Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1920-03-18
TONY
THE FLORIST
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS

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Tony stood In his little florist shop
and gazed longingly at the window
across the avenue. His dark eyes, that
held the tragedy and beauty OF Italy
Ia their brown depths. guzed during
all idle moments In that same direc-
ton.
But the girl In the shop behind that
window was not aware of Tony's gaze
nor in any way conscious Of the flor
lists existence.
Had both the tiny fragments Of shop
been rolled into one there would not
even have been IA space worth calling
shOp-not real Broadway shop.
But within the heart of Ruby Vale
was al ambition and sense of the
artistic quite bic enough To iii far
greater space than her slim means
could measure in actual possession.
Ruby was NOT exactly one of The great
herd of interior decorators that were
Milling all available easements with
oddments OF antiques and orange can
dlesticks. but she carried an assert
ment of accessories to the home.
As Tony ga2ed across the avenue
each morning when he opened his own
fragrant shop he knew that some new
exquisite color scheme would greet
him in kubys window. Try as he
might 10 rise early, the girl opposite
always managed tu be- down earlier
and 70 have arranged her display for
the day before he could get there.
He would then arrange his own
beautiful flowers and was beginning t.
take his color effects, as far ms wa,
possible with seasonable blossoms
from the window opposite.
Only the day before there had been
an exquisite twisted silver candlestick
with an amethyst chiffon shade. and
lying carelessly beside it cushion of
amethyst tafeta with great silver tas
sells. Tony had sighed rapturously
Asters were in season and within ten
minutes after seeing Ruby's window
Tony had display of lavender ssters,
with here and there a touch of silver
birch.
Today the color was softest maze.
and Tony had gloried in the palest OF
chrysanthemumS. with few nastur-
tiums for character.
Had the two shops been side by side
they would have lured the most indif-
ferent passcrby and drawn many Il
customer. first to buy dainty lamp
shade and then into Tony's shop for
cluster of flowers to match IT,
How Tony longed TO 20 across the
street with lust flower or two and
thereby add the necessary finishing
touch to Ruby'S window display no one
but himself knew. And perhaps had
Ruby been other than AN amher-eyed,
gOlden-haircd girl to make one dream
OF. Tony would have found courage To
make his small contribution But the
heart of the florist beat thunderOusly
at the very sight OF Ruby and he
feared TO seem foolish in her eyes.
Had Tony been scheming lover he
could easily have gone boldly into the
shop opposite and purchased any
amount of lovely things for the little
apartment that was perchei nigh up
Oh Riverside drive. with It's windows
turned toward the broad Hudson. lie
could have had endless trips 10 the
shop. first for hangings for those win
dows. then for candle shades aud final
ly for cushions, aud in The end he
might have carried Ruby herself out
of the shop and into his heart. But
Tony was not wise in the art of WOO
ing He was far wiser in the art Of
making and investing money, and
Drawer at lighting, as a medal or two
pinned on his old uniform could youch,
than he was at winning a girl.
Modesty forbade Tony even suppos-
ing that Ruby had cast eyes Ia his di-
rectlon.
But modesty was greatly in error,
for Ruby had not only cast many ad-
miring Chances at young good-iooking
Tony, but she sent many longing eye
ut the wonderful flowers that SO often
matched the color OF her own window
decoration.
Ruby had put all her small honrd-
ings into a very lovely stock and could
not afford TO buy the few flowers she
would love TO have had daily to adorn
her window. She, with Tony, realized
that the few living blossoms would add
a touch TO her color scheme that would
attract even the most elusive eyes. But
flowers in the city were TOO expensive
for struggling decorators 70 buy, 80
Ruby contented herself by planning
for the day when she should not only
have all she wanted but II full garden
OF her very own.
The morning that gave Tony time
advantage over Ruby was record
day He arrived at his shop before
the blinds opposite were even drawn
or the color scheme there for him to
copy. Tony wondered whether he
should wait. but decided to develop n
window effect OF his own and was not
without faint hope that Ruby would
see it and take his lead as he had 50
often taken hers
Chrysanthemums were in from the
market-gfeat shaggy wonders OF the
flower kingdom. and Tony, unable Ia
resist the warmth OF pink. threw him.
self with Characteristic swiftness into
the arrangement OF window that sent
It's glow along the entire block. Ger