The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-10-11

FLORY
BY MILDRED WHITE.


silly tWaQdle !" remarked James
Comstock, disgustedly, and laid the
book aside.
''Whose 'twaddle'" asked a sweet
voice near him, "is it?"
JAMES glanced at the cover.
by Flory," he quoted contemptu-
ously. "Flory is exactly the sort Of
person one would expect to touch up
ON her subjects, like butterfly among
the flowers, with no substance or real
ity to hold"
Haven't you" asked the girl at his
side, ''imbibed some of FlOry's poetic
phraseology? Now, know a man who
is enraptured over the little books,
considers them the acme of art. Ger
tainly they sell we'll"
James Comstock turned to look into
the ptquant face upraised to his own.
Like various other guests at Mrs. Van
Houton's house party, he was exceed
ingly curious concerning this new ar
rival in their social midst.
The rest of the crowd had been
known to each other, either by name
or reputation for years. Rhoda Kent
was one of Mrs. Van HOuton's discov-
cries. To use her sons expression, his
mother had sprung a new one" and
she was delighted in her young
friends reserve. The most favored
had been able to learn nothing of
Rhoda's past, present or future from
her own lips.
It was the unusual charm of her per-
Sonality which caused deep interest
upon all sides, and much conjecture.
Her clothing, though in good taste, was
so independently simple that many
wondered if Mrs. Van HOutOn had
taken on a protege.
James Comstock, being acceptably
the most interesting man in the set,
was naturally her viS-a-vis. In fact,
during the days of proximity in the
fine old house his heart had known its
first serious affection.
James, the heretofore invulnerable,
was, as Billy Van Houton said, de
cidedly hard hit"
Never before, he gloomily admitted
to himself, had face or voice of wom-
an haunted the nightly hours which
should be devoted to healthful slum-
Der. So James was justified in pos
sessing more than the usual share Of
curiosity concerning the real life of the
winsome Rhoda.
Perhaps" he said in answer TO her
defense of the book discussed, "this
Flory' may say more, in light man
, ner, than am clever enough to grasp.
But, fancy, for instance, being mar
ried to such dreamer. Poor husband
Of Floryl With his wife always soar
ing above the blue She isn't so bad at
rhyme, though, I'll admit; seems to
have q number of little verses scat
tered through here and there, with
: bar of music to start them off. Helps
to sell, l suppose. Makes the book
look easy to read"
Miss Kent nodded laughingly..
But you would not want to be the
suffering husband who must listen to
his wife singing those things around
the house." she said.
Heaven Forbid" James piOUsly
CALCULATED. And the lovely girl at his
side arose in response to Mrs. Van
Houton's call.
"Come here, RhOda," cried that mer-
ry person "Here are half a dozen
bored people wishing to be entertained.
Ny hope lies in you"
James Comstock gazed after the
graceful figure regretfully. The glance
she threw back at him was strangely
disquieting. For days he had been
joyously secure in a consciousness of
the girls preference. UnaccOuntably
disbursement came upon him.
Rhoda's eyes had gazed at him re-
proachfully, her lips had closed firmly,
as though In displeasure. Then pres
emily he heard her voice in song, as
she accompanied herself upon the
piano.
1t was a little Scotch tune that the
girl played and the words sounded
vaguely familiar. Comstock leaning
forward, listening attentively. found
that voice and tune thrilled him with
inexplicable tenderness. Where-had
-he-heard-the words?-
Idly his gaze fell upon the opened
book Of "Flory." Then he knew. 1t
was one of the despised FlOry's verses
that his beloved was singing. And
after a round of involuntary hand
clapping he heard Mrs. Van Houton's
triumphant announcement:
'I had not intended 10 tell you for