The Bossier banner., 1903-04-09

"Well, won't if you'll turn over
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 l could"
Say: But I 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"
IL haven't any things, Martha.
You mustn't ask mel can't co.
"Well, I've got my things all out
on the bed, then. 1 want you to
come up and see my things, dear.
Come!"
He could not resist her. She was
like the old girl Martha-persisten
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 you like them? Don't
you like my Easter bonnet, dear?
| like it better than any 1 ever had
before, all the Casters of my life.
Now 1 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 oyercoat 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!''
Il DON'T" he gasped. Suddenly he
faced about. But, Martha"
Say dear
''But, dear, don't understand. You
we're going to get the one with ap-
ple-blossom buds on it"
what do you call that?" She had
caught up 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! l 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 and
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.
"You go SO fast I can't keep up
with you!" laughed Martha in his
ear. do you think I'm girl?'
''Yes, and I'm a boy!' He was
laughing, too. He had not felt so
rested and young before for long
time. He was proud of Martha-and |
proud of himself. He was glad when |
they passed acquaintance and
friends.
They seemed to get ahead of every-
body. Once Martha gave him a lit |
tie push.
go on ahead little way" she
whispered, there's no one now to no. |
tice. and l want to look at you as
w,hole!"
When she caught up with him, she
squeezed his arm gently. "You look
Horatio Whitney-don't
tell me you don't! Now tell me 1 |
look handsome
Martha, Martha-dear-you look |
good enough to eat!" 1t was a home |
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. l want the peo-
pie to have plenty of time to see my
new Easter things! Now, ready!"
The altar was heaped with Easter
lilies, and their sweet breath filed
the church. Martha drew in long
whiffs of it.
''How good they smell, DEAR" she
"Is there anything
sweeter than Easter lilies?''
He smiled down at her. Martha
was short and plump, and he was tall
to-day.
81 don't smell any Easter lilies"
he said; Il don't smell anything but
apple blossoms. s."-Country Gentle
man.