Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-04-09
AN EASTER MISSION.
BY J. +. Henderson.

IL was the night DeIOfe Ed5LeI. ~
,evy of young and mddle-aged women,
few OF them accompanied by male
escorts, were busying themselves about
he altar of st. Marks church, trans
'orming that portion of the sanctuary
into garden OF flowers, palms and
growing plants. Sid Vehner the pop
ular young lawyer of Stillville stool
in the shadows apart from the group,
nervously pulling his mnstache and
looking somewhat out OF sorts. He
started and Strengthened up as man
and a woman entered the church and
came down one of the dimly-lightcd
aisles. The lady-a tall beautiful girl
with reedlke grace Of movement
was In advance As she passed close
so Sid she recognized him and stopped
oh, Mr. Venner isn't 1t shame?'
she broke out, In charmingly impul-
sive way. "The Easter lilies ordered
from the city did not come am 30
disappointed, and mortified too, for all
the other ladies have furnished some
thing for the church decorations. and |
promised the lilies you know, and now
can do nothing Mt nil. Mr.. Macgregor
has been searching the town for
flowers, but can find none. Dear! doa.!
II ono of you gentlemen could got some
Easter lilies somehow somewhere-l
would-well, I'd be eternally CRATE
full This half laughing, half de-
spairing outburst was addressed both
TO Sid and her stylishly dressed escort,
who had stopped just behind her, but
was especially directed to him. Ills
heart was humping like u trip-ham-
mer, but he spoke quite calmly:
Il shall be glad to win oven your
gratitude, Miss Lloyd. | will get tho
lilies for you"
"Oh, will you truly? Can you?"
II can and will"
you need not trouble yourself sir"
spoke up tho other man, In voice M
cold and cutting as steel. "lf Miss
Lloyd wants Easter lilies | VIII get
them for her- provided they are to be
had"
The Significance OF tho tone and
words was not to be mistaken. There
was a moment of profound silence;
then lSid Venner, with admirable solf-
control, said:
Il have given you my word, Miss
Lloyd. My offer has no proviso at
tached to It," He smiled audaciously
In tho flushed. scowling face of Bruce
Macgregor; then bowed easily to Helen
Lloyd, ma he added "rhe lilies will
be here In good season, | promise you.
But to fuldll my mission, must be Off
at once. Good night" He strobe
down the aisle to the church door, and
was gone.
Just ms the town clock struck uino
Sid Nenncr seated I'm il piano-bo
buggy behind quick stepping horse,
went spinning out of Stillvillc along
the road leading eastward. Fifteen
miles TO Princeton he musod with a
grim smile. "A drive Of 80 miles he
fore sleep, But happen to know
Squire Wymple has II lot of Easter
lilies on his place, and | must have
them at all hazards. wonder II Bruce
Macgregor will dare TO follow me.
saw him Watching mo as | drove out OF
the stable"
Sid, II need scarcely be said, was
over head and ears in love with Helen
Lloyd. His suit had seemed 10 pro
gress ravorably enough unti Bruc,
MacEregor appeared on the scene
Then there was II change. Macgregol
was the city cousin OF Alice Hartley
and Alice was the particular friend o
Helen Lloyd, 80 It was but natura
that the young man and Helen SHOULD
be thrown much together. In fact, II
all but monopoli2ed that young lady
society. During the entire period o
Lent most propitious season 10
coy tete-a-tetos he had been Alice
guest and Hclen's devoted slave. ST
had stcrnly held himself under con
troll as he watched his own chance 0
happiness slip away from him, II
was stunned. crushed. Inundated, an
in the bitterness Of the disappoint
ment could not understand that he WA
really to blame for the GOODNESS thu
gradually came between him and tn
girl. He had no doubt that Macgrego