The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-05-12
TRE EVENING STORY
Flowers Daily.
(By Flora Gapen.)

(By Flora Gapen)
One could ignore the flowers.
Cl1fford'S first glance in her direc-
ton was stayed by the fact that she
was the center of interest as she quite
nonchalantly opened a large box of
violets which she placed in a bowl on
her desk. 1t was that and the violet
dress which took his eye.
Each of the four days following she
had again opened a box of flowers
with which she adorned her desk or
her frock, and strangely enough in
each case there was a strikingly ex-
bination of the girl with the flowers
and the dress.
On this particular day she was do
ing the extraordinary thing of open
ing up three boxes of flowers, inside
of which were jonQuilS, VioletS and
tiny yellowish- rosebuds. The
latter she pinned at her belt, and the
remaining two bouquets were given
to the two stenographers who were
deeply interested in the proceedings.
''She must have three beaux at the
very least observed Clifford inward
ly as he leaned back in his swinging
office chair in meditative manner, his
hands behind his head.
Apparently the time had come to
review the past week-Clifford's first
in the office of James, Brown & Co.
as it related particularly to her. So
thus he reflected:
in his minds eye, as he squinted an
oval-shaped face with rather sleepy
eyes, a full broad mouth and heavy
soft brown hair done so that the ears
and the neck behind were invisible.
"She dresses individually and in
good taste,' he continued, and mental
ly pictured a lavender dress, which
she wore with a broad filmy white col
lar of some sort. This attire deIicately
vanished, to be replaced in his mind
by one Of brownish gray, which was
worn with a girdle of blues and reds
and browns.
trust, and has mind of her own" he
further pondered, thinking of a some
what independent, nicely confident
and poised bearing which she seemed
to have. 1.-THE men like her and they
respect her; it's easy to see that by
their manner. I'll bet they're mighty
much interested, but she is not a flirt
and keeps them at a respectable dis
tance.''
At this point in his soliloquy, a
thought began to tease Clifford. Why
did she find it necessary to go to the
advertising department so frequently?
He recalled seeing her in laughing and
very much interested conversation
with Reynolds, the head of the de-
partment.
"Reynoldsi" Yes, it was probably
Reynolds who was sending her the
flowers. "Reynoldsi" he said again
under his breath, as he threw himself
forward in his chair. "Jove, what
chance has a man against Reynolds
with his ten thousand a year.? The
games up
But as an actual fact, Clifford knew,
though he certainly would not admit
it to himself, that the game was really
on from that moment His mind
would insist upon continuing after this
fashion:
I'll certainly have to meet her some
time, since we are both with the same
and get an Introduction today. She Ger
tainly is a pippin. OF course. I'm not
crazy about her, as every one else seems
to be. A mans a darn fool to try to buck
up against Reynolds, handsome and Il
good salary. No harm, though, in meet
ing her.
week after his first Observation-Disclosures
had been an abundance of them since-he
was shifting along perilously near dan
ger. The members of James, Brown &.
Co began to wonder what they had SIP
posed they had discovered in him so
biiity with which they had entrusted him
a few weeks ago, for he had suddenly
seemed to lose all of his ideas. OF course
to recall the time when they themselves
were one ideaists
clifford not without intelligence. knew
that he had not been worth a bean and
the thought went winging through his
head that it was about time to find out
what chances a poor dub had. For she
had been charming to him since he had
met her and had even seemed interested.
But my, how the flowers had goaded him
to desperate thoughts, and he wished he
were placed so that he did not have to See
her on her way to the advertising depart
ment, and reynolds on his way to her
desk.
AS he passed a store one day at the end
of the week his eye was caught by a
wonderful display of orchids, and he was
at once seized with an idea
Reynolds does It, so I'm going to take
a fling"
He ordered corsage bouquet consisting
of the most beautiful orchids in the store
and wrote on card, "Will you have
luncheon with me Saturday noon" As he.
reached for a small envelope on the
florists desk in which to place the card,
he involuntarily gave a start
Strange how sensitive I have become
to that name 1t seems to be getting sec
ond nature for me to follow 1t up, even
to florists" he calculated.
The next morning he felt most foolish
and jumpy. and found an excuse to HE
himself to the anteroom when he saw the
office boy with a maudlin grin hand her
a box
Outside he buttonholed one of the men
in the advertising department who was
Just coming in.
Say, Beck" he burst forth. ..can you
tell me something2 Is Reynolds engaged
to Miss Deauchamp?''
Reynolds Why Reynolds is married. I
n1r,sS If tc