The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-09-06
THE DAISY-GlRl
BY MoLLiE MATHER.


Bruce Allan, her fance, trying life.
The very capriciousness which at nrst
charmed him. was now his trial.
Dorothea continually sought difficult
tasks with which TO try his affection.
Though Dorothea had promised him
her heart and hand, this fact DID
not deter her from encouraging rival
nv among those apparently van
pushed
IF you cannot spare an afternoon
TO take me out TO the country club,
she would tell her hanee sweetIy,
Don Stewart will be glad TO do it
He called up to see IL there was
chance, this morning"
so Bruce would spare the afternoon
TO the neglect of business. Or. eff
you do not feel that you can afford
orchids for my orchid gown this eve
ming Brucie, Hamilton Dane Is just
eager to get them for me from his
florist"
Alasl Bruce Allan could afford nc
orchids from his hard-earned purse.
His one ambition had been TO lay by
each month toward the feathering OF
d dainty nest for Dorothea.
Poor Bruce was growing distracted
because of Dorothea's pouting dis
pleasure. Pink daisies. or rather. pink
marguerites. were the latest insisteni
desire of her heart. She had hap
pened to pass q bed Of these tall
flowers and Immediately had been
seized with the desire to give pink
daisy tea with bundles of the unusual
flowers in evidence everywhere, and
herself. clad in pink with pale vel
low hat. 1t would all be so sweet
and odd" she rold Bruce excitedly.
Bruce agreed that 1t would. But
this did not end his part In the mat
ter.
Fe had tried his best TO locate the
coveted blossoms. hut two afternoons
| motoring with Dorothea, failed to dis
close the flower bed of her VISION.
She was put out about it, holding
Bruce accountable for the disappolnt-
ment. So now, upon the sunshiney
morning when Bruce wandered mood
! ily down the hill. not only Hamilton
| Dane. but Don Stewart as well. were
| out on the quest of the tall pink daisy
| The triumph of either, at a florist s
| shop. would mean his own defeat
Dorothea put this plainly. The head
of the business office had sent MIN
| this particular morning to a rural
township TO look over some real es'
/ tate. Bruce had taken the trolley out
j Presently, as he walked across
cedar-fragrant hedge, came a sweet
singing voice. the bees over the hedge
hummed accompaniment:
my own he comes and he loves me
well.
This is the tale that my daisies tell,
sang a girl bending over bed
1 yes, actuaHy-a bed of tall pink mar
guerites. Bruce by his sudden en-
trance startled the girl into dropping
scissors and basket, but she picked
them up again undismayed.
MY customers" she told him laugh
ingly. usually enter in more conven
tional manner than vaulting the hedge
What would you like?"
customer" he asked hesitatingly
"you mean that you sell things?"
The girl nodded.
Flowers" she answered briefly
that's what ! raise 'em for"
And | can buy the pink daisies,
his tone was eager. "All OF them, o
perhaps" he added lamely. "You asl
TOO big price"
Then. before he knew 1t. he was tell
ing her about Dorothea and the pin
daisy tea; of his own futile searel
! and the humility of failure.
Isn't 1t funny" the girl remarke
with whimsical twist to her red lips
one girl in the city wanting, and plan
ming for pink daisies,> just to make
holiday. And another girl out in tn
country working since early spring t
4 grow the flowers and sell them TO ear
bread and butter. Mother and / liv
alone and we have to plan many way
TO keep our home fire burning. Flow
ers are the best part of my plan. An
coaxing them along is pleasure"
"You See" she said, 81 am giyin
them ALL The price viii not MATES
You must be-" she smiled, 18th
triumphant knight returning to wi
your lady's favor"
81 am not sure" he said. that
l care to win that favor. I've bee
sitting here doing some thinking an
! comparing. Looking back over pa'
weeks of my engagement, cannot sc
that either of US has been very hal
py. Dorothea told me when she we
disappointed last night that the ma
who carried out this silly wish I
! hers. would be hereafter the one ma
. for her Dane can buy all the RAJ
o flowers he wants. As for me-wel
q I'll take your daisies. and keep 'em
q my own room"
"You need not" said the girl quick
II can sell them"
!. 81 want" said Bruce gravely, e
: cry daisy that has known your car
: And | want very much-to come he
again-sOon."
j. The girl did not reply, hut as