The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-06-03
Epening StorH
Say 1t With Flowers.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

window above a welter of potted bego-
MAS, fancy straw baskets, cut. flowers
in earthenware jars. and goldfish
tgiobes. projected its appeal to the eyes
of Henry Walters, riding by at the mo-
ment in a street car. a pucker of wrin-
kles between his highly arched brows.
! He had been thinking, wondering
how n thunder to say it. when presto
change. there was the sign: Say il
with Flowers"
wanted to say? Just this: My darl-
ing Mirabel, for going on five years 1
have been calling on you Wednesdays
and Sundays, and, of late, on Fridays
also. II love you passionately. devot-
! eddy. VIII you be mine and share
with me whatever is left over of a
school teachers salary after paying a
so per cent increased rent. 102 per
cent increased grocery bill, and good
ness knows how much Increased
amounts for sundries?"
Henry got off at the next block and
walked back. His problem now was to
select those blossoms which would ade-
quately describe the various shades of
his feeling toward Mirabel. With the
! help of the clerk, to whom he told his
pArpose in a sudden burst of conf
dence. quite a bouquet was arranged,
composed of many beautiful speci-
mens-deep Richmond roses to whis-
per of fervent passion, dainty mar
iguerites to murmur their appreciation
of har girlish innocence, Russian vio-
lets whose blue was symbolic OF 10y
lalty-all in all. quite bouquet.
! Suddenly displayed in a window he
was passing, a Turing array of spring
!headgear met his glance. The thought
occurred to him that his own hat was
! getting pretty seedy. Standing before
the plate glass window with its pedes-
tailed attractions Henry hesitated and
was lost.
When it came to doing up the hat,
Henry. mindful of, his evening call on
Mirabel, demurred. TN wear it, and
you can throw my old one away" he
said. But if you'll do these books up,
they'll be easier to carry and I'll be a
whole lot obliged"
Five minutes later Henry emerged.
| Hastily he glanced at his watch. He
hHd consumed more time than he real
lied in choosing a headpiece, but if
he dined downtown. instead Of going
| home, he could still reach MirabePs at
the usual time. Coincident with the
| idea hove in sight a messenger boy.
Henry beckoned to him and handed
him the box OF flowers.
take this to 33 Wayland avenue"
| he said, "and-got a message form
with you?" The boy fished in his
pockets and produced one. Under an
arc light Henry wrote diligently, sealed
the result and handed it, back. Then,
1 BY GeOrge!" he said to himself, II
may as well get rid of these books,
too, instead of |hgging them up to
| MirabeFs.'
So presently the boy, with two bun
dies. two addresses and a fair-sized
| tip, sauntered away.
Promptly at 1855 Henry, palpitantly
expectant. entered 30 Wayland avenue.
Mirabel was iR-was waiting very
| naughty figure. in spite of a certain
teariness about the eyes and a tren-
bling of her kissable mouth.
Here's your note-and sent your
horrid old package right back. Good
! by, forever"
Dazed, Henry held out his hand for
! the note he had so recently penciled.
He wanted to protest, but the same
inarticulateness which had kept him
from telling her in words that he loved
her kept him now from asking what
| in Sam Hill it was all about. The next
thing he knew he found himself de-
scending the steps of 33 Wayland ave
nue.. with vague memories of Mirabel
retreating upstairs, her face in her
handkerchief.
Henry pulled his new hat down over
his eyes and started for home across
town.
An hour later he unlocked the door
of his room. AS he did so his land
lady puffed up the stairs with a large
burden.
"a boy brought this just before sup
per time" she painted.
''All right, never mind" Henry said,
gently but YEARLY. He saw it all now.
The boy had balled things up-had
brought the flowers here and taken
the books to .Wayland avenue. Wait
what were the titles of those books?
He had \found them while cleaning
out closet in school which had re
Gently been used by the teacher who
had had his room the previous term
"a woman instructor of domestic sci
ence. They were such books as the
publishers send out to teachers for
advertising purposes, and rather than
have them uIeused, he had taken them
with the intention of giving them to
his landlady's daughter.
Dimly he recalled the titles:
Economical Recipes" How to
Make One Dollar Do the Work of
Two" Home Dressrnaking."
Henry mopped his brow. And there
was yet another. What, oh, what was
it? "Every-every-" Good Lordl
Every wife Can Be Wage Garner"
And he who believed that woman's
sphere was in the home. He groaned
and buried his face in highlands. For
suddenly he re1pcmbercds the note he
/ had sent.
Dear Mirabe%
These tell you better than the
| thoughts of you which are in my
heart Let them speak for me the
words I care not utter Hopefully.
HENRY"
Puff puff = his landlady again.
| Tap-tap-
Telephone, Mr.. walters
In three leaps he was downstairs.
Yes-a teary voice was at the other
! end of the wire. She had regretted
| her stiness-peShap it was all
mistake-and anyway. her father said
such thrift was all too uncommon in
| young men. today-would he forgive
her and come back?~
More passionately than the Rich
mond roses, he poured his heart into
| the transmitter.
"Oh. Mirabel, darling, It was all a
mistake, but it isn't a mistake to say
| I love YOU. 1 adore you, 1 worship
| yop. And I'm coming right up to ex-
! plain"
| On the wav 70 MARYLAND avenne