The Springfield herald., 1903-04-10

he began to cry. At which Lola ran
to him, and putting her arms around
him in motherly way. attempted to
sooth him.
DO not cry, little one, you belong
to me. The moon hare brought you
to me for companion. You will see
how happy | can make you. Come.
we will go to breakfast and then we
will play
Threats, entreaties and caresses
failed to unlock the lips of the little
man, but after he had gorged himself
with hot coffee and cakes, his reserve
thawed long enough to enable his
hosts to learn that his name was
"Bertie," that he had run away from
home because nobody loved him; that
his stepmother beat him and he hated
her He concluded his little history
by putting his arms around the de-
lighted Lolas neck and Offering his
lips for Kiss.
The child's parents were quickly
found in the neighboring village. but
at the earnest entreaties of Lola, he
was permitted to remain with her for
short visit. which heightened into
several months, during which time
the two became boy and girl lovers.
Bertie's father. obliged to depart for
a distant part of the country. separat-
ed the heart-broken children, Lola,
particularly, refusing to be comforted.
Il will bring BERTHE to you next
summer" said his father, and with
that hope she dried her tears. Years
elapsed however. before the two met
again. Lola cherishing the memory
of her moon hare gift, and BERTHE
never forgetting his little blue-eyed,
blonde playmate. Many Easter ewes
came and went, and each Of them
hoped the moon hare would bring
them together, but he apparently
neglected them. Lolas grand par
ents were laid away in the church
yard, and the little girl. now grown to
womanhood. was left alone to battle
with the world. Berthe. too, was
alone. but somehow they never met.
though each had visited the old home
in the hope of once more meeting.
However, neither could find trace
of the other.
Youthful impressions are generally
blotted out in less than twenty years,
but in this case the memory of Lola
and BERTHE was fresh and green. They
had met with hardships, hers all the
harder to bear because she was
woman, until it came about for the
twentieth time after the moon hare
had given Lola cherished compan-
ion that he made preparations to de-
light her again.
On bright afternoon of a certain
Easter eve, a beautiful young girl,
perhaps young lady" would be bet
ter term to apply to her. sat in g.
sheltered nook in the city park, anus
ing a bevy of little girls not more
than seven years of age. Just behind
her, separated by a thin screen of
evergreen hedge, sat young man,
smiling as he listened to the chatter.
Did the Easter rabbit ever bring
you anything. Lola?' questioned one
of the little ones who had been grave
ly listening to the folk lore told by
her older companion.
Yes, once he brought me MY
hearts desire
Tell lis all about it, Lola" and
the young maidens clapped their
hands and gathered close around her.
There is not much to tell" said
Lola. II was little orphan and
lived with my dear grand parents
near a small village. l was just your
age, baby Clara, six years, and had
never had companion to play with,
and l wanted one so badly"
Unperceived by any Of them. the
young man on the other side of the
hedge turned around to look and lis
ten. The name of Lola" had attract
ed his attention and the beginning of
the circumstances of the story seem
ed familiar.
"One Easter night I went to bed !
dreaming of a companion and pray
ing that the white moon hare would |