Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-01-17

FL0RY
BY MILDRED WHITE.


SILLY tWaddle - remarked james
Comstock, disgustedly, and laid the
book aside.
"Whose twaddle'" asked sweet
voice near him, "is itT'
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 a butterfly among
the flowers. with 20 substance or real
ity to hold"
Haven't you" asked the girl ut his
side, "lmbibed some of F'lOry's poetic
phraseologyI Now, know man who
is enrHptured over the little books,
considers them the acme OF art. Ger
tanly they sell we'll"
Jumes COmstUck turned to look into
the p'qunht face appraised to his own.
Like various other guests at Mrs. Van
Houtoh's house party, he WIS exceed
ngls 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
WIS one or WIS. yHn H0ut0h7s dlscoy-
cries. To use her sons expression, his
mother had sprung 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.
1t was the unusual charm Of her per
sonallty 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 yis-a.vis. In fact,
during the days Of proximity in the
fife old house his heart had known its
first serious affection.
james, the heretofore lnvulnerable,
u,
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 sum-
Der. SO James was justified in pos'
sessing more than the usual share bt
curiosity concerning the real life of the
Wihsomp Rhoda.
Perhaps" he said In answer to her
defense of the book discussed "this
Flory' may say more, in light man
uer, than ] am clever enough to grasp.
But, fancy, for instance. being mar.
ried to such dreamer Poor husband
Of Flort! With his wife always soar
ing above the blue. She isn't go bad at
rhyme, though. I'll admit; seems to
have a humber Of little verses scat.
tered through here and there, with
bar of music to start them off. Helps
to sell, | suppose. Makes the book
look easy to reHd"
Miss Kent nodded laughirgly.
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. ArI the lovely girl at his I
side arose In response to Mrs. van
hputoh's call.
Come here. RhOda," cried that her
~ person. Here are half a dozen
bored people wishing to be entertained. .
My hope lies In you" 4
james COmstDck gazed after the
graceful figure regretfully. The rlnnce
she threw back at him was strangely
dlsquietihg. For days he had been
jOSously secure in CONSCIOUSNESS Of
the girls preference. rnacrountably
encouragement came Upon him.
Rhoda's eyes had aazed Mt him re.
proachfulls, her lips had closed lrmly,
as though III disbleasure. Then pres.
emily he heard her voice in song. az
she accompanied herself upon the
piano.
II was n little Scotch tune that the
girl played aid the words sounded
vaguely familiar Comstock leaning
forward, listening attentively. found
that voice and tune thrilled him with
Ihesrllcable tenderness. Where-=bsd
-he-heard-the words,=
Idly his gaze fell Upon the opened
book OF "FlOry,' Then he knew, II
was one Of the desplsed Flory's verses
that his beloved was singing. And
after q round of Involuntary hand.
clapping he heard Mrs. Van Houton's
triumphant announcement.
u had not intended to tell you for
ewhllsI vi have had such Fin tssn.