Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-04-28
"A Bunch
OF Violets
II Made a Change In Woman's
Career.

BY REGINALD D. HovEN.
1910. by American Press
Association

reveled in the panorama of passing OBJ
jects. There was that tender green
on the trees which appears only once
year for about week. usually in
April.
Then the train stopped at a station.
and a little girl Oh the platform with
basket on her arm filed with vio-
lets looked up at me with a pair Of
eyes Of the same color as the flowers,
though of lighter shade. beseeching
me TO buy. l handed her a coin, for
which she gave me a bunch Of the
violets, and l put them in my belt
If that little girl had not sold me
those violets and If had not thrust
them in my belt my Geld in life would
have been entirely different. An or
phan with a fortune, l had resolved to
devote myself and it to the poor.
Several girl friends of mine had made
Unfortunate marriages.. and their
stories had filed me with a repug-
nance to tying myself up to a hus-
band. IF | marry" / said to my
self, Il shall get some selfish man who
will marry my fortune and leave me
out in the cold. This is a world of
selfshness. detest selfishness and
am resolved to live for others" | was
going to the city TO take a course Of
medicine. After graduation l would
open an office and treat women and
children who were i'll and had no
money to pay without compensation.
When the train reached the terminal
and was walking down the platform
between the lines of people who were
there to welcome friends a young
man stepped from the line, lifted his
hat, smiled at me and said:
Il judge by the violets on your belt
that you are Lucy. | am John Ridg-
way. Let me take your bag. This
way, please"
Now, it was plain that the young
man had made a mistake. Doubtless
he was there to meet some one he
didn't know and that by which she
was to be recognized was a bunch of
violets worn in her belt. l was young
and not averse to an adventure.
was curious to learn what would be
the upshot Of it all. 1t any rate, l
would let him have his way for
time. SO | gave him my satchel and
walked beside him, waiting for him to
say something more.
Were going to do all we can for
YOU" he went on. You're to live with
us without paying cent till you are
perfectly able to pay. Mother has a
situation already engaged for you at
SlJ a week. Beckie win be a sister
10 you. and | will be brother"
How refreshing There was surely
nothing selfish about this young man
who looked down on me with a pair
of frank, sympathetic eyes. | was in
terested to know more Of him. l suf-
fered myself to be led along passively
till we reached the street, where he
put me into a car, getting in himself
and insisting on paying my fare. At
just what time l would inform him of
his mistake l did not know
To tell the truth, dreaded this entry
into big city possibly as much as the
poor girl FOR whom he had mistaken
me. | had intended TO go to a hotel |
until | could find a suitable boarding |
place. Why not 30 with this young |
man TO his home look it over ana |
those in it and if l liked it and them |
ask them TO take me TO board Time |
enough 10 announce the mistake that |
had been made in my identity after
ward
We alighted before a small house.
went in, and lovely old lady and a
young girl welcomed me.
My dear" said the former, II can
not see that you resemble your father
)r mother IN the slightest degree"
II think Cousin Lucy somewhat re-
'embles the Morgans" said the young
girl.
1T doesn't matter" said the young
nan, whom she resembles. She's our
;ousin ana in distress, poor girl. It's
'ur pleasure TO encourage her and help
ier, and were going TO do it. Perhaps
We can marry her to a rich man, eh?
What do you say to that, mother?
Well | suppose that as long as
hes been brought up in atfiuence il
would be better for her. But ! don't
wish Rose 10 get any such idea into ,
Ter head. 1t isn't necessary in her
ase."
All Of this was so entertaining to me
hat ] could not bear TO end IT, This
asst plan of Johns. TO marry me to a
ich man, was simlHy delightful. What
would he have thought had he known ,,
hat considered all rich men the en-
mbodiment of selhshness? And how
e would have opened his eyes had he I,
nown that | possessed an income OF
10000 year.
But my deception must come out the
noment this girl for whom | had been
mistaken appeared If she had come
n the train with me she would doubt
ess soon arrive at the house. If she
ad been delayed she would write or
al alpOroDb cpon no aithar of fkao.. |