The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-02
PRIMROSE AND PURPLE
ey DOROTHY DOUGLAS.

money, mother" said Polly Dayton.
drawing her chair close to her moth
er's in the bright living room.
And remain at home, dear?'
queried Mrs. Dayton, anxiously. She
had not yet adjusted herself to the
modern scheme of society which per
mits its daughters and wives to go
forth from home in order to be eco
nomically independent.
Polly nodded definitely. Very much
at home, mother mine. Let me |
tell you about It: First, you know
there is a large and flourishing or
ganization in the city which has for
its coiors primrose and purple; there
is another equally fiourishing organ
ization of women which has for its |
color, yellow. Now, these clubs will, |
this year, have many and varied So
cial and public functions, at all of
which they will use their club colors
in flowers, If possible. l know wom- !
en- in both sets through whom, l am
confident, l can get contracts to sup
ply all the purple and primrose and
yellow flowers that are to be used.
l think We can market all We can
raise Of the flowers that exactly carry
out the color scheme of the clubs.
Don't you see 1t, mother?'
"Oh, dol do see it, dear daugh-
ter. 1t is a wonderful conception, and
l believe you and together, with the
help of good old Joe Fisher. whose
IN tho flowers
he plants, can make 1t success.
! Polly made practical and definite
! plans for her business venture, and
as spring approached she and her
! mother and the old day gardener who
, had worked with them for years, cul-
/ tivated every available spot in the
grounds. They made room among
| the rocks for rich earth and took out
stones here and there along the top
to permit of growing the flowers. Thus
! II was not long before flowers were
coming up everywhere and every
bloom was to be primrose, purple or
yellow
The organizations which Polly app
preached with her plans were more
than glad to know of place where
they could obtain their own sorts of
flowers and have them shipped in
good shape.
BY summer the wall of primroses
about the Dayton home was exquisite
to behold, and Polly and her mother
rejoiced in the fact that neighbors
brought their friends to see 1t. They
watched aut> mobilists stop to admire
it, and felt proud of their work.
One day when Polly, In her great
rose.covered hat and simple summer
frock, was standing outside OF the
wall cutting blooms, an automobile
stopped before the wall.
, Polly did not look up, but she could
hear that there was conversation be-
, tween a man and woman about the
y flowers.
: Finally a young man approached
her. Il beg your pardon he said
o his motor cap in his hand. Mother
: cannot longer resist the temptation
, to ask you If you will let her have
= few of your beautiful primroses."
"Why-of course" Polly said
quickly. She looked out toward the
auto and smiled at the woman wht
a sat therein.
Mother was prevented this yea
q from going to her home in the Souti
a of England on account of the war
Always homesick for her own land
n the very country. by the way, WHERE
- The Rosary was written-the con
;. slant sight of your primrose wall al
!, we pass each day has made her mor'
SO. She thinks II she might have
few Of the flowers 1t would-weli,
- would help some," laughed the youn
man, somewhat embarrassed by tn
fact that he was asking favor from
a strange-and very lovely-youn
j., woman.
:. DO let me speak to your mother,
- said Polly, quickly, running over t
" the car scissors in hand.
- She stood for a long time talkin
- to Mrs. Noble and her son George
- And when the elderly woman lief
'e her hands we're full of Polly's prin
70 roses and she had promised to II
- turn whenever her bowl at home wa
=. empty.
=. Twice a week Mrs. Noble came t
- Polly Daytons garden for primrose
= Polly would not take money, for sh
:. deemed it pleasure to give them
:. anyone who loved the flowers S
dearly. And it was from your ow
Devonshire country that ! got my II
;. SEPARATION to begin this venture" Poll
:, told her one day when the four
=. Mrs. Noble, her son, Polly and he
mother-sat at rustic table unde
a wisteria arbor in the Dayton ga
den slipping cool glasses of te
>, What a success it is! l can hard
-. believe it and-to add to that Poll
- looked affectionately at her motht
as she continued, my dear litt
b. mother, here, has grown pin
y. checked and strong working out I
~ doors and handling the beautif
~ blossoms for market. Also" hel
she laughed merrily, "she has learne
g. that a girl can earn money and sti
a. be normal, womanly person! E
MOTHER" she asked.
" Through these little meeting
George Noble learned to know an
III to love Polly Dayton, and a romano
w. ~. as sweet as any Of the flowers thu
/" bloomed in the garden in which
was set grew out of their love.
* More than two years afterwal
~ when a little daughter strayed I'M