The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-28
IN ST. PAUL'S LOFT
By EpEs w. SARGENT

!, 'Im not firt,' answered Philip holly,
and in his. excitement he almost slipped of
the beam.
Mildred tried hard not to smile and con-
tinued to gaze at the lamb.
isn't 1t odd" she continued, chow some
| persons will fb even in church,"
| The lamb wisely kept out of the discussion,
but young Harrison answered for him.
Milly, won't you please listen? never
cared a rap for Jennie Adams, honestly"
! 'Then," she retorted, suddenly forgetting
! the lamb, why did you send her those per-
| fectly lovely yiolets?'
] A great light came to Philip.
why, those were a philopena present.
Didn't she tell you?'
''That is very ancient excuse for be-
| slowing violets on a girl TO whom you ars
| not engaged. You ought at least have in
formed me Of your intentions beforehand.
Then, you see, shouldn't have cared. and
perhaps might have warned you''-this just
a tri1e viciously-"that a girl with Jennie's
sal1ow complexion does not look we'll wearing
| violets. Crimson carnations would have been
| better -
tWell, I will ask you next time" Then
catching sight Of more thunder-clouds gath
ering, he added hastily. 81 mean there will be
no chance Of its ever happening again II you
will forgive me-
| His contrition seemed genuine Moreover,
she was uncomfortable, and the shadows were
falling unoleasantly fast.
| perhaps will, if-you will get me out of
| this
"How did you get in?" he questioned.
| 81 working on the ladder, and my GU
riosty led me to see what this cubbyhole was
| for, and then caught my heel in a knothole
and couldn't get the thing loose until after
| the girls left They did not miss me, and
| and-then 1 saw you and thought I'd wait
until you got out Of the way
| MI hi hroy hat
storm clouds now gathered. 81 had vague
idea that you were rather glad to see me
| and that this miserable misunderstanding was
to be forgotten"
"Oh, then you think a girl is to be bullied;
that because could not help myself I'd have
| to be pleasant. Well, let me inform you that
| I'd rather stay here all night than accept a
favor of you, Mr.. Harrison
! She did not mean word she said, but when
a girl has been nursing a wrong, real or
imaginary, for one good long week, her heart
becomes not only rebellious, but utterly I'm
| reasonable. .T
- Without a word Philip rose steadily to his
feet and balanced his way along the beam
to the wall. She held her breath He might
| fall. He might
Where are you going?" she cried tremu-
| lousy.
Home" he answered shortly.
| '"Oh, Phil, n't-leave-me-alone In the
dark!' she i1nplored. -
why not? You have distinctly said you
waited to get lid OF me- You evidently hate
the sight of me-
! "Oh, but that was before the ladder fell.
l mean-oh, please, please come back" she
| entreated. ..g- -.:
| Twill you make up this Wretched quarrel
and start all over again?'
| "Neyer!'' 80
'"Then goodhye!" And hs resumed his
progress.
| ''You will be kil1edr'' she warned him
sit doesn't matter now" he answered
easily. -
She knew he did not mean 1t and that pur-
posely he let his foot slip while he clutched
! at the rafter, but she was too proud and
angry to speak. Silently she watched him
make his way along the beam that topped the
side wall. and so to the rear of the church.
Here a storm door, built inside, made a plat
| form ten feet from the beams He carefully
swung himself down, then dropped from the
platform to the floor. Next she saw him
come UP the aisle: to the chancel.
| Her heart beat fast. What would he do?
She would never pay the price he demanded
for her deliverance. She did hate 10 be bull
lied. She had never thought Philip could be
l such bully. Yes, that was the very word.
u In the. dusk She could kim working over
the ladder. Finally he raised it to the wall
and placed it securely within her reach.
i "You can come down now" he said CURLY
as ne turned his DICK, UuI IL Epu WILL
II minute or two will be outside the building,
and you will be safe from annoyance"
Il He walked toward the rear of the church.
A quick gasp followed him through the gath
ering shadows; then as he neared the door
he heard the rustic Of feminine skirts, and
voice called entreatngly: tzs-
phil, dear Phil, wait just a moment"
He turned. A whirlwind Of golden hair,
warm, tremulous lips and coaxing arms threw
itself into his embrace.
phil. dear, I thought you were going to
force me to be good and make up. Ii you
had, I'd hated you, but.
Il And now"
What followed only the paschal lamb, smil-
1 Ing benevolently from his post above the
altar, could tell. And he smiled IN just the
same set way two months later, when Philip
4 and Mildred walked down the aisle, with Mill
dred's white-gloved finger marking the page:
L The Form OF SoaemnizaAton OF MslNHl-
mony.'