The bee., 1901-03-28

lou Clll mISLdhc lJr. buluS y house,
just beyond the church"
"And what shall say TO him when
get thereT he asked, laughing.
"Here's one Herbert Parker, a soaked
tramp, whom you are to take in and
warm and clothe? No, thank you. I'm
not much the worse for my ducling,
and by the time you have got that kid
all right shall be, too, and then, IL
you won't think such n move too bare
faced. I'll walk back with you. You
don't know me from Adam, and new
er laid eyes on you till today, but
you've made the turn heads instead of
tails, although you don't know that ell
ther." And he stopped over the child
to stroke her wet hair.
did the lilies get wet?' she asked
him.
what lilies. you squeezed up bit OF
humanity?'
"Tbe lilies Miss Burd was a-bringin
me. That's why she came. She alters
does on Easter. and loves her dearly"
Good sense. what lilies does she
mean?"
81 must have dropped them by the
pit ! quite forgot them"
I'm hunt them up" said the accom-
modating man as he went out, only to
return moment later with some rath-
er bedraggled lilies.
''IIere they are" said he, somewhat
the worse for wear. but a souse will
set them right, l guess" He dipped
them into a pail of water, then, shak-
ing of the clinging drops, handed them
to the child. "Keep them, and they'll
make you think Of her,"
Noting the surprised expression on
Mary Burd's face. he said to her:
do you think you have met a mad
man? You have not. l never was
saner in my life. for I've learned today
what little bits of dirt we ali are and
how breath can alter our whole lives.
Ten days ago l started out on my
wheel. l didn't know where was 60
ing. In fact, didn't care much. One
place was rs good as another. The
Union station hove in view. l went in
and took the first train that left. 1t
happened to bring me here, and here
I've staid till today. Thought I'd ride
out and see the country. it's so pretty.
Came along through the village; saw
the church; heard you singing; went in
TO see what you looked like; after the
service followed you here. There.
you've got the whole history. and now
you may think what you like, but just
as sure as happened along in time TO
save this kids life just so sure has
your singing helped me 10 wake up.
Now shake hands or not. just as you
choose"
AS the man spoke Mary Burd had ris-
en- TO her feet, her color coming and
going and her eyes shining like stars.
Probably no woman had ever before
been spoken to In just that way, but
Mary Burd, although only 20 years old,
was no ordinary woman. Feeling in
stinctively how great u crisis In the
life of human being she had come up
on, all that was noblest in her charac.
ter instantly responded TO the call
made upon her.
Surely she was not far from the an
gelic being he had named her when.
holding out TO him a small white hand.
she said In a voice which would trem.
BILE:
mo, ] do not know you, nor do you
know me, We are utter strangers, yet
the One whose resurrection we have
sung today would not have hesitated
to put forth helping hand where It
was needed. If ! have been his un-
worthy instrument. am glad indeed,
and this Easter day will be a memora-
bic one"
He held the pretty hand while she
was speaking and when she had finish
ed bent one knee and reverently kissed
the trembling fingers; then. drawing
himself TO his full height, he stood
waiting for what might follow.
Nelly had been looking at them with |
her big eyes, and now, as though a
higher power dictated, she said: !
"Please sing. Miss Mary"
Seating herself beside the chllds bed.
she bega:. 20 sing Death and life"