The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-02
EASTER LILIES.
By julius Penstock.)

WIFI Hall d sign, as SQe examined nST SOWH
and her bonnet-the latter really
gorgeous CONNECTION of lace, and beads, and
noddlng blossoms, such as should have
made any maiden happy; and somehow L
am more than half sorry for it. Ever since
my quarrel with Jack l have felt in decid-
edly Lenten humor. Sackcloth and ashes
seem to me more appropriate now than all
this finery. Hegho! I wonder if there is
any such thing as happiness in this world?"
Just then Cicely entered.
'Wha dat you say, Mis- Margie? she
queried.
Il was merely indulging in a soliloquy,
Cicely,' she replied, in the light way she
often had of talking to her colored maid.
why, wha' dat, Mis- Margery?" queried
Cicely, opening her big eyes wider.
WELL replied Miss Joyce, in vein which
she meant to be humorous rather than con-
hdential, Il was asking myself whether
there was any happiness in this world for
young woman whose lover has run away and
deserted her.
well. now, honey" said Cicely, with sud-
den interest inspired in heart affair about
which she was by 10 means ignorant, you
JUS listen to me. If 1 had dat new bonnet,
with all dose blossoms and fixins on it, an
dat new gown, an dose satin shoes, he! you
spose l care for any one man? Now, amt
sayin' gainst Masr Jack. He de finest gen.
TENN in all de country, JUS b'leve; but
all de same, if he done go an away
from de fines lady in all de landau every
body say dat-wha' you go worryin' for?
Amt dar lots O. other gentlemn? Oars
Mas'r Henry of de Oaks who's JUS dyin' to
make up to you; an you know he's de rich
est in de county, even if he amt so per-
lite and scrumptious as Masr Jack, and
hain't GOT
There, there, Cicely," interrupted Mar
garet, 1T is of no use Nature did not cut
you out for hypocrite, and you a des
perate partisan of Jack Bergman all the
while. l see right through YOU
Nov, now, honey eXpostulated Cicely,
don you tink dat Oar amt no man good
and run away pou JUS drop him and take
up with somebody else.
alas, Cicely," said Margaret, with burst
of undersigned confidence so Sorely did her
heart ache for sympathy, ''the truth is Jack
did not away. 1 sent him away. You
see, it was after that Hastings reception,
where he drank too much wine and he
showed it only too plainly while escorting
me home. / indignant beyond measure,
and, although he sought to apologize, would
not hear him. but dismissed him as soon as
I reached the house, returning my engage
ment ring. But 1 did not think he would
leave the country without even another word
or without trying to find out whether
would relent not
ooh. oh, OATS it,! murmured Cicely, her
eyes rolling up until little but the whites
were visible. well, Mas'r Jack arays was
dat high strung and fraxious you couldn't
calculate upon him. But don't you worry,
Mis- Margery / wouldn't let no man in de
worr know cared huff about him to spoil
dose prett yeyeS with tears-no indeed. You
JUS hoP your head high an wait. 1 spec
he'll be glad huff to come around before
long"
But Margaret Joyce needed advice, al
though her heart had ached for the sympa-
thy even of her humble servitor. Ccely's
words, however, struck fire. Margaret had
all the pride of Southern womanhood and,
conscious that she had acted in just defense
of her own dignity, she came to a sudden
solve that she would take decisive stand to
prove her independence of Jack Bergman.
Send George to the conservatory at once,
Cicely,' she said. II wish to see him there"
'Yesm, replied Cicely, not little sur
her mistress manner.
The Rev. Mr.. Jacques was rector of the
wants of the neighborhood. He was not
much beyond 3d. still bachelor, and in
his subdued way had long been an admirer
Of Margaret Joyce and had been at least sue
cessful enough to win her thorough respect.
She was active in the church and Sunday
ways relied upon for more than a share of
the Easter decorations that turned the old
fashioned charcel into a bower of bloom.
Margaret found George, one of the colored
domestcs, waiting in the conservatory when
she reached it.
She speedily gave directions as to which
flowers were to be takn to the church, and
then. with her own fair hands, she cut a
borqret of Easter lilies lilies of the valley,
ferns and rare grasses, and carefully ar
ranged it, tied it, and attached her card to it.
The pots will be delivered at at the
church, George" she said. THE sexton will
be waiting for them. The bouquet you will
scr. Do you understand"
'Oh, yes, Mis- Margery; 1 understand"
There appeared need for further direc-
tons, as George was one of those servants