The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-19
The Cross of Lilies.

you oed1 dL my 1eeL SudA -, iotA1t
some day And so she went our OF
his life.
He was an old Puritan-grim. ascetic,
dead 10 all pleasure and amusement
There were but three things 10 him; MS
Bible, his sword, and his daughter. He
had laid aside his sword, for he was grow
ing old; but the book was always by him,
and he loved TO interpret II IN ms own
harsh fashion. And then his daughter
but she had gone.
She was young and beautiful painting
for all that makes life sweet and CRATE
ful-for love, for triumph, for the applause
OF thousands. She had resolved 10 De an
actress and to have them all. She was
stit1ed in that ugly, square house IN Scot
land. The dull, unending moors over
whelmed her. The cold gray stones Of her
home crushed out all her life. She longed
for the glare and glitter OF some great
city. So one day she disappeared. and
James Gordon was left alone with his
Bible.
He uttered no reproach. but his grim
mouth seemed to close more firmly While
the lines grew deeper on his rugged face
The neighbors were disappointed at his
apathy. Then mentioned his daughters
name to him in the hope of arousing some
emotion Of torrent of abuse. But ne
merely half rose from his chair and look
ed at them. They were silent and left
him. So a year passed away. and he be-
gan to grow weary of sky and moor. He
sat all day in his oaken chair with his
hand on the Bible.
Ruth Gordon's name was on everyone's
lips in London Her beauty had brought
her all she had ever dreamed more than
she could ever have hoped. 1t was the
last night of the burlesque wherein she
made herself famous. The house was
crowded and she excelled herself in ev-
cry song and dance. At the close of the
piece the stage was covered with bou-
quets from admirers-from men she knew
and men who wished TO be known to
her. She stood amid a bank of flowers
and bowed TO the thunders Of applause.
She was a queen, for that night, az
least
Then, when the curtain had gone down
for the last time she picked up one or
two Of the offerings and went off 10 the
dressing-room. One she held in her hand
had attracted her by its uncommon shape
and condition. II was a half-faded cross
Of white lilies. She threw It contemptu-
ously on her table and pressed the other
the gift of a young Earl-to her lips.
who dared send me that shabby
thing?" she said to her dresser, and then
picked 1t up, from sheer curiosity TO see
the name of the man who had ventured
to offer 1t. She dropped il and uttered a
cry of surprise and pleasure, then picked
it up again and kissed it passionately The
label read:
ITO My Daughter: Come home am
angry no more" Truly 1t was the hap
piest day of her life-a triumph and recon-
Citation.
She left for Scotland that night How
slowly the train crawled on through the
darkness! She could not sleep and she
cd he Iinb al 49,
until the dawn. Then the tram dashed
through the misty wilds of Cumberland
Fast streams and heather and moors. and
al last she was in her own land, flying
through the Scots Lowlands, laundering
across the great Forth bridge, and its RI
val that spans the broad waters of the
Tay. She drew near her home and the
scenery became more familiar; every spot
she passed was bright with memories of
childhood. The train slowed down and
stopped. She got out, left her luggage at
the station, and walked towards her
home.
In ten minutes she had reached the
house. It looked more cold and gray than
ever after the brilliance of London. She
hammered at the door, waited for min
ute or two. and then struck it again. Pres
emily faint shutting footsteps sounded in
the hall, the door opened slowly, and
JEANNE, the old servant, confronted her.
She threw herself on the old womans
neck and kissed her withered cheeks.
MY father" she cried. "Is he well? o.
I'm so happy, JEANNE And she tried to
pass her, but the old woman stood in the
way, the tears rolling down her face
The girl shivered in her rich sab!es and
stepped back.
JEANNE, JEANNE. what is It? Let me
by" she cried, and, pushing her aside.
she rushed into the dark dining-rOom
where her father was wont 10 sit The
oaken chair was empty, but the Bible lay
on the table-open a the Book CT Ruth.
One passage was marked with a blue
pencil. 1t was the verse beginning: En-
treat me not to leave thee" The blue
pencil had dropped to the floor.
JEANNE had followed her into the room
with lettering steps
Where is my father, JEANNE? Does
he not expect me?"
Come ava; he is not here"
mot here?"
Gle is not here. tell ye." shrieked the
old woman. Come AVA" and. clutching
hold of the girl she tried to drag her
from the room
Ruth shook off her feeble hold and turn
ed upon her like tigress.
Where is he? What have you done to
hlm?" she cried.
Inc old woman mOaned to herself, then
crawled TO the window. There was a
distant view of the kirkyard on the side
of the purple hill. The setting sun fell
on the white stones and they glittered
Ike stars. She pointed her skinny finger
in silence and then crOaked:
''Yonder. yonder, yonder!'
The girl looked out. straining her ewes
to see the beloved form. When the white
stones flashed on her sight the awful
truth began to dawn on her.
''Yonder," she muttered, almost uncon-
sciOusly. Then she broke into a wild
laugh, and flung herself into a chair. She
read the marked passage and laughed
again, still more wildly.
so I killed him. JEANNE; I killed him.
and he-how much did he pay you. Jean
LIE. to do this thing? AL his wealth. I.
was not too much for deed like this"
stay. missile, stay" she whlned. pu.-
ting her fingers 10 her ears 10 shut out
the terrible voice. ''Ye shall have II a.
] am aud. ard the money! couldna' help
it."
Keep Il: It's accursed I would not
touch it II were starving. But the cross,
woman, the cross. the cross of lilies -
1T was his orders" she whimpered. 1T
was-O the puir BARN, the puir BARN
1T was what?" the girl said hoarsely.
rising from the chair and gripping the
old woman BY the arm. SPEAK. you old
bag, speak
1T was from his grave."-Black and
White.
Concerning OdOrs, It Ia said
That a teaspoonrul OF vinegar boiling