Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1915-09-01


"But why won't you sell the pic
ture?" insisted Henderson, lighting
another cigarette.
Wade Newton glanced across his
studio where "Miss Hollyhocks' was
placed on an easel.
"It isn't a girl you know, is it?''
went on Henderson, stroking his tiny
mustache.
"Never saw her face" said Newton.
''Then, why"
Because 1 have a curiosity to dis.
cover her for myself. Confdentially
Ned, Miss Hollyhocks brought me
fame and a number of orders. I'm 60
ing to marry her some day."
"Idiot!" gibed Henderson drawing
on his gloves. "But suppose you can
go down and find her in the old gar
den any time you please"
"I wish I could" returned the other
with a sigh.
"What do you mean?"
"You know I was called abroad as
soon as I finished that picture. When
I returned I went Immediately to
Sleepy Valley where I had CHANGED
upon the garden, but the girl and her
people had vanished as the rose of
yesterday. 1t seems they had only
hired the place for three months and
beyond learning that the name was
Smith I came back as wise as went .
Smith! like Miss Hollyhocks
better!" said Henderson. "Of course
she might have been homely as sin,
but, believe me, Wade, only girl
with a peachy complexion will guard
it with sunbonnet."
Newton laughed indulgently. 'T be.
lieve the pink sunbonnet has set you
to dreaming, too," he said.
"Well, by-by; I'm of" said Hender.
son. Wire me when you find Miss
Hollyhocks."
81 will" agreed Newton.
He dismissed the picture and the
unknown girl from his thoughts and
dressed for dinner. He had promised
to dine with the Colemans, who had
just returned from years travel
abroad. Their daughter, Dorothy, had
held Wade's heart in the hollow of her
hand for many months, only she did
not know it. Wade was not sure of
it himself, for his girl of the holly.
hooks intruded her mysterious per-
sonality every time confession how
cred on the tip of Wade's tongue.
Dorothy is In the library, Mr..
Newton" said Mrs. Coleman as she
greeted the painter. "She wanted me
to send you to her as soon as you ar
rived.'
With light step Wade entered the
library and closed the door behind
him. Then he stood as though para.
lyzed.
Over in the embrasure of the bow
window there stood noble palm. In
the shadow of it was a girl in a pink
sunbonnet and pink frilled gown.
She might have stepped out Of his
picture!
"Who is it?' he asked quickly.
She stood motionless, one slender
white hand extended toward the palm
leaves.
In three strides Newton had crossed
the room and stood beside her. He
bent his head and peered around un-
der the pink sunbonnet. A charming
pink and white face, a pair of blue
eyes and enticing lips. Newton kissed
her then and there.
."oh!" she cried, and stepped back.
Dorothy, darling, I never dreamed
Il never guessed-that you were my
hollyhock GIRL" he breathed rapidly,
his eyes afire. What were you do
ing there in Happy Valley, and why
didn't you tell me that you were stop
ping there? Who are the Smiths, any
way?"
But Dorothy only shook her head
and fed from him, saying that she
must change her dress. He caught
her hand at the door.
"You love me-you will be my wife,
darling?" he asked. "You know how
long have loved you. To think you
should be my dream girl, too! You
love me?" he insisted.
She l.udded-he kissed her again.
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure News