The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1896-04-09

The work for the coming Easter was
progressing bravely. Lesbia and
Josepha Egerton were deep in illumi-
mated letters, sheets of leaf.gold and
antique devices. White Gala buds
and Bermuds lilies were being coaxed
tenderly into bloom, wreaths of ever.
green were being woven by busy
hands, yet from all the Industrious
group Mr.. Highland missed the face
of Sylphide Egerton more keenly than
he himself would have been willing to
confess.
And when Miss Roberta Hall, nm
elderly maiden whose matrimonial
hopes were not yet entirely bhghted,
groaned over Sylphide's iniquitics, the
young clergyman found himself taking
up the cudgels in her defense With
some emphasis.
'She Is very young, Miss Roberta" Z"
iVbS sold "y"- ~ayNA .giy3 her dime. 8"
And Miss Roberta, whose fault was
assuredly not that of extreme youth,
could only flush up and be silent.
1t was Easter Eve when Mr.. High.
land, after experimenting the decora.
tion of the church with the freshest OF
spring flowers and the brightest of
illuminated banners, came to look for
little Willie Egerton, who had prom.
ised to get him some rhododcndron
leaves and wild laurels from the woods.
"He's out in the barn, guess, like.
ly," said Jones, the hired man.
"Shall | look tor him, parson?"
"No; do not disturb yourself" " said
Mr.. Highland. al will go myself"
He went into the barn, asconded tho
narrow, wooden stairway and entered
the little barn chamber, whose doors
stood wide open.
a curious, quaint apartment it was,
its side hung with drawings, engrav-
ings cut from old magazines, ANA odds
and ends of chint2-the sunset laying
bars of gold across its rude board
floor, while the iicld mice, now grown
to n very respectable size, skurried
under the table and eyed the intruder
with startled gaze.
On the table in the middle of the
room were scattered painting ma
terials, whilo lovely, half.iinished
card displayed device OF passion
flowers, wreathed around n circle of
thorns. Beside it lay brush and a
saucer of brilliant water colors, while
one of Sylphide Egerton's gloves
mad fallen on the floor close to the
chair.
"Mr. Highland, is this the work OF
n gentleman?"
While he was still standing gazing
at the half-unhnished work, q slender
figure had glided in, and Sylphide
stood at his side.
Never had she looked SO entranc.
ingly beautiful; never had her eyes
glittered with such sapphire light, or
her lips worn such a rich scarlet.
"Sylphide," he said, 81 had no idea
that this studio was yours. | came
here to look for Willie. II seems /
have surprised your secret"
"Yes," Sylphide answered, passion.
ately, "you have 1 have toiled here
daily in solitude; | have painted an
Easter card for every child in the
parish; / have embroidered IN altar
cover on white billiard cloth, all by
myself. l have visited the sick, taught
the little ones and tried to help those
who were helpless. And yet--and
yet"
Tears choked her voice; she COW
cred her eyes with her hands.
Mr.. Highland took the little, trem-
bling hands in his with a tender and
reverent clasp.
"Sylphide-dearest Sylphide" he
cried-"try to forgive me, for never
can forgive myself, for thus rashly
and presumptuo"sly daring to Judge
youw
Nothing more was spoken just then I;
but the golden silence was sweeter
than balm. Eye appealed to eye, and
tender tears washed out all traces of
offense.