The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1903-04-09

Il -L.NEeFFsEN LE#S -
he said, warmly. "You go right in
and buy it. Don't you wait, or some.
BUDDY else will get in ahead. The 20.
sizes, ON it are beautiful. Martha, il
reminds mel" S
After a little he went on alone
down the street.
Easter Sunday dawned clear and
perfect. Martha woke to the trill
OF Easter carols outside her window,
A myriad of little birds seemed w.
ing with each other to celebrate His
rising. The jubilant chorus filled ali
the air.
I'm thankful it's pleasant
thought Martha. II want it to be
pleasant to-day" She went about
her morning duties with a light
heart. At breakfast she Chartered
like a girl.
"Horatio, you're going to church
with me to-day-I thought you might
like to know!"
mo, no, Martha" he said, hastily;
Il guess 1 won't go to-day-not to-
day"
II said you were going!" she
laughed. didn't you promise to
love, honor and obey Is years ago?
I'm through marching off to church
alone every Sunday morning"
"But I'm tired. Martha. I'm going
to stay fat homo and get rested up
for tomorrow"
Eyes, I knew guess I'm always
tired, Martha"
"Then you must go e. church and
rest. Horatio Whitney, do you know
how long ago it a that you went
to church with me?"
mo, I don't. Don't reckon,
Martha" "
"Well, I won't if you'll turn owe
a new leaf to-day. I've set my heart
on your going to meeting with me,
dear"
He flushed painfully. Martha was
making it very hard. If She hadn't
said "dear!"
"But II can't, Martha. I'd like to
if I could"
"Say: But I can, dear'-say it,
4IoId DIX was IOuIua OIL LINE SLUG
of the table, with her hand on his
arm. Come upstairs and get reedy.
We don't want to be late on Easter.
I've got your things all out on the
bed.'
81 haven't any things, Martha,
You mustn't ask mel can't 60"
swell, I've got my things all out
on the bed, then. I want you ia
come up and see my things, dear.
Comet"
He could not resist her. She was
like the old girl Martha-persistent
and irresistible. He yielded weakly
and followed her up the stairs. The
Easter things were spread out on the
bed. Horatio Whitney uttered a
queer sound at the sight of them.
Martial"
well, don't yeAl like then? Don't
you like my Easter bonnet, dear?
I like it better than any I ever had
before, all the casters of my life.
Now I will try it on and let you see
how becoming it is"
She set the soft gray felt hat on
his head and whirled him round to
the mirror. Then she threw the
handsome gray overcoat across his
shoulders and laid the gloves against
his sleeve.
"See how they match" she cried.
"And they all match you. You great
stupid boy, to stand there as if you
didn't recognize YOURSELF"
81 DON'T" he gasped. Suddenly he
faced about. "But, Martha
"Say dear"
"But, dear, I don't understand. You
were going to get the one with ap-
ple-blossom buds on it"
"What do you call that?" She had
caught up a little thing in lace and
flowers from the table, and was
whirling it round on her fingers be-
fore his astonished eyes. aren't
those apple-blossom buds? Can't you
smell 'em? You ought to, for they're
the very ones you declared you could
smell Is years ago! The very ones,
Horatio! I got out the little old bon
net, and there were the flowers as
fresh as ever-not withered at all;
Snip, snip-I had cut them off anG
there they were on my Easter bon,
net! Now, we'll go to church, dear
He walked along the sunny street
beside her as if in a pleasant dream.
Unconsciously, he held himself
straight and walked briskly.
They seemed to get ahead of every.
body. Once Martha gave him a liz,
tie push.
"Go on ahead a little way" she
whispered, there's no one now to no.
tice, and I want to look at you as a
whole!"
When she caught up with him, she
squeezed his arm gently. "You look
handsome, Horatio Whitney-don.t
tell me you don't! Now tell me /
look handsome"
Martha, Martha-dear-you look
good enough to eat!" 1t was a homc-
ly compliment, but it suited Martha.
They went on together through the
sweet Easter sunshine. At the
church door she stopped him.
"Wait! We're going to walk up the
broad aisle slowly, Horatio-don't
you go to hurrying. I want the PEG
pie to have plenty of time to see my