The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-01
FLOWER
MAIDENS
By PHILIP KEAN

let.
Well why shouldn't they" Lily,
who was big. black-haired and red
checked. demanded. Gould there pos
sibly be anything more !ncongruOus
than our names The idea of your be-
ing Violet when you have boyish
tastes and red hair and hate clingins.
droopy, feminine things. As for me,
am more like cabbage than a lily,
and Rose is plain and practical and
not a bit of a beauty. and Pansy isn't
bit thOughtful-she's like yOu-she
cares more for the Out-of-dOOrs and
horseback and tennis than for any
thing housewifely."
Iris is the only one whose name
fits her" said Violet. slowly. She's
80 tall and stately and she dresses TO
suit her name-she looks so we'll In
her lavenders and puppies"
Yes she does" said Lilly. without
enthusiasm but she gets them at the
expense of all the rest of us. vi"
VI nodded. she has a new mauve
Chiffon for the Country club dance.
It's lovely thing. with a purple vel
vet panel and some touches of silver
green. She is perfect reproduction
OF her name flower in IT,"
The rest of us will 60 In old
gowns" said Lily. bitterly Il don't
care for myself-but you are the
Youngest. Vi. and you haven't had
your chance"
Don't worry about me-" said vi.
brayely. III wear my old green silk.
And have mothers pearls"
Poor mother" said Lily, slowly.
How all Of her plans for us have
failed. When she married man
named Flower. she made up her mind
that II there was ever girl baby II
should be called by blossom name
And there were five of us, and I was
the first and We are all so plain. and
her sense of eternal fitness is only sat.
! isf1ed by lris's beauty but she loves
us-dear mother"
The little woman who came In at
this moment had an appealing look in
her eyes What shall you wear to
the dance Violet" she asked
My green silk" said VI. and I.ly's
going to make over her old white
lace"
Il am sure YOU will look very nice "
the mother said. Then with some
hesitation: Il was sorry to give Iris
the only new gown, but she really
needed 1t, didn't she?"
In the face of that wistful appeal
the two girls gasped hastily. "Oi
eourse."
Poor dear" said Violet as the lit
tie woman went YEARLY on her way
Iris positively holds her up for new
clothes"
did you know" said Lily, slowly
that Bob Taylor will be at the
dance"
Violet whirled around. "He Ia home
from the Philippines. Oh, Lily. who
told your"
He called up. He wanted to &c,
you. answered the phone and tolt
him YOU were at Lancaster ant
wouldn't be back until today. And
then Iris said she wanted to talk Il
him. and he came over Sunday"
And he's going to take herr" VIC
let demanded
"Yes-that's the reason for the new
gown"
Il see"
There was silence after that. ant
presently the sisters kissed and sep
arated. But the kiss was the token O
their understanding
ITS shame" Lily confided latel
to Pansy, Bob has always liked v
best. But Iris-oh. you know Iris
She makes all the rest Of us seen
rough and rude by comparison"
Perhaps we are" said Pansy. cheer
fully. perhaps 1t wouldn't hurt US Il
mend our manners. LII"
"Perhaps not" Lily was absorbed
In her argument. but he likes VII
breesiness. and now-oh, II Irii
breaks this up. I'll feel as if 70 ldn'
} forgive her"
"She doesn't understand" SAIL
Pansy, gently. what II means TO fee
deeply-and perhaps we have all mad,
her selfish. Ill. We just let her Law,
things and she doesn't realize that w
go without"
We'll. If she butts in with Bob ant
VI" said Lily. slangily, Il shan for
give her in minute"
IF Bob lets her break II of sait
plain Rose. who was sewing Tlacidly
by the window of the little si,ting
room. he won't be worth keeping
That's So" said Pansy.
The night Of the Country clut lance
VI wore her old silk. The cu, was
somewhat out Of date, so that heI
slender figure looked bulky wher com
pared to the modish silhouettes about
her. iris. graceful and ethereal, wal
the best dressed woman in tie room
Lily, raging, sat out a dane IN the
palm room with Bob Taylor
I'm going to tell you all aboit 1t.
she almost sobbed. "vi had 70 come
In that old dress. because IRIS VAS &c
selfish. The rest of US ALWAYS veal
old things. Iris has the best"
Bob. being a gentleman. hated fam
lily Quarrels. Hence he defended Iris
She makes her gowns, she tells me,