Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1915 — A Romance of Flowers [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A Romance of Flowers

But There Was Much In It That Was Practical

By EUNICE BLAKE

Mary Blackmore bad the misfortune to lose her parents when she was sixteen years old and was left with no support. A Mrs. Ashurst, an old friend of her mother, was the only person upon w'hom Mary could rely for advice. This lady had her own peculiar notions. She regretted the necessity for women to earn their own living, assigning as a cause the gradual segregation of the sexes. Reaching down below this, she found a prime cause in the increased expense of providing for a family which threw men Into clubs, where they spent their incomes instead of on homes. This in turn gave rise to women’s clubs, and the separation was complete. Among the poorer classes the result was dependent directly on the high cost of living. Such was the basis of Mrs. Ashurst’s views. Though acknowledging that if men would not support wives women must support themselves, she deprecated the situation. When Mary asked her to help her to get work the good lady let out a storm of reproach upon men for spending their lives frittering away their incomes Instead of choosing various good girls who would be helpmeets to them and enabling them to concentrate the flow of loose change constantly dripping from bachelors’ pockets into family savings banks. “But,” she added, “I admit that there is a risk in any man’s doing so. There’s not a family of my acquaintance that is not spending every dollar of its income, if not more, in trying to keep a position among people who care nothing for them.”

Having thus delivered herself, Mrs. Ashurst concentrated her words on the individual case of the applicant. “I’ve know’n you since you were a child* Mary,” she said, “and I’m sure you would make a good wife for some young fellow’ who is beginning life as you are. At the end of ten years he and you would be better off than either of you would be separate. I won't try to get you a position, for J don’t approve of that plan for you. But I'll

try to find you a husband. Come and make me a visit for an indefinite time, and we will see what can be done.” Mary would have declined this proposition, but she had not a cent in the world, not a roof over her head nor a mouthful of food to put into her stomach. She therefore agreed to the first part of the proposition, trusting that something might turn up for her. She made herself as helpful as possible to her benefactor, but there was not much that she could do. Mary had been with Mrs. Ashurst two months when the lady came to her one morning and gave her a letter to read. It was from a, young man twenty-two years old, who had rented a house with some grounds about it near the v clty of San Francisco with a view to the cultivation of flowers in a small way for the market. He had been well brought up among associates of the better class. Among strangers he found himself looked upon as a sort of huckster and formed no acquaintances among persons such as he had known at home. He needed an assistant —a woman who would relieve him of much of the care of his plants—and it had occurred to him that a wife, if she were the right sort of person, would be more serviceable to him than any one else. Did not Mrs. Ashurst know of some young woman who had been well brought up, but whose necessities compelled her to begin on the lowest rung of the ladder, that would consider an offer? “Now, that's what I call a practical way to begin life,” said Mrs. Ashurst. “I’ve always been devoted to flow-

era,” said Mary, her eyes brightening rather at the work than at the husband. “Just the thing for you. I have written the young man that I have exactly what he wants. But I’m afraid you’ll have to take a leap in the dark. He can’t afford to come across the continent to court a girl and go back again, possibly, without her.” “Ob, dear!” exclaimed Mary, catching her breath. “I would rather select a husband for my daughter than have her select one for herself. I mean by that that the average girl would have a better chance for happiness in her parents’ selection than in her own—that is, if the intrinsic worth of the man is made the chief consideration.” “Do you really think so?” “I do.” “The only romance I see in this matter,” said the poor girl thoughtfully, “is the flowers.” Mrs. Ashurst, who could not repress a smile at this 'rueful remark, gave Mary a kiss. “I have known this young man from boyhood and have always had great faith in him. I can heartily recommend you to him.” “If I go out to him of course I must marry him. But suppose he doesn’t like me?” “Oh, you can’t tell about that till after you have been married for some time. If you find out after awhile that you don’t like each other you can easily get a divorce. Divorces are as common as marriages nowadays, and since the chief consideration in life is keeping up a show of respectability it is a winder there are not more of them.” The lady spoke this contemptuously. “Can’t I see a photograph of him?” “No, my dear. There is a reason why you cannot, which will appear later. Besides, it would do no good. If you find his appearance repulsive to you—which you will not—and conclude not to marry him you’ll be no worse off than you are now. Indeed, you’ll be better off. In a country where your antecedents are not know’n you will not be ashamed to do anything for a living that is necessary. You can be a chambermaid in a hotel, a waitress in a restaurant, a shopgirl, a nurse”— “I’ll be none of these; I’ll marry your friend if he is an ogre.” “Spoken like a brave girl. Then, too,” with a smile, “think of the flowers.” jfl shall have the flowers. That will be delicious, anyway.” “Yes; you will have the flowers. And remember that while a romance will fade forever the flowers continue in endless succession.” And the good lady kissed her again.

It w’as the last day of Mary Blackmore’s journey to San Francisco. During the morning a young man sitting near her offered her a book to read, and later the two fell into conversation. Mary’s meager account of the reasons for her having come to California apparently excited the young man's curiosity so far that he took pains to get the story. Indeed, she longed for some one to tell it to in order that she might get sympathy. “Singular,” he remarked; "my mother has the same views concerning me that this lady has for you.” “And are you willing?” asked Mary. “I am tempted in the matter on account of my situation. I am a stranger in a strange land. I lived in the east, graduated at an eastern college and came to California to seek' my fortune. I live by myself without the city, have no means of making social acquaintances such as I have been accustomed to mingle with and am lonely.” “Would you, if your mother should find a mate for you, marry her without a courtship?” “I think I would prefer at least to meet her before marriage, but those more experienced than I tell me that a courtship is a continued effort on the part of two persons each to make the other believe he or she is perfection, with the advantage on the side of the woman, who is more adept than the man in appearing at her best.” Mary remained thoughtful after this. She felt that if her proposed mate was not repulsive to her at their first meeting she would suffer herself to be guided by Mrs. Ashurst’s view’s, marry him and hope for the best. “We have,” said the young man when the train w’as but a few miles from the terminal, “but a short time for an explanation that 1 have to make to you. Read that.” He handed her a letter addressed to her in the well known writing of Mrs. Ashurst. It read: This will be handed you by my son, Hejiry, whom you are going to meet. What is for your good is also for his. May you be happy together. Mary looked up from the letter to the face of Harry Ashurst, which beamed with satisfaction. Neither spoke for a few moments. Harry bent down and kissed his betrothed. The first words w r ere spoken by Mary: “Such a dear, good mother must have a dear, good son." Henry Ashurst, graduate of the Agricultural college, aided by the knowledge gained there of cultivating plants and his wdfe's love for flowers, did not remain long in the business of a general flower supply. With capital acquired in that way he established a rose house and every year adds a new glass conservatory to those he already has. His roses go in large quantities to the city, where they are sold at a good profit. But young Mrs. Ashurst instead of taking up society has taken up a specialty. She interests herself in procuring homes for young girls. When they ask her if there was no romance In her marriage she says thoughtfully: “Well, there were the flow’ers; we have the romance now.”

“SUCH A DEAR, GOOD MOTHER MUST HAVE A DEAR, GOOD SON.”