The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1886-06-23
for Easter" said she. '1t's all non

1lbbie did not answer.
Had Isabeps lilies bloomed and hers
Jailed, she told herself, she should not
nave withheld sympathy and congratu-
lation from her more fortunate rival
That new bonnet-the first new bon
net which Tibbie had ever bought out
and out from a milliner in New York
what marvel of richness and freshness
and beauty it was!
How had she ever been satisfied with
the commonplace creations of her own
fingers, made out of sponged silk, dyed
ribbons, and flowers which were so ut
terly unflower-like2 These were the
merest apologies; this was bonnetl
Tibbie could not help feeling pleas
antly conscious of it as she passed up the
church aisle that morning, wondering if
1t became her-secretly glad to think
that Harold Vanneker would be there to
see her wear it.
But as she settled herself into her own
cosy little corner of the church-pew, she
chanced to glance up, and to her surprise
there was the painted majolica pot and
the rich, arrow-shaped leaves seeming to
overflow its brim with greenery on either
side; but not solitary lily was to be
seen.
Was she dreaming2 Where were the
five royal scrolls of whiteness which had
lifted up their imperial heads when she
carried in the pot last night2
Roses blossomed on the altar; bou-
quets of white carnations flung spicy
sweetness on the air; slender ropes of
smilax were festooned along the rails,
with here and there knot of violets
fastened in; vase of cut callas stood
on the reading-desk. Out of all the
Easter lilies that Tibbie had watched
grow and expand to their pearly perfec-
tion, not one remained.
She thought the time never would
come when she could see her uncle come
down the steps, with his sermon-case
under his arm, and his old-fashioned
soft hat pulled over his brow.
In the breezy church-yard the willow
boughs swayed to and fro, the short grass
was starred with dandelions, and the
bland spring sunshine folded everything
in veil of gold; but cloud seemed to
descend over all these things when Tib-
bic caught the grave, reproachful look on
her uncle's face.
Harold Vanneker stood beside Mr..
Kress; he lifted his hat to Tibbie; but
the girl scarcely noticed his presence.
"Uncle, you are vexed with mew she
cried. "What is it? Is it the bonnet2
Did you think it was too gayl And oh,
uncle, what became of the lilies2"
Uncle Kress looked gravely at her.
81 scarcely expected such tricky
thing of you, Elizabeth said he. eff
you had wanted the ten dollars so badly,
why didn't you tell me, and would have
given it to you, out and out? But deceit
even practical ioking-God's altar is
not the place for thatr'
Tibbie had grown very pale.
"uncle, she gasped, 81 don't under
stand your
owe will not discuss it further" said
Mr.. Kress, waving his hand. ''You will
find your lilies lying out there under the
southern caves. Take them and go!'
Tibbie was turning vaguely in the di-
rection to which her uncle pointed, but
Mr.. Vanneker was before her. STOPPING
down, he gathered up handful of coarse
paper scrolls with gaudily- painted yell
low pistils in their centers.
paper lilies! gasped Tibbie-'' ''arti-
fetal ones! But don't understand this |!
What does it all mean3 Where are my
liliesln
"These are the lilies that I found
fastened rudely in among your green
leaves this morning." said Mr.. Kress,
coldly. ''It was a poor jest to play, a
deception which was self-evident in it.
self Not like you, Elizabeth-no, not
like you"
Tibbie looked from her uncle to Mr..
Vanneker without word. For the mo-
ment it seemed as if speech were frozen
upon her lips but all at once she broke
into piteous cry.
"Who has been tampering with my
lilies" she wailed-'"my white, beauti-
full lilies?"
n think have q clew to this puzzle, {"
said Mr. Vanneker, calmly. 81 was in
the back of Durivage's bookstore, yester-
day looking at an old black-letter edition
of Chaucer, that he had laid aside for
me, when a lady came into the front de-
partment and asked the price of some
paper lilies that lay on the counter. In
stinctively looked up, for they were the
very things l had laughed at, asking
Durivage jeeringly if he supposed that
any one would be insane enough 10 pur-
chase such monstrosities as that; and he
had replied that there was more imita-
tion in that sort of thing than / had any
idea OF. To my astonishment the lady
was Miss Isabel Kress, and she bought
the lilies and went ont. We came down
from New York in the same train but I
was prevented from going and speaking
to her bya man who button-holed me on
business matters, and do not think she
knew of my being near. When l Istrolled
past the church last night, l saw Isabel
Kress herself going in. I stopped and
asked the old sexton if the church was
open.
'Noa, not rcg'lar open, he an
swered; but there a young lady a-put-
tin flowers in
"Naturally 1 thought of Tibbie, here,
ana went in But it was not Tibbie
+ II