Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1901-04-05
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O1 GullQ were Qec-
Grating the chancel of beautiful old
st. Stephens. They had banked the
window stills with moss, in which
flowers were imbedded, and they had
woven leafy screen, which they had
raised above the altar, and in which
sprays of blossoms were so placed as
to form that most sacred emblem, the
cross. Meanwhile the florist had
brought a number of palms and other
large leaved plants and massed them
in a wall of green on either side. Now
while twilight fell the girls were ar
ranging the cut flowers, Pot-plants
and long wreaths of smilax which
were to make pulpit desk and font
alike proclaim the gladness Of the
Easter-tide.
"The world itself keeps Easter day.
trilled Louise Mattison, as she stepped
back to study the effect of her work.
There, girls she added, in tone of
satisfaction, show do you like the
.font?"
"LoveK!" cried an admiring chorus.
snow let us CO." said Pauline Jud-
son. eve are all through and we
must hurry home or it will be pitch
dark"
"We really should not have stayed
30 late as this said Antoinette Ward.
al shall be frightened to death to go
home. Did you know that one of the
patients escaped from the asylum to-
day?"
''Mercy, Antoinette! why didn't you
tell us before? Are you sure it's
true?"
eyes; DR.. Barton telephoned to papa
about it. They can't find trace of
him. It's that man who was so pow
crfully affected by your voice, Louise,
the day you sang at the asylum. Do
you remember? The one with such
a dreadfully disfgured face"
"Remember!" cried Louise, with a
shudder; "shall ever forget? The
creature still haunts my dreams!"
eve are in no danger while we have
Louise" said Antoinette, with a some
what forced gayety. ''This very man
who has escaped was raving, locked
I'm a padded cell, the day we were out
there, and the sound of Louise's voice
in the hall as she sang quieted him SO
that they were able to let him out
She sang again expressly for him, and
you should have seen him, sitting
spellbound, drinking in every note
/. Should we meet him we'n just let
Louise"
"Thank you," said Louise. dryly
~but have sung my last to 1unatics
That one experience will suffice fo1
the balance of my life. See here, girls
do you think these roses will last il
they are left in the warm church al
s<vhf Ho - =
downstairs?"
ooh, they'll do all right up here, ,
said Pauline. ''There is no time fol-
further fussing. Do let's be off, fo1
it's supper time, and, anyway, Tn
afraid to stay in this dark place sc
late"
"Come along, Louise" said Anton.
cite, as the little group passed down
the aisle: you and Grace both go my
way"
Not tonight, my DEAR" Louise re-
piled. Sorry to disappoint you, but
! told mother when left home that I'd
spend the night with Aunt Libbie
Do you know she added, as they
reached the vestibule, "1'm little
worried about those roses. 1 believe
I'll just go back and carry them down
into the basement. Good night. girls,
she called, as she turned back into the
church. "Don't wait for me. I'm no,
q bit afraid, and take the car right
at this corner, you know"
AS the other girls went down the
street they were noticed by the sex
ten, who was standing on the op.
posite corner talking TO q friend.
There" said he, s'tAey're gone al
last. fixed my fires and got every
thing ready to lock up a full hour
ago, and I've been waiting around