The Newark journal., 1907-12-13
His Flower
 Girl
By Oeorxia Cusfis
(Copyright.)

When MT. Ferris Archer was ush- cred by an obsequious butler into the luxurious library of Judge Van Nos trand on certain cold evening late in November, and sank into comfort able easy-chair before bright fire of soft coal, it was with feeling of complete and entire satisfaction.
 He had, in short, for months been living in a sort of Fools Paradise, and he was at this moment awaiting the coming of the woman he loved. A bold and skillful painter of brilliant landscapes Archer was, and with hosts of friends among the loveliest and most brilliant women in the town, he chose to lay the tribute of his love at the feet of the quietest and least dazzling of them all
 . Helen Van Nostrand was not "a mans woman;" she had many friends, but they werc chiefly among those of her own sex; and In spite of her wealth and position and the charming and gracious hospitality which she dispensed as head of her fathers Household (for her mother had died when she was . very young girD, in spite also of certain quiet charm of manner which even birth and breed ing do not always bcstow, Miss Van Nostrand had the reputation of being rather cold and reserved, and there were even those who rather feared to meet the severe directness of her hon. est gray eyes. Yet there were others, and Archer wAs one of these, who knew that under the rather cold ex- terior there beat . warm, impulsive, woman's heart
 Absolutely free from coquetry, Miss Van Nostrand had never betrayed for Archer the slightest feeling beyond the franksst confidence and good will; they were tho best of friends, which was just what rendered the situation most hopeless.
 Moreover. Archer was proud. Far too proud to ask the daughter of Judge Van Nostrand to cast in her lot with . vagabonl artist like himself And so he dr1fted on. trying to be con- tent with the half sovereignty of Kingdom upon whose throne he could never hope to sit; and at least his se- cret was his own.
 He was kept waiting for her coming rather longer than usual on this par tcu]ar evening, and he had fallen into a reverie from which he was aroused by little ripple of a laugh which made him spring to his feet. It was good to hear Helen Van Nostrand's laugh.
 "Ah," she said; "I was wording an apology for keeping you waiting while I was finishing the copying of fathers speech for the great meeting to-mor- row highland here I come upon you so absorbed in thoughts of somebody else that you do not even hear me enter the room.'
 She was tall for woman, yet she was obliged to throw back her head little to reach tho higher level of his eyes.
 She dropped her own presently, blushing little at the expression in his, which had in it something more than his usual attentiveness, and she gently disengaged the hand which he had held while she was speaking. With the other hand she lightly touched bunch of double violets, the only spot of color about her dress of soft gray. You see" she said, T have your violets. and you must be prepared for a little lecture on ex travagance; flowers are not to be had at this season just for the pluckine, nor should my selfish passion for them be indulged in so often.''
 But said Archer, smiling as he drew up chair for her beside his own, what if I could prove, that aside from the quite immeasurable