The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1901-04-06

-" O. Guild were dec
Grating the chancel of beautiful ole
st. Stephens. They had banked the
window sils with moss, in which
flowers were imbedded, and they had
woven u 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 q number of palms and other
large leaved plants and massed them
in 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-tidc.
"The world itself keeps Easter day,
trilled Louise Mattison, as she stepped
back TO study the effect of her work
"Thcre, girls" she added, in tone OF
satisfaction, show do you like the
font?"
Lovely" cried an admiring chorus
"Now let us co." said Pauline Jud'
son. 1--WE are all through and we
must hurry home or it will be pitch
dark"
1--WE really should not have stayed
80 late az this" said Antoinette Ward
~ 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?"
"Yes; DR.. Barton telephoned to papa
about II. They can't find n trace OF
him. It's that man who was so pow
crfully affected by your voice, Louise
the day you sang ut the asylum, DO
you remember? The one with such
q dreadfully disfgured face"
"Rcmcmbcr!" cried Louise, with n
shudder; "shall ever forgctP The
creature still hnunts my drcamsv
1--WE IRE In no danger while we have
Louise" said Antolncttc, with some
what forced gnycty. This very man
who has escaped was ravlng, locked
In padded cell, the day we were out
there and the sound Of Louise's voice
In the hall as she sang quoted him so
that they were able TO let him out
She sang again expressly for him, and
you should have seen him, sitting
spcllbound, drinking IN every note
Should we meet him we'll just let
Louise"
"Ihnnk YOU" said Louise. dryly,
hut I have sung my last to lunntics'
Tint one experience will suffice for
the balance OF my life. See here, girls,
do you think these roses will last n
they IRE left In the warm church al
night, or would IL be best TO put them
downstairs?'
"0h, thcyll do oil right up here"
said Pauline, "'rhcrc In no time for
further flushing, Do let's be of, for
It's supper time, and anyway, I'm
afraid to stay In this dark place so
late"
Come along, Louise" said Antoin-
cite, os Che little group passed down
the aisle, you ood Groco both go my
way"
Not tonight, my dear" Louise re-
piled, Sorry TO dIsAppont you, but
told mother when ! left home TINT I'd
spend the night with Aunt Libbie'
DO you know she added MS they
reached The vestibule, "l'm little
worried about those roses. ] believe
III just go back and carry them down
into the basement, Good night girls
she called, ~ she turned bnck into the
church. "Don't whit for me. I'm not
n BIT afraid, and / take the car right
nt this corner. you know"
AZ the other girls wcntdown the
street they were noticed by the sex
ton who wna standing on the OPP
poste corner talking TO q friend.
"rherc," said he, they're gone at
last, ! fixed my fires aud got every
thing ready TO lock up q full hour
ago, und Two been waiting around