Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-11-24
THE SUNFL0WER
GIRL

you say, MadBe plalntlFtlN aumlt'Fu ],
but, Oh Laurence. you say such
pretty things about such lots OF other
girls"
Naturally" replied her lover bland
ly. Il am a poet" lie hal once. at his
own expense. published IA slender vol
nme of verse, entitled. Petal Dust and
Pansics." hound In white vellum, tied
mp with green ribbon, and dedicated
To the Ideal Girl"
Fl should have thought she
faltercd. that your ideal girl was the
one yOa'd ask to marry yon
Won take me so literally he com
planned, with a twinkle which she did
not see "YOn confuse the ideal with
the real. BESIDES. was talking OF
poems and pictures: and. talking of
pictures, let's go out and see Aims
worth's picture ut the academy before
tea. Run and put your hat on. child.
Now. this picture by Ainsworlh was
the center Of attraction. II represent
ed beautiful girl in n yellow gown
leaning over a golden balcony. Her
y
10 minsle with the bunch Of Sunf1ow-
ers that nodded beside her golden
head, and over everything seemed 10
simmer the ypllOwish haze Of a warm
spring afternoon.
"Exquisitc," exclaimed Laurence.
DO you admire her" asked Madge.
SO much that | shall buy the pic
turr." said Laurence.
You cannot. for It Is already
marked sold" said Madge. And. AS
for being exquisite. look at her hair all
across her face. You cant even tell
whether she is pretty or not
That's the charm Of IT," said Lau
renee. She symboliHes the ideal.
Come along to lunch. You don't need
tn admire yourself in the glass. Madee.
Your hair is rs smooth as satin"
His remark was he last drop In
Madees cup of transportation. Her
brown trcsses were long. thick and
glossy. but they had not the slightest
wave or "kink' in them. And the girl
would have given her pretty ears for
hair that curled, but once. when she
had 'crimped" her own with tongs.
Laurence had forbidden her ever
again to use such artificial abomina
tons
The quarrel grew as luncheon
progressed. until finally Madge pulled
of her engagement ring and dropped
il into 1.aurcnCes coffee.
"Y,m needn't see me home she
said TN take carriage. You can
go to your friend Ainsworth and get
him to take you to the fair unknown.
Half annoyed. half bewildered. I.au-
renee was left to fish the ring out OF
the eclair.
evening. as | did when she broke on
nur engagement, because OF Stella,
though, he. She deserves a lesson. l
shan't go. What a storm in a teacup.
That evening Madge awaited him.
sure he would come and bring back
slerplcss night Madse sent q note to
Laurrnce's home. 1t said:
"l'hltss YOU come to meet me at
four O'Clock. l shall know You do not
wish To come again. NJ"
Until four O'Clock she spent the time
In waiting for Laurence's ring at the
bell. 1t did not come.
From four O'Clock TO six she spent
in wishing that she had never been
born.
At six o'clock her brother volun-
te-red TO 60 round to Laurence.
'I'ut he wasn't At home" the brother
said on his return. Ills man said
tina, he'd gone down 10 see Mr.. Aims
worth. and that he didn't know when
to expect him home
After dinner she ran up stairs to
her own sitting room. flung herself
down on the sofa. buried her brown
head IN its yellow cushions, and-oh.
why do servants insist upon bringing
in coffee TO people with broken hearts:
Rut II was not the coffee.
II vas Laurence. Dusty. disheveled,
carrying a parcel.
"A little peace Offering" said he. "a
study by AinswOrth OF the sunhowers
al his place. Dyou like it, I meant
TO bring II around at four this after
noon. You asked me to cali then
It's half past eight now said
MadSe. iCily.
Il know il. dear. Rut when | got
down TO Ainsworth's found he'd just
fallen down the studio steps and
broken his leg No one TO look after
him but his landiady's daughter-the
sunfiower girl