Woodville Republican., 1903-04-11

NN-N- ~ HAeNA y W N@AAtt VI
body else win get in ahead. The po-
sizes on it are beautiful. Martha, il
reminds mel"
After a little he went on alone, /
down the street.
Easter Sunday dawned clear and |
perfect. Martha woke to the trin |
of Easter carols outside her window.
A myriad OF little birds seemed Wy
ing with each other to celebrate His |
rising. The jubilant chorus filed all !
the air.
I'm thankful it's pleasant"
thought Martha. Il want IL to be
pleasant to-day" She went about
her morning duties with light
heart. At breakfast she ehattered
like a girl.
"Horatio, you're going to church
with me to-day-I thought you might
like to knowi"
''No, no, Martha" he said, hastily;
81 guess l won't go to-day-not to-
day"
II said you were goingl" she
laughed. Didn't you promise to
love, honor and obey Is years ago2
I'm through marching off to church
alone every Sunday morning"
"But I'm tired, Martha. I'm going
to stay at home and get rested up
for tomorrow"
"Yes, l know--I guess I'm always
tired, Martha"
"Then you must go to church and
rest. Horatio Whitney, do you know
how long ago it was that you went
to church with me?"
mo. 1 don't. Don't reckon,
Martha"
swell, l won't il you'll turn over
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 could"
"Say: But / can, dear'-say it.,
Horatio!" She was round on his side
of the table, with her hand on his
arm. "Come upstairs and get ready.
We don't want to be late on Easter,
I've got your things all out on the
bed"
"I-I haven't any things, Martha.
You mustn't ask mel can't 60"
"Well, I've got my things all out
on the bed, then. l want you to
come up and see my things, dear.
Come!"
ua 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.
"Martha!"
"Well. don't you like them? Don't
you like my Easter bonnet, DEAR
like it better than any ever hac
before, all the casters of my life
Now l will try il on and let you SEE
1 how becoming it is"
She set the soft gray felt hat OF
/, his head and whirled him round II
the mirror. Then she threw thu
, handsome gray oyercoat across hi
shoulders and laid the gloves against
his sleeve.
"see how they matchp she cried
: "And they all match you. You greai
stupid boy, to stand there as if yol
didn't recognize yourself!"
!, II don't" he gasped. Suddenly HI
faced about. "But, Martha"
"Say dear"
"But. dear, don't understand. Yo'
were going to get the one with ap
blossom buds on it."
"What do you call that?" She ha'
: caught up a little thing i'm lace an
= flowers from the table, and wa
! whirling it round on her fingers be
! fore his astonished eyes. "Aren'
: those apple-blossom buds? Can't yol
smell 'em? You ought to, for they'r
the very ones you declared you coul
, smell Is years ago! The very ones
: ! Horatio! l got out the little old bor
Z net. and there were the flowers a
. fresh as eyer-not withered at all
= Snip, snip-I had cut them off an
! = there they were ON my Easter Dor
;. net! Now, we'll go to church, dear.
! He walked along the sunny stree
s beside her as if in a pleasant dream
JJnconsciously, he held himsel
straight and walked briskly.
= They seemed to get ahead of every
- :, body. Once Martha gave him III
= tie push.
= go on ahead little way" sh
= whispered, there's no one now to NJ
:, tice. and / want to look at you as
,e wholel"
L When she caught up with him, sh
squeezed his arm gently. "You loo
handsome, Horatio Whitney-don
= tell me you don'tl Now tell me
- look handsome"
y. sMartha, Martha--dear-you loo
good enough to eatl" 1t was a hom
:. " compliment, but it suited Marth
: They went on together through II
- sweet Easter sunshine. At u
church door she stopped him.
ar "Waiti We're going to walk up Il
a. broad aisle slowly, Horatio--don
ba YOU 90 to hurrying. l want the pc
- ple to have plenty Of time to see II
sr new Easter thingsl Now, ready"
sr- The altar was heaped with East
=. lilies. and their sweet breath fills
he the church. Martha drew in lor
ht. whiffs of it.
ra- "How good they smell, dear" 81
- q Z.