The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1921-11-17
That Bill for
Flowers
By F. A. mitchell.

getting Old and il IS high time TO pro.
vide for such condition as you and
Dick"
MI LarramOre was stalled,
What I wish to say" he continued
is That | have the same feeling for
you as if you were my own daughter"
Eyes, uncle"
u have enough to leave YOU comfort
able when | come to the jumping off
place and have enough to leave Dick
comfortable, but if I divide the prop
erty between you both there is not
enough to make either comfortable"
Then, uncle, it is your duty to leave
your property to your own SON.
why can't I leave it to you and him
as one person?"
ut Is impossible"
Dick would rather I would leave it
to you Jointly. He"
Nov, uncle, knew what you mean.
I've heard it all from Dick. Dick and
have always been brother and sister
and such We'll always be-"
This ended the fathers attempt to
help his son to secure the wife that
son wanted. Dick Larramore was en-
gagged in business in another city and
seldom visited his home, so his foster
sister was not troubled with his atten-
tons. Six months after this attempt
OF his father to make a match between
the two Grace said to her uncle:
'What's the matter with Dick? He
has never let so long time 60 by before
without coming home for a visit"
II think some girl Is keeping him."
Grace looked grave.
II shouldn't be surprised" continued
Mr.. Larramore, "to hear any day that
he Is engaged"
"Why do you think sol"
swell, you know Dicks salary Is not
very large and he occasionally falls
back upon me. The other day he sent
me bill for flowers"
"Ohl I see."
The subject was not pressed further.
A few days later Dick received letter
from his cousln-foster sister chidlng
him for remaining away from home so
long without visit. His father was
very much hurt at his sons neglect Of
him.
This letter brought Dick home for
the next weekend. He had an inter-
view with his father at which the lat
ter denied that he considered his son
neglectful of him and commended him
for standing by his business. The old
man went to bed early and Dick spent
the rest of the evening with Grace.
"Who Is this person you're sending
flowers to-" asked Grace In cold tone.
II wouldn't send flowers to person,
/ would only send them to an attrac-
tive girl"
There was a brief silence between
them which was broken by Grace.
"Do you think you have right to
marry when your father IS getting old
and needs your attention.
"He isn't getting my attention. You
are taking care Of him and doing 1t far
better than / could. I supposed you
were to remain single as long as he
lives"
GLOW very seh-sacrihcing you are"
sarcastlcally.
''It's self-sacrihcing Of you. I've
heard you say often that you were 90.
ing to be an old maid for dads sake
II suppose after dear uncle's death
you will bring this woman you're 60
| ing to marry into the house and / shall
have to vacate?"
"rm not going to marry this WON
an. IF I marry / shall marry lovely
girl"
"Supposing--" Grace said with great
seriousness, "supposing that l should
die before your father, do you suppose
he would be able to put up with 6
strange person who you would bring
into the house to take my placer"
"But you're not going to die, ant
I'm not going to bring a strange per
SON. into this house"
II don't know; I've had queer feel
ings about my heart lately"
"You don't mean it; who Is the cat
who Is making the trouble with you
hearth"
"You know very we'll that I dom
mean 1t in that sense at all. If dill
you would not be the person to refer t
my lover as q cad"
"Why mott"
"You know very we'll that / woul
not do what you are going to do. If
marry, uncle will be perfectly satisfie
to have me marry and approve OF tn
gentleman who is to be my husband"
"Oh! he is to be q gentleman,
hei"
"He has one fault"
nWhat's that2'
"He Is very unfeeling; he doesn
seem to realize what q noble, good II
ther he has"
Dick opened his eyes very wide an
looked up at the ceiling; Grace's eye
were glued to the floor. Present.
Dick said: