The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-04-12

could avail her. The painter met her ana
gave her welcome, then, with q quick ges-
ture, swept aside the curtain from the
face Of his painting and left 1T to speak
10 the woman who stood lost in Its con-
temptation. Little by little Its blessed
meaning stole in on her senses and TOOK
away the hard and bitter pain Juggling At
her eart-strings. Her eyes fell upon
the angel of Death. and the started for
ward, but paused lrresolutely5 as his voice
seemed to fall on her ear. He was speak
ing to his fellow-ange.
&"Ah. brother, mine" she thought he
said "your face is still radiant, though
II is long since we met. HOW fares II
with you in this holy watch ?"
nAll is we'll with me. dear Azrael." re-
piled the other; "but your voice has
sound Of tears In it. What grieyes you,
Azrael r.
discord Of weeping. Mothers wall when
I softly fold their little ones In my arms;
children cry aloud when their mother
rests her weary head on my bosom; sis
ters grieve when their brother Is COM
United to my charge. Sorrow and sigh
Ing follow in my footsteps; the burden
Of the indispensable anguish OF humans
ty weighs me down so that cannot III
up mine eyes. Tell me, you who have
X
might unveil my face that men and Wo-
mon would dread me so much?
AS he spoke he raised. the veil re-
;; veallng a face wonderfully like his broth.
er ANGELS but with q penslye instead OF
a joyous look. III, ,i.s. ).
The angel Of Life drew nearer. Azrael,'
he cried and his tones We're like strains
OF heavenly music, mo twin brothers
were over more alike than we are, but
the Master wills that SO long as our
mission Is unfulfllled. you shall walk this
earth n mystery. When once our task
is ended, we shall not be known tho
one from the other. A little patience.
dear Azrael. we are never far apart IN
time; In, eternity we shall be always to-
gether."
A sweet smile beamed for moment on
Azrael's face.
1s.And l shall be like you," he said mu-
slngly, and his voice no longer had the
sound Of tears: land i shall be near you.
| and I shall be understood at last? This
| Is enough. am content not to be known
| on earth If may be with you In heaven,
| for !. love you. brother of my heart
"And YOU" whispered the angel of
Life.
! Then. the two kissed each other and
passed on their way. and the woman sank
| OH her knees.
When she arose Easter eve and night
had passed, tho sun was shining and the
| morning had broken In fair and uncloudeC
splcndor Through the STILL sweet ali
| came the voice of church bells, calling
| her back to her accustomed place IN the
| sanctuary.
She had almost forgotten that God was
good; had felt her lot so desolate and
lonely as to need the voice of warning
by which His neyer-faillng mercy now
drew her to Him again,
The entrance of the painter made her
| turn from the window. In his arms he
| tho room with their dew-washed fra
GRANGE. lie handed them 10 her without
| q word.
She took Them and stepping forward
! laid them gently before the picture, as
! before an altar; then, throwing out hel
hands with the gesture OF one who rouses
from long and numbing sleep, she faced
him. her heart pulsing through her lips
| In the glad eXultant cry:
Christ Is risen! lie Is risen, indeed
"A. M. TYLER, >
The Easter Season,
The coming of Easter Monday inaugu'
rates tho joyousness OF the Easter sea-
son. During the afternoon a number Of
Easter egg-hunts will afford delight tc
| the small people OF the city, In the
| evening the Easter german of the Rich
mond Assembly WIZ BIO danced at the
Masonic Temple, with Mr.. .Adolphus Blail
| Leading. The number Of visitors In Rich
| mond will render the dance most attrac
| tive and make It q brilliant opening fol
| what promises to be one OF the gayes
and most crowded social rounds thai
| Richmond has known for years
| Easter Barn Dance,
With Mr.. Polk Miller and his famous
! Quartette TO sound merry measure ahe
set hearts throbbing and feet a twink
ling, with maidens, matrons and men Il
hearken To the figures called for all e
/ hear and obey; with the melodies o
Money Musk" "Od Zip Coon" "DowI
town girls, won't you come out tonight
and dance by the light OF the moon"
with sets formed for quadriles lancers
polkas schottlsches and the Virgins
raAl ~ H., a.