The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-05-24
Eoening Story
The Battle of Flowers.
BY A. W. PEACH.

bouquet to see tall, lean, young fell
low, homely except fol the gray gen.
tleness of his eyes. He was watching
her. With him the romance began
to end in surprising ways with her as
assistant.
II would like to send some violets
to this address-Miss Evelyn Hem
inge." and he added the street in a
fashionable part of the city.
Her first thought that he would
never take a prize for beauty changed
deep and mellow music that the gods
sometimes give to one whom they
have lowered otherwise unfairly.
She noted the order, and turned to
find him gazing with musing eyes at
the bouquet over which she was work
ing.
''I suppose that means happiness
for some one?'' he said.
why rot two?" she questioned,
smiling.
His smile in return told her that the
gods had taken pity upon him in an
other way. at does, l hope, but 1
was thinking of the man." He lin
gered a moment. Flowers always
appealed to me; my mother" He
stopped short and left her.
Wondering, she looked around. and
saw coming down the aisle fashion
ably dressed man whose smoothly
groumed appearance contrasted sharp
ly with her customers somewhat
seedy tho neat and clean appearance.
The two men nodded-one with
smile, one gravely.
He of the recent styles leaned over
the counter. Maid of the flowers, 1
wish you would send a bunch of your
roses to Miss Evelyn Heminge," and
he added the street. He looked at her
with studying eyes. IT have heard
that we tend to become part of what
we are doing. 1 believe it is true in
your case"
The rose in her cheeks deepened.
TT is true in mine-and others!" she
answered-ahd he did not see the
point clearly.
"You are an artist" he said adj
niringly as her fingers. slim and
white. lowered over the flowers. His
knowing, suggestive eyes. were on her
face.
McMurry, the old Irishman. whose
flowers had kept his soul fresh thru
his city years, called her giving the
young swell sour look as he did SO.
The filtration ended with the de-
parture of the would-be flirter, and
she laid the cards side by side
Randall Damon"-he of the homely
face and gentle eyes-"Roger Hazen"
he of the handsome face and sug
gestive eyes. One was sending vio-
let's, the other costly roses to the same
girl.
IT know which I would choose"
she thought to herself just before Nc
Murry's voice said, Little CURL, if
wan of these chaps gets fresh letsme
know" And she knew which one he
meant.
The battle of the flowers went mer-
rily on = the shy, winsome violets
against the queenly roses. Damon
came in and fingered, chatting with
h a hn ri
hurry paid no attention: Hazen came
in, and chatted with her about her
self; and the old Irishman. looked on
with a scoWl. a-r
She found herself looking forward
to Damon's visit She learned he
great city offices-something in his
favor, she thought; and she guessed
that the clean, fine honesty of his
face must make him appeal to men
il not to women of a certain type.
She began to have vague dreams of
of the pleasant voice that carried no
hint of darker moods She smiled
at the dreams.
Then, one day, looking a bit more
tired and worn, he said he would not
send the violets, but take Them
Things are almost settled" she
thought. He took them for a num-
Der of times; and then for a week
he did not come. The reason she
discovered in the evening paper. His
name was listed among those sud-
denly stricken by the dread disease
sweeping the city
She thought a little; and the next
day. the violets went to Miss Evelyn
Heminge just the same. McMurry
scoweled at the charge to herself.
made her tell the reason, and then
back in the dingy flower-scented Of
he -ff oh
week went by; then Hazen came
in. his face a bit cold and the smiling
cynicism gone.
"Just why, may I ask, do these
flowers come to Miss Heminge? She
is engaged to me"
"She-what?" Loris cried, impo-
iitely breaking in
He looked at her sharply. you
get the idea, don't your
She nodded. "Yes, and ] think I
can say that no more flowers will go
to Miss Heminge from here-at least
.Aii right-let it be understood"
he said briefly as she turned away.
She watched his straight figure
leave the shop: and her thought went
to the sick man in the hospital who
had lost just when he needed it the
consoling knowledge of a true hearts
love.
Impulsively she gathered the dewy
violets at her left. and soon box was
on its way to the big city hospital
where the angels of death and of life
were striving for victory.
Anyway, I love him." she said
softly to herself; land he'll never
guess it from just this friendly re-
membrance."
A week later he, came hesitatingly
in, the same quiet smile in his friend
ly eyes, the same pleasant mellowness
in his voice. He was thin and gaunt.
but there was still the suggestion
about him of something unconquer-
able beneath his gentIeness.
. They chatted of the flowers and she
said II: I'm sorry the violets did not
win from the rosesi"
He started and then laughed softly.
Looking into his gray, frank eyes she
saw something there that seemed to
hold her transfixed. to envelop her
with subtle power until she was help
less. She listened. hearing words that