The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-10
EASTER LILIES.
A ROMANCE OF BERMUDA.
Written for the "Record-Union by


written for the Record Union" by
LEM
The voices of spring fills sea, earth and air;
IN CLINE where all nature is lovely anu
fair.
Where the wind makes a harp of each
hower-filled tree
And the breeze sings its song of love to
the sea.
Lear island. thou bride yelled in sunshine
- and flowers,
Shaping life into music through glad
sunny hours.
The song Of the sea in a sweet, rip
ping monotone-the clear trilling notes
OF bird dropping through the per
TUNED silence of the white Easter lilies
awaiting the suns ardent kisses to I'M
fold their white buds to more perfect
blossoms.
1t was the warm noontide of the
tropical isle of Berpuda. Every lear
and blossom seemed to sleep with the
populace. The blue water shlmmefed
In the sunlight, calm and beautlful'
occasionally a creamy foam-upped RIP
pie broke fretfully over the reef as II
impatient of the sunny quiet
Under the shade of a palm tree near
q guava shrub hedge lay young man.
evidently visitor. and not native
by birth or residence. His dress was
the suit usually worn by the sporting
fraternity of New York. sun ray
caught the facets of a large gem IN
his ring, turning its brilliancy to blood
hues. He yawned lazily as he looked
at his watch, then glanced impatiently
down the palm bordered road. The
condemned niggers are all asleep IN
town, and if the fool wants to come
unobserved why don't she Gomez he
said aloud.
Hardly had he said this when he saw
a figure on the hot shell and sand road
coming toward him, creeping into ev-
cry little shade of vine-covered tree
that bordered a thick guava hedge near
where he lay.
;. The. man sat up, his cruel, beady
eyes glistening like a snake. Come to
time, amt she?" he muttered.
The girl stopped within a few feet
of him. A tall, fair girl, with pink
hued cheeks of the North kissed by the
Southern sun to deepest peach bloom.
Her dress, a light muslin, neat and
plain, did not disguise her pretty, 1.-THE
figure.
Well, what have you got TO say?'
she asked in a scornful tone. Say it
quickly, for I cannot delay
In hurry, eh?" he sneered. We'll,
1t is just this. I came to Bermuda to
hunt you up-to ask you the same old
question, but I never expected to see
you doing the purity act in a Garden
of Eden, raising lilies for the church
Funny, amt it?" And he laughed sar-
castically.
The redder blood flushed to the roots
of her brown hair as she clenched her
hands as if to gain control to speak
quietly.
You might have spared yourself the
trouble and expense" she answered.
1.-THE reply to your question will al
ways be the same-No, no! A thousand
times no. And what can you do?" She
breathed this defiantly.
The man arose and looked at her
With an evil, malicious look in his
small eyes.
Dor" he said Why, I can expose
your past life to these people-your
friends-and 1 fancy not one of them
would want a jail-bird amongst them.
Even niggers have a preference, and
that ruby headed Doc. of yours might
object to a splice with you. Scotch
Presbyterian, Holy Moses, What
combine you and hel'' And he laughed
brutality.
The flush in her face faded, leaving
her as white as her own lilies
You would ruin us?" she asked.
Ruin my poor old father and I just as
we are seeing our way clear to live
Well you know the price" ne replied,
sullenly. You know 1 love you; if you
will take my name or not, just as you
say about that, but come and live with
me as my wife. I can take care of you
and the old man, too
And if 1 refuse?" she Interrupted
hotly.
Il will make it too unpleasant for you
to live here" he said fierceiy.
''Will money tempt you to leave US in
peace?" she asked wearilN
No. l have all l want, thank YOU"