The Press., 1902-06-26
IN ST. PAUL'S;
LOFT ~ ~
by Epes w. Sargent
BY Epes w. Sargent
Copyright, 1909. by the

Copyright, 1909, by the &
2 8. g. Mcclure Company
: ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
On Easter Sunday morning for the
6rst time st. Paul's congregation was
to occupy its new church. It was not
an elaborate edifce, but with its quaint
English effects, its huge overhanging
rafters, its deep set windows and its
dim, quietly furnished chancel It was
a far cry from the town hall, where for
several years the band Of worshipers
had met. So the happy occasion was to
be duly celebrated, and the young wo-
men Of the altar guild had taxed their
individual and collective ingenuity-to
say nothing of purses-in order to beau
tify the chancel with flowers.
Philip Harrison, pausing in the door
way, nodded his head approvingly.
1.-THE girls have done well. and this
will give just the correct finishing
touch to the decorations" he MUIR
INJURED as he stalked down the center
aisle, carrying pure white dove, with
outstretched wings. His sister, who
was the president of the altar guild,
had pressed him into service, and he
was to suspend the bird just above the
lecturn. He was glad that the matter
had slipped her mind until after all the
girls had gone, for since a certain night
when Mildred Allen and he had parted
in bitterness he had rather avoided the
circle Of young people who rallied
round his sister in her work for st.
Paups.
Philip climbed up tall ladder and
had wired the dove to the rafter above
the lecturn when suddenly from be-
meath his feet slipped the ladder, fall
ing with crash among the choir stalls.
Fortunately the young man had a
stout grip on the polished oak beam,
and before the noise died away he had
swung himself up and from his perch
full twenty feet above the chancel sur
veyed the broken ladder with rueful
expression.
Suddenly he removed his gaze from
the ladder and glanced around with an
uneasy sense that some one was watch
ing him. This was impossible, for the
church had been absolutely empty
when he entered it. He turned eau
tiously on his perch and caught a
smothered exclamation. Then he saw
not ten feet away tousled golden
head and a pretty face. in which
amusement and fright mingled. The
girl was peering from a loft above the
recess near the chancel left by the
builders for the eventual accommOda-
ton of pipe organ.
"Well, Milly, it looks as If you were
in q hole too"
She ignored both the speech and the
chuckle which followed it.
81 do not see," she replied in icy
tones, show my predicament can be OF
the least interest to Mr.. Harrison"
Philip. now quite secure on the broad
beam, Rugged his knees and looked at
her entreatingly.
"Come, now, Milly, isn't that bit
strong to the man you were practically
engaged to less than week ago?'
sit Is hard to be reminded of the fol-
lies of ones youth" she confided to the
paschal lamb which stood out in bold
relief back of the altar to her right
"One Is not to blame. however, for
installing fllrt for gentleman"
"I'm not a flirt," answered Philip
hotly, and in his excitement he almost
slipped off the beam.
Mildred tried hard not to smile and
continued to gaze at the lamb.
isn't it odd" she continued, show
some persons will fb even in church,"
The lamb wisely kept out of the dis
cussion, but young Harrison answered
for him.
"Milly, won't you please listen?
never cared a rap for Jennie Adams.
honestly"
''Then," she retorted. suddenly for
getting the lamb, why did you send
her those perfectly lovely violets?"
A great light came to Philip.
"Why, those were a philopena pres
ent. Didn't she tell your
'"That is a very ancient excuse for
bestowing violets on a girl to whom
you are not engaged. You might at
least have informed me of your inten-
tons beforehand. Then, you see. /
shouldn't have cared, and perhaps /
might have warned you"-this just
trife viciously-"that girl with Jen-
MES sallow complexion does not look
well wearing violets. Crimson carna-
tons would have been better"
swell, I will ask you next time."
Then. catching sight Of more thunder
clouds gathering, he added hastily, ~
mean there will be no chance of its
ever happening again If you will for
give me.'
His contrition seemed genuine. More
over, she was uncomfortable, and the
shadows were falling unpleasantly
fast.
Perhaps will if-you will get me
out of this"
"How did you get in?'' he questioned.
81 was working on the ladder, and
my curiosity led me to see what this
cubby hole was for, and then I 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
saw you and thought I'd wait until
you got out Of the way
THANK you" 1t was on his brow
that the stormclouds now gathered.
II 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
tn hovo 70 no NJ Wall