The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-15

sunshine; single hardy blossom bursl
out in the yellow jessatnine trellls ovetl s8f
1eslle's window. She made to pluck lt,g3 l3
then kissed It shyly, and left 1T. Ont sSssss
golden trumpet might sot,,ld EastetS SSS
reveille to her heart, but would not
answer for church decoration. not even a
IL set star-wse In trails Of It's own frostts4sa
scorched leaves. At least not In the Nh
face of Mrs. Murdoch, whom she must IL
not hate because It was Easter, and Hg
Granny insisted that there should be M
likewise Easter In all their hearts a. &!
It was hard to keep It there aftet@
she was In church. Leslie bowed her
head so as not to sec the wax bouueti5
shet boldly forward upon the makes 4
shift front. Everybody knew it-eVerysi
body would be bound to think 1t was AZ
there OF Grannys choice and FREQ Will. B4sI
Everybody In Ieslie's mind lust them
meant one particular person. She looke'tia
10 quickly MS he came in, and caught
the subtle ripple tctwixt wonder and I
amusement which swept across his face
Then she looked down again, so as TO see q
nothing but her worn prayer book. 81 ~
had been Granny's confirmation gift, NOW
Granny's eyeslght demanded poiaer typet
St. Georges had supplied It.. Glancing 5a NJ
the hands which held the new book, Il
delicate, although work had knotte,ddsg5
them, Leslie drew hard breath she
dared not look shigher-lf she saw
Grnnny's rapt and sanity countenance&i
she could not save herself from sobbing
alive Nc sgSS
Mechanically SHE followed the service.St
trying hard to keep her vagrant heart IN Il
subsection. In this the music helped her.
the quartette really sang very well, ana ana
with strength enough to mask the teas
nco OF the melodcon. But sho did not
I, 1,np foir ri ~ IS Ii
time for communion. What she saw then
made her sink back, palld, with q quick
~ beating heart. l$si 4
Tho wax flowers were not even
ghosts Of themselves. The wire stakes
to be sure. were still upright, and part.SS
" clothed In faded green, With here anu n
there a remnant petal clinging to their
lunpish terminals that had once flau aunt Il
ed us .flower-hearts. All the font wa ss9
Uttered with gaudy waXen fragments
yet at least handful had fallen to the
floor. Mrs Murdoch looked uncon1for--E
table yet triumphant-som she res
minded Leslie Of the dustY-enfed aolean-ss
IN the sudden heat She had had her,
way-domnance was to her as spiritual
sunshlne-in the melting Of 1t she BEGAN eart
to be sorry for the ruin she had Wroug h1lt-.SS
What would Granny do? Leslie knew
| how rigidly she kept the commandments
| -esnecially that against going into thesa
| altar at enmity with q brother. Could
| she forgive Mrs. Murdoch this wilful an nc
| senseless despoilment? Almost With ne
| thought Cirnnny's hand fell over her a iS
| In n warm, tender clasp, and II looklnGs "
IN she saw the faded face illumined. To- I'm
| rether they went forward and 1nelt$ g Nd d
| the altar-rail II 81 WI S333lss
Leslie never remembered clearly anyS
| thing moro until they were out IN thtsi
narrow church porch, with Mrs. Murdoch
facing them. She began to say: elLtss
! I am right down sorry, Sister Cray
but whoever thought the weather '- NH
"Don't say another word, Granny ms rlEsS
terrupted her. 1T Is all for tho best, NY
poor, foolish flowers could not last Il al 81
ways. What better fate could they have
] than to lie an Easter offering $s
'Wel I'm nightly glad you take#s3itt
that way-f they'd been mine q should lldtl
be real provoked" Mrs. Murdoch return nj
ed affably. 4i " 4 " 5t 5ss si{ ssSsss'
What else she said Leslie @ did not not,
I hear-for there wns Lighton. giving
4 Granny his arm, and saying with dane
4 ing eyes, as he led her toward the shabby
1 buggy, 'tDenr Mrs. Gray. I, too, need to
make an Easter offering-to you. Won
You be very good and take me for IA
i grandson |? I will answer for Leslie, II only
4 you say yes" ,$$5
1 Copyright, 1906, by Martha $McCul lcea
i Williams.) fssssi3