man
objected.
II can wait. I need your advice
Perforce she attended him to the hot
+ house in the rear. There, while busying
herself with drawing out plants for his
/ consideration, she surprised a look of
/ tenderness in his eyes.
II always think of you as here
among the flowers he said hastily.
Lily found him unusually difficult to
! please. and grew more and more
nervous over her act and what he
would say should he discover it.
Il told you to choose earlier" she. re-
minded him, but it was more to her
self as if she needed to keep this fact
in mind for her own exoneration.
True. but-well, to tell you the truth
I wasn't sure she would accept one
from me"
you are now?'' Lily stared at the
plant under discussion. at the palms to
her left, at anything rather than her
companion. She fllnched from his affir-
native. yet reminded herself she want
ed only the assurance that all was well
with him.
Pm hoping for the best. Lily. You
understand women, being one yourself.
Suppose
I were in her placer" Lily's voice
was very low
yes in her place-the girl to whom
I'm going to send this flower Suppose
we had drifted apart, and that I sud
| denly had found out I'd been acting
like a conceited fool-and only wanted
to be forgiven. would you accept the
flower with all it stood for?'
Lily moved uneasily beneath his anx-
/ ious gaze; surely it could not be jesl-
ousy she felt; then she laughed-n-en