The Cairo bulletin., 1907-07-07
The Purple Poppy
ny Grace Il. DwcIlcy.


Roger Camp showed that raw NO
| vember night when he followed the
Purple Poppy up the avenue. But the
interest developed when II first passed
| by. Haunting In incomprehensibie
| pride from fur hat, black like the
hair 1t sought to cover, but could not
! for Roger saw the soft wave just
back OF one pink ear,
ut was black fur hat wsth u
| Purple Poppy on IT. he saia ara
| n,atieally to his friend later IN the
evening But the friend merely
laughed and asked how long poppies
had been purple and invited him 70
take something to brace himself UP
uith So he accepted the invitation
! and tried to forget 1t all, beginning
with. the sound OF the quick, hrh
stan behind him, the sudden glimpse
OF her face. the glory OF the FuFpie
Penny that nodded signal TO MIN.
He had followed a long way, 1851
n welcomed 1t again among queer
hohhing ocean OF heads, had striven
~ catch no with 1t. and watched II
disappear with queer, sinking sen
satfon. 1t few up the steps OF the
r,olish tea room. Probably she was
hungry or thirsty, or whatever wom-
en- are when they frequent tea rooms.
He reached that conclusion wniie
he stood watching the soft glow that
marked the windows where she must
he Bnt It suddenly came to him that
he could not reasonably expect such
luck as that. and knew that II he
we're tn come face to face with the
Purnle Poppy and learn Just why
that enigmatical thing had beckoned
to him down the avenue, IL would be
through hts own endeavors. Then
ics aerat!on got In its work, anu
Without letting go its grip, sent
aim up the steps that had stood the
shock OF the Purple Poppy's passage.
Eyes. sab" said the little brass
a,sttoned darky at the door she
inst went in yes, sab, and the grin
anyeloped him as Roger slipped a
coin in the willing palm. The light
dazzled him so that he couldn't have
told the Purple Poppy had he seen It.
A bright-faced girl caught his eye
and he followed her white cap to an
obscure corner.
Then an unheard OF thing hap
pened. The Purple Poppy came and
sat down directly opposite him,
glanced at him seriously and said In
q voice OF molten sweetness that
rang in his ears afterwards, Il was
so afraid you wouldn't come. | hur-
ried, but l meant that you should
come Just the same"
He gazed into two big brown eyes
and knew they belonged to the
dream, but they did not help him.
only sent him whirling into space.
He looked higher up above the white
curve of forehead until he reached
the Purple Poppy and then he was
quite sure. That was real a half
hour ago-it was real now-and the
girl must be real
II was not sure you wanted me
Of course | couldn't be sure--so |
stopped to think 1t over carefully
You see the Poppy caught my eye"
He paused for an instant.
"Yes-I know, of course-that's
what | wore 1t for. | knew II any
one had seen 1t once II could never
be forgotten"
"You won't mind II don't talk,
will your" she asked. II can't make
believe that I'm really at ease, and
I'm wondering how they got along"
There seemed nothing for him to
say, so he said nothing.
"Seven-thirty," she said finally.
glancing at her watch. THAT is the
time set" She began to draw on her
gloves. and he wondered as he wait
ed for change what another man
would do In his place, and what the
whole thing meant But she was
ahead of him at the door and jumped |
into waiting cab. That was why he |
sought HIS friend and took a drink |
He had heard OF people looking |
out for personals after having an ad |
venture, so he took to watching. II /
came at last and made him gasp |
THE Purple Poppy wants to explain
the wretched mistake she made to |
the friend with big c on the silver
knob" He lost no time In writing to 1
the address given, and soon received /
his explanation. The Purple Poppy's |
sister was clipping with a friend of |
the man the Purple Poppy thought
she was having tea with. II was a
sad affair, as her sisters sweetheart |
had almost killed their guardian In a
rage. and was wanted in case he
died. They had arranged TO lead the
detectives OF the track by having the
Purple Poppy put on her sisters
clothes and meet the sweetheart's
friend and seem 10 arrange a meet
ing, the cab being intended TO lead
the detectives a chase while the real
girl went TO her sweetheart and took
the train with him. II had worked
ali right except for her foolish mis-
take. and now that the guardian was
out OF danger. the newly welded
couple were getting settled in a cosey
little apartment where they would
be glad TO welcome their deiiverer.
as they were pleased to call Roger
Camp. for the real friend had been
unable to keep the appointment made