The Huttig news., 1909-01-30
TIE SUNFLOWER
 GIRL

you say Madge plaintively admitted, but, oh, Laurence, you say such pretty things about such lots of other girls,"
 Naturally" replied her lover bland ly. T am poet" He had once, at his own expense, published slender vol ume of verse, entitled, Petal Dust and Pansies, bound in white vellum, tied Up with green ribbon, and dedicated To the Ideal Girl" Fl should have thought" she ealtered, that your ideal girl was the one you'd ask to marry you"
 You take me so literally" he com plained, with twinkle which she did not see. You confuse the ideal with he real. Besides, l was talking of poems and pictures; and, talking of pictures, let's go out and see Aims vorth's picture at the academy before ca. Run and put your hat on, child"
 Now, this picture by Ainsworth was he center of attraction. It represent sd beautiful girl in yellow gown leaning over golden balcony. Her yellow ringlets blew across her cheeks to mingle with the bunch of sunf1ow- ITS that nodded beside her golden head, and over everything seemed to simmer the yellowish haze of warm spring afternoon.
 Exquisite" exclaimed Laurence
 Do you admire herr" asked Madge.
 So much that I shall buy the pie 'ure,' said Laurence.
 You cannot, for it is already marked sold,' said Madge. And, as or being exquisite, look at her hair all lcross her face. You can't even tell whether she is pretty or not
 That's the charm of it." said Lau- renee. She symbolizes the ideal. Come along to lunch. You don't need admire yourself in the glass, Madge. Your hair is as smooth as satin.''
 His remark was the last drop in dadge's cup of exasperation. Her orown tresses were long, thick and ,lossy, but they had not the slightest gave or "kink' in them. And the girl would have given her pretty ears for 'air that curled; but once, when she lad "crimped" her own with tongs, laurence had forbidden her ever gain to use such artificial abomina- ions.
 The quarrel grew as luncheon progressed, until finally Madge pulled 'ff her engagement ring and dropped t into Laurence's coffee.
 You needn't see me home," she aid '1'll take a carriage You can 70 to your friend Ainsworth and get lim to take you to the fair unknown"
 Half annoyed, half bewildered, Lau renee was left to fish the ring out oi he eclair.
 Shell expect me to go round this evening. as I did when she broke of ,ur engagement because of Stella bought he. She deserves a lesson. ,han't go. What storm in teacupi"
 That evening Madge awaited him. sure he would come and bring back the ring. But he didn't come. After sleepless night Madge sent a note to Laurence's home It said:
 Unless you come to meet me at four o'clock, I shall know you do not wish to come again. M"
 Until four o'clock she spent the time in waiting for Laurence's ring at the 5ell. It did not come.
 From four o'clock to six she spent 'n wishing that she had never been born.
 At six o'clock her brother volun- teered to go round to Laurence.
 But he wasn't at home. the brother said on his return. His man said hat he'd gone down to see Mr Aims worth, and that he didn't know when to expect him home
 After dinner she ran ups stairs to her own sitting room, flung herself down on the sofa. buried her brown head in it's yellow cushions, and-oh, why do servants insist upon bringing n coffee to people with broken hearts?
 But it was not the coffee.
 It was Laurence! Dusty, disheveled. carrying a parcel.
 "A little peace offering" said he, "a study by Ainsworth of the sunflowers at his place. Dyou like it? I meant to bring it around at four this after moon. You asked me to call then
 'It's half past eight now said Madge, icily.
 q know it, dear. But when I got down to Ainsworths I found he'd just fallen down the studio steps and broken his leg. No one to look after him but his landlady's daughter-the sunflower girl