Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-06-10
Ry ma M. EYANs
By IDA M. EVANS
copyright 1889: BY News Syndicate Co. INC.
IN TWO PARTS-PART ONE
THE THIRD EASTER Gil
MAKES A ROMANCE
WHICH BEGAN AMONG
EASTER LILIES


EASTER LILIES.
1t comes but once a year. Their
its high flood of white lilies in.
! undates and cleanses the soilec
world. The city of New York
holds the Empire State building
on one corner of importance, and
on another the Hannibal Hasch
florist shop. Both are temples
wherein are practiced the latest
rites. People there are who men
ton lightly the Empire State build
ing-"Just another high shack. So
what?"-but who speak the name
haSch with reverent indraWn breath.
Inc purple, the white, the gold flecked
HaSch orchids! The price of a Hasch
orch1dl The price Of Hasch freesia 1
4 o. Hasch applebloSsomsl
FOR such people, old Hanny Hasch
haS' benevolent diSdain. Poor crea-
lures. What do they know? or feel?
Hanny HaSch is a little old squat
man, with a Buddha-like front and
no hair but a wide and witty mouth.
Orchids-pahl
! For profit and overhead, old Hanny
]
women about Manhattan. Freesja to
sentimentalists. Roses to more solid
citizenry. Daffodils and lilac to any one
VINO wishes to assist In kicking poor
Old man Winter from the drives of
Central Park or from the benches of
the Battery.
But he trafficks in Easter lilies for
his souls pleasure. To old Hannv. ali
seasons lead to spring.
"I0SteQQ of inst fl0uJarc than Gould
be human, the way they look at you"
ne argued to Virginie Wharton his
girl Friday for three years.
Vrgtnie agreed. They were her fay
orite flower, too.
They had been her favorite for three
years. Ever since that March day when
she looked across the rear delivery and
packing room, overfilled with white |
flowers in pots and sprays, and saw /
Alec GoWan, assistant manager OF the |
Carconne Island Nurseries. 40 miles to |
the east of Fifth avenue.
Alec saw her at the same moment. |
Alec overlooked no new girl In a flor
ISL shop. Or anywhere else, for that
matter.
No girl anywhere overlooked Alec
Gowan, from graduates of SecretariaI
schools to rich old women who special
ized IN rare bulbs. He habitat some
thing.
He was tall. He had black hair blue
eyes, and cleft chin. So have plenty
Of young men over whom women don't
get a bit excited.
Virginie, later, knew that it was his
The cool hardness of the first hint
ed family at hidden tenderness. The
hard strength of the second seemed
10 say, Here Is the security and pro-
lection for which you women hunger
with age-old instinct"
The first time Alec Gowan put his
arms around Virginie-and that was
i've short hours after he saw her ,
he thought dreamily as her slim body
waved to the swing music, "This is
ny home. Where belong always" I
mat day, Alec Gowan had worked /
asst.
1t was a year Of unusually tall and J
'rolific lilies. The demand was heavy. {
depression had promised to lift. A {
lty was optimistic. The Hasch shop
1aS a tornado of satin ribbon, fluted r
'astel paper, white velvet chalices,
cented fountains messenger boys and r
xacting customers. f
Alec had shouted at his delivery
hen: Get that truck load on the 4
1ove," and had made instant way to 2
Id Hannys office on the side bal Z
ony.
voluble with evaporation, old Hanny
ad returned with him. p
See here, Alec Gowan, this amt a :,
eek Tor my employees to go out q
HHanny, Just tell this child that I'm h
othing girl can't fearlessly take "
ONE to show her mother"
"Virginie, you turn him down coldI q
e Is already so conceited it's funny 81
e don't walk on stills" g
But Vrginies gold-hazel eyes had u
scome brilliant. Her blood even then q
I'D begun to race. "
Alec Gowan had reached and wiped e
,llow pollen from her cheek. II
Better wash your face. Tonight you q
I'd are going places" ~
Old Hanny had thrown his arms out W
dtsmay. Then he had shaken a fist Oe
Alec. Then he bad pleaded.
Alec, take another one. She's the hE
st girl ever had" "a
believe you'll You could put some r,
TIED gold paper around her and tie
stomers would buy her" ali
For three hours, Virginie had worked tai
tn fever and speed, rushed home, no
d changed to a lowered red chif-
dress, which matched her lips and
eSSed ner Dlack-Silk eyelaSheS ma
Alec had raced his truck and helpers III,
tx to the Csrconne Island nurseries,
ecked the days lily deliveries, and no
anged from heavy gray sweater, cor for
roys and high boots to Oxford gray ca
It and trousers. hlT
It ESQ he had been back In New do,
TX City, and parking his own car !
front of the shabby old brick apart Def
mt building In the west sixties,
ere the Whartons lived, with a A
mer to help out. The wharton fen
Irtment was four floors rp. Not a she
ut apartment. Five rooms for seven &
upants. Smallish rooms. Gray a '
red Marcia Kerrick, a city en- yea
re, did not mind renting a small nee
n. n
lee had met Virginie's mother, her wit
sisters and two brothers. VirHinie "W
the eldest. She was u, Dennis was maj
quiet and darkeyed, Doris was IS, Y