The Jennings daily record. [volume] (Jennings, La.) 1900-1903, 1902-05-03

'Tm not going to church"
mot going to church Easter? Why. for
PHYS sake!'
In spite of herself Aunt ANGELA smiled
at the dfsmayed face under the pretty.
new hat.
81 can't go. Madame didn't send my
bonnet home. I don't understand 1t all.
She promised to have it here last night.
Her boy went past once. but he didn't
come here. You may as well run along.
Mary, my dear"
''But the lilies. aunty-the lilies.'
''WeIl. the lilies will stay at home from
church. too. that's ALL" She twitched her
lips defantly. I'm not going to send my
lilies! If can't carry them. they needn't
60"
The little thread OF chrrchgoers had
tno a+ "a, u,,i,ao $500 cpeS taeether
Goodness" ANGELA Witherspoon ex-
claimed suddenly. eff there isn't Phoeb'
ward to see better. Mary witherspoon.
I believe to my soul she's got my bonnet
on! Yes. it's the very lace I paid IS a
yard for. Still-wen. if that isn't queer!
There aren't any violets on 1T, and mad
anne couldn't have forgotten the violets!
What in the world does 1t mean?"
II should say So" Mary's indignant
voice cried. How came that Hooper wom-
an with your Easter bonnet unless she
stole it?"
flush, hush, my dear! Phoeh' Ann
never stole crooked pin. But it is queer
--unless-yes. OF course. That's where the
boy was going last night He got the
wrong house and Phoeb' Ann Hooper took
1t all In good earnest. 1 suppose she
thought madame sent IT to her for an
Easter present-still. where are the vio-
lets. should think it wasn't my bonnet
If twas not for that silver lace. Mine
was the only bonnet with that on 1t
madame promised it.
Phoeb' Ann went past slowly She held
her small head very erect. and the little
curls under the beautiful bonnet bobbed
with gentle pride. The old-fashioned shawl
and the quaint dress beneath it contrasted
quantity but not inartisucally with the
bonnet. She looked pretty and flushed.
ANGELA Witherspoon's plain. proud face
quivered with quiet scorn: Mary's with
indignation.
Occasionally Phoeb' AIMS hand stole
up to adjust her bonnet. She took short,
stiff little steps, and her wide skirts
spread bout her. making her look I'M
wontedly stately and large. once she
glanced across at the window with an
unconscious frightening of her neck
But abreast of the conservatory windows
she suddenly stopped. The people passing
jostled her. She Stood unmindful Of them
and of everything else in the world but
ANGELA Wttherspoon's lilies.
They pressed their pure faces against
the panes, reaching toward her slender.
graceful stalks. And the look on poor
Phoeb' AIMS face The hunger in Phoeb'
AIMS eyes, Angela saw it, and Mary.
and, it may be, a few of the passers.
Goodbye. auntyt' Mary said, softly.
the Indignation gone out of her bright
face.
But ANGELA witherspoon did not hear.
She was looking out through the window
at the hunger in Phoeb' AIMS patient
face. She was looking back of that. thir-
ty years back, at the hunger in her own
girlish soul The passing crowds went up
and down before her to Easter service.
Phoeb' Ann Hooper went. too, after q
little, carrying the hunger with her.
Still ANGELA Witherspoon sat in her
window. seeing visions. The old bitter
ness had never been healed. She had new
err
Priest had loved her. For thirty years
she had grudged her poor little refghbor
her lovers grave-her one possession, and
all in the world that she had to comfort
her. She wanted it-she, Angela Wither-
spoon. She wanted the right to lay her
sweet Easter lilies on it to-day last
Easter, all the thirty Easter days.
Phoeb' Ann simple and poor and
alone, but the grave belonged to Phoeo'
Ann. The lilies belonged to Angela
Witherspoon. She stirred in her seat and
knit her fingers together tightly. Her
strong. plain face was defiant and set.
How ridiculous Phoeb Ann Hooper had
looked in her Easter bonnet Angela
Witherspoon's Her lips curled slightly.
But she's good looking still she adj
mitted with rigid honesty. shes real
good looking still. l suppose she's as
poor Jobs turkey, but she keeps 1t real
close. I haven't set eyes on Phoeb' Ann
before for months. and then only when
she went-there."
= Involunta rily she hesitated, glancing
across the room at the opposite window.
Through 1t she could see faint, white
glimpses of the headstones IN the seme-
terry. 1t was only a little way.
II guess she hasn't been there lately.
I'd have seen her, That's what she was
thinking about when she stood looking at
my flowers. Well. cant help it,
Angela got up and drew down the OPP
posite curtain. A few belated people were
hurrying past to church. and she came
back and watched them abSently. One of
the women glanced up and bowed to aer.
She had new bonnet with lunches of
violets in it, and il recalled her own bon
net
II wonder-but OF course twas mine, for
there was the silver lace. Madame for
got the violets. ! suppose but l declare
made a botch of it. and l shall let her
know It. Phoeb' Ann Hooper isn't to
blame. Shed take anything in solemn
earnest"
ANGELA walked restlessly about the
room, moving the chairs and replacing
her flowers and spent few minutes nip
ping off dry leaves and touching care
iessiy the BEAUTIFUL blossoms. Their fra
GRANGE soothed her and softened her
heart.
II nights we'll carry the lilies down to
the Witherspoon lot now" she said. sud
denly. There's plenty of time before
meeting is over. it's such little way.
It's a real good chance"
She found her scissors and cut off sew
eral stalks of lilies and some OF the other
flowers. Then she went with them down
air touched her cheeks pleasantly, and
the fresh, indefinable smell of growing
things appealed gently to her senses. She
stepped along with stately grace and the
lilies in her hand bowed she walked. !
When she had left them at the family lot
she went on a little distance to Marshall |