The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-04-14

nt once. ono COulu mako ner VlO-
lot SUIT door else the despised pearl
colored silk, perhaps. And, after all,
there was scarcely time for tho proper
making up of nn Easter costume; and
Sharko q Scabury were advertising
some very cheap roady-made suits
from Paris. But tho lilies she must
havei
"Wo are very old friends, Miss
Perry and J." said Marien, turning
with hard, polished smile to the old
woman. "And I'm quite sure that if
sho knew had taken fancy to her
lilies she would bo glad to give them
to me. am Miss Plantagenct, ono of
Mrs, Seamwell's best customers, you
know, and q word from me would dis.
miss any OF her workmen. Here is n
dollar. OF course tho flowers aren't
worth that, but have horror of any
meanness. And now if you'll get me
n piece of papor to wrap them in, I'll
cut the lilies ut once"
SO, nolens volens, Miss Plnntagenet
carried off poor Eunice's white.soulod
dnrlings in n piece of tissue.paper,
leaving her crumbled dollar bill on the
window.sill.
"a capital mornings work." said
Marien to herself.
On Saturday morning the exquisite
bunch of lilies arrived for the font,
with n card on which was scribblcd
the prettiest of messages for the rec
tor.
He looked at them with admiration.
81 never saw lovolier lilies in my
life," he said. And then, with not
unnatural sequence OF ideas, he added
to himself, I wonder why Eunice
Perry has not sent the flowers that
she promised?"
Eunice came into her prayers that
Easter Eve, pale and silent, with eye.
lids just flushed, as if she had been Sc
cretly crying, but she brought no
flowers.
The rector perceived in an instant
that something was wrong.
She was stealing quietly away, when
he came out from the robing.room
door and intercepted her.
"Eunice," said he, gently, separating
himself from the crowd of young girls
who came thither to help arrange the
chancel, font and rails with leaf and
blossom for the morrow's joyful fes.
tivity, "don't go. l want to speak to
you."
"About the fowers?" said Eunice,
lifting her soft. shy eyes to his. ooh,
Mr.. Elwood, I an so sorryl But
they were taken away"
"Taken away?" he repeated, with
surprise.
EYES," said Eunice. "Miss Plan.
tagenet came to our house, while /
was gone, rnd carried them away,
without leave or permission. She left
a dollar for them. No money would
have bought them of me, after watch
ing the earliest buds swell into
bloom"
"Miss Plantagenet," he repeated.
slowly, as if in thought. "Are these
flowers yours, Eunice?"
He took tine stately cross of Gala.
lilies from the centre of the white
marble font.
Eunice Perry clasped her hands.
"Yes," she said; ''they are mine. I
should know them anywhere.
az thought so," said Mr.. Elwood,
drily. '.She sent them here this
morning. 1t is tho old story of the
rich man and the little ewe.lamb over
again, Eunice. But do rot weep; tho
sweetest lily that ever bloomed is not
worth your tears"
He walked home with her part of
the way, and when they paused on the
street corner nearest her home, he
took the little cold hand in his.
"Eunice," he said, ~ wish could
comfort you."
"You have comforted me-" she ut
tered.
"If could mako your life easier |"
he exclaimed, earnestly. "Eunice, do
you think that l could? Sweet one,
will you let me try? Will you be my
wiie?"
SO he woced his wife, andso he won