Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-04-04
AN EASTER BOW.

Phyllis is a most peculiar young
person--aB peculiar AZ she is charm
Ing and dellghtful--and II triilc oh
stlnate as well When che says a
thing she really means II, does
phyllIs--untll she means something
else. The length Of life attained by
her meanings Is variable. Some
times she means thing 80 long she
gets thoroughly tired OF II herself and
declares she never meant IL at all;
at other times she holds on only long
enough TO make the people who love
her believe she's going to think that
way forever, and then she promptly
gives 1t up Once in long while she
really does mean n thing and keeps
on meaning II until It's too late to
make any difference either way.
SO when she said | couldn't attend
her to church Easter morning because
she had arranged for another escort
wasn't sure what TO think. 1t was
hard on me to deny me the Easter
morning privilege, for ! had worked
hard with Phyllis and in behalf Of her
Lentcn proteges during six long,
weary, almost intermlnabIo weeks,
I'm not fond of Summing and charity
work naturally, and don't altogether
yolish seeing Phyllis present tho
lovely roses at 80 II dozen, the beauti-
full violots and the expensive sweets
have purchased for her to her
younger brothers and sisters or the
pnrlor maid because they're not
keeping Lent" The Lontcn period
had been d period of real deprivation
and abstinence to me--abstlnence
from many pleasant things. But n
single evening did | spend alone with
Phyllis 80 long IA the penitontial
season lasted and not a single kiss
was ! allowed from Ash Wednesday
until castor even. Three evening ana
two afternoon services weekly she
had insisted upon my attending. in her
company, and the good young curate
who olliciated at these services was
as dun and unmteroating as he was
sanity. Now upon Easter Saturday
evening | was informed Phyllis woulu
go TO church under other escort to.
morrow morning!
What | should have done waa to
have declared, taking the high hand
with vengeance, that no matter who
else went with her | would go too
that | had earned this Indulgence and
meant To have It. And this was the
course my naturally quick temper
strongly urged me to take, On the
be- naughty with Phyllis. Sometimes
she melta down adorably when take
II upon myself to sCold her out of her
whims and tantrums instead of weak
~ yielding to them az does every
other person OF her acquaintance,
but then again, sometimes, she
doesn't, remember reading nm inn
pressiyc magazine article about the
attitude man should maintain when
dealing with woman, and aftorwarl
trying some OF tho wellsounding,
reasonable theories upon Phyllis.
But one dosent need to be n Kipling
enthusiast to know that's another
story II wasn't pleasant one, al
together, nor did II end in success or
victory for me.
To come back TO this particular
story, | endeavorod to temporize with
Phyllis, | reflected that all her
Lenten work abstinence and self.
denial undoubtedly had told on her
spirits and. perhaps, n very little,
and by reflex action, upon her temper.
| was willing to coax her back into
happiness II | might Phyllis really
IL darling when she's just beginning
To grow good again. II II wasn't for
the preceding unpleasantness and
subsequent sacrifices which such an
adorable state of mind always en-
tails upon me. | might be seriously
tempted to wish that Phyllis always
were getting over nc of nervous,
ness when am with her. But saw
almost as soon rs had spoken that |
had taken. the wrong track upon this
particular occasion
Why can't go with you, dearie >"
asked taking her unwilling hand in
my own and pressing kiss upon It.
why may not Worship with you
Easter Sunday after having done so
ell Lent?"
Don't be hynocritigal snapped
Phyllis, drawing the little hand away.
Sometimes she likes the style Of
remark | had hazar,d and then again,