The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-08-29
IN ST. PAUL'S:
LOFT @ @
BY Epes w. Sargent
Copyright, lse, by the
5. q. Mcclure Company

: 1S><>>>>~>>><>>><>>>>>>>>]
On Easter Sunday morning for the
first time st. Paurs congregation was
to occupy Its new church. 1t was not
an elaborate editice. but with its quaint
English effects. Its huge overhanging
rafters. its deep set windows and its
dim, quietly furnished chancel 1t was
far cry from the town hall, where for
several years the band OF worshipers
had met. So the happy occasion was to
men of the alS>>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.
''The girls have done well, and this
will give just the correct finishing
touch to the decorations" he mur-
INJURED as he stalked down the center
aisle. carrying a 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 q 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.
Paurs.
Philip climbed up q 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 q 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 II. He turned eau
tiously on his perch and caught .
smothered exclamation Then he saw
not ten feet away a 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. 1t looks AZ If you were
| In hole too"
She ignored both the speech and the
chuckle which followed It
II 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, hugged his knees and looked al
her entreatingly.
"Come. now. Milly. isn't that a BIT
strong to the man you were practically
engaged to less than a week agor
"It Is hard to be reminded Of the fol
lies OF ones youth" she confided to the
| relief back OF the altar to her right
zone Is not to blame. however, for
mistaking dirt for gentleman"
"Im not fiirt." answered Philip
| hotly, and in his excitement he almost
slipped or the beam.
Mildred tried hard not to smile and
| continued to gaze at the lamb.
isn't II odd" she continued, "how
some persons will fib even I'm churchr
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 violetsr
A great light came to Philip.
"Why. those were q philopena pres
ent. Didn't she tell your
THAT is q very ancient excuse foI
bestowing violets on a girl to whom
you are not engaged. You might al
least have informed me of your inten
tions beforehand. Then, you see,
shouldn't have cared. and perhaps
might have warned you"-this just 9
tribe viciously-"that a girl with Jen
MES sallow complexion does not look
well wearing violets. Crimson carna
tons would have been better"
"Well. I will ask you next time
Then, catching sight Of more thunder
clouds gathering. he added hastily. 81
mean there will be no chance of iti
ever happening again II you will for
give me-"
His contrition seemed genuine. More
over. she was uncomfortable. and the
shadows were falling unpleasantIy
fast.
perhaps will if-you will get m,
out of this."
"How did you get int" be questioned
81 was working on the ladder. ant
my curiosity led me to see what thi.
cubby hole was for. and then I caugh
my heel in a knothole, and couldn't ge
the thing loose until after the girls left
They did not miss me. and-and-ther
saw you and thought I'd wait unit
you got out OF the way
Thank you" 1t was on his brow
that the stormclouds now gathered
81 had a vague idea that you wer,
rather glad to see me and that thi,
miserable misunderstanding was to b,
forgotten"
"Oh. then you think girl Is to b.
bullied; that because could not hell
myself I'd have to be pleasant. Well
let me inform you that I'd rather sta.
here all night than accept a favor o
you. Mr.. Harrison"
. She did not mean a word she said
but when a girl has been nursing ,