Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-03-21

1 a6at. VIII n sllklu1
heart, when at last he went away, aftel
having fingered as long as poiiteness
would admit,
II suppose he never asked for me- "
Madeline said to herself as. from her
window, she saw his retreating figure
saunter slowly down the street.
"WeH, it matters less than ever now
about the Easter suit.
Nobody will know whether I have
one or not
But when Easter Eve came. and Mad
cline was crying softly in her own room,
20 think OF the radiant spring sunset
that was flooding all the world at home,
Inc waiter came grinning up to the
door.
Please, Miss Maddy," he said,
"hyar's basket o. o'laylocks.
"Real springy-smellin', do declared
"Wid de cappen's card - Cappen
Brabazan, missr'
Madeline uttered an exclamation of
delight.
Oh, the lovely purple thingsl Clusters
of lilac fragrance.
Delicious reminders of the springtide
at home
Oh, how kind it was of Captain Brab-
azan to remember that she was a coun-
try girl, exiled here among brick walls.
Madame Cressondeis young women
sat up until twelve clock that night,
to finish the three elegant costumes
which Mrs. ClairvllIe and her daughters
ordered.
The three bonnets did not come home
until Sunday morning.
But Madeline watched them sail forth
to church, to the glitter of golden sun
beams and the changing of melodious
bells, like three fashlon-plates.
And then she put on her plain little
'nade-ever dress" and. taking fresh
cluster of ilacs from the vase of water,
pinned it across the split-straw hat.
"There, she thought as she tied the
strings under her chin, mo Paris exotic
ever looked half so sweet as thatl
''And L am sure Heaven VIII incline |
its ear no less favorably to my prayers
than if went to st. EtheIdreda's in |
Worth's newest design"
And she crept to the little church in |
the adjoining street, which had long been
put of fashion. and where the spectacled |
Did clergyman practiced all the austeri-
hes of the early fathers, through dire
necessity.
Easter Sunday
She sal there, listening TO the anthems,
md thinking of the dear ones at home,
md wondering if cousin Zephaniah and
MS poor old wife would ever know that
'he. Madeline Moray, had cast her mite
% relieve their sore necessities, and
'ecalling vaguely the poor widow whose
,ffering had once been 50 precious in the
loiiest of eyes.
Hers was not much now, but she also
lad given it from free and willing
leart.
AS she moved quietly, and with re-
'erent, downcast eyes, out Of the church,
ONE one stepped to her side.
"You have dropped something, Miss
Moray" said Captain Brsbaxan.
And he held up the cluster of lilacs,
lrooping now, and little faded.
She put her hand up to her bonnet
With a scarlet blush.
"Your llIacs, Captain Brabszan. she
aid.
HIS face frightened.
81 am proud that you deemed them
worthy of your wearing.
"Yonr cousin tod me that you was
uch an anchorite that you did not care
or flowers, or books, or society-that
-ou were not even going to church on
Easter Sunday"
'I?" cried Madeline.
"Oh, Captain Brabazln, 1 ike all
hree!
81 cried over your flowers when they
anne last night.
.'They seemed to me ike dear friends
rom home.
.sAnd l wore them in my bonnet be-
ause-because I could not afford arti-
cal blossoms.
"Therel now you know just how poor
am."
AID she laughed, even while the
oseate tinge suffHsed her cheek.
Il do not know whether you are poor
+ not" said he; "but do know that l
mink you the nearest to perfection OF
ny girl whom 1 ever saw"
s.May tell you all about it?" she
skel hurriedly, "for 1 do not want you |;
o think me avaricious or semi barbarian,
S nv cousins sometimes pronounce me.
md then you shall tell me whether you
hink am right or wrong. .
They walked slowly home from church !,
n the soft, bland sunlight of that Easter :
)ay, and when they reached the brown ,
tone mansion IN Silvcrston street, Gap
ain Brabazan went in and formally
sked Mrs. Clairville's permission to +.
ddress her NIECE with view to mar
iage. |,
That was Madeline Moray's Easter
lift. h
A MACS true and loyal heart-the
lawn of a great happiness. over life
yb,ch up to this hour had been but
hlll aud solitary.
There was no denying that Mrs. Clair
lille was much disappointed.
Emily and Alicia had been In society
bree seasons now, without having re-
,eiyed any eligible offer; and it did
eem strange that this pale. quiet little
,irl from the back-woods. as Mrs Clalr
nile contemptuousIy expressedit, should
,ova carried off such giItterlnR prize