Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14
An Easter Offering

Murdoch said pointedly. craning her neck
to look upward.
swered bravely: I'm sorry if 1 did harm
but the dogwood made a beautiful decora-
ton. Mr.. Dyneforth liked 1T so much he
told the town ladies about it-and they
used 1t for their fair in Easter week.
Town folks may like 1t, l don't That's
ALL" Mrs. Murdoch shifted loftily. She
stood leaning upon the reading desk, which
she had draped in purple plush, to her own
at her handiworks a crafty smile lowered
in her eyes. Come herei Lemme tell you
what's my notion she called imperatively
to Mrs. Gray, who moved obediently to her
elbow. You know I've got oleanders, -
she began. Two big tubs, down in the
cellar. Eff they amt so mighty fresh
lookin', they air heap better'n that rusty
cedar. Besides they're as We may say, all
ready, standin' on their own bottoms Now
tomorrow mornin I'll make Mist Murdoch
hitch up at an early hour SO we can haul
them tubs over here with us, and set EN-
in place each side the little pulpit-you
know l mean the readin' desk. You must
come early, too, and fetch your wax fow-
ers--"
Her wax flowers, Why, Mrs. Murdoch!
Who ever heard of such thing?" Leslie,
Mrs. Gray's granddaughter and namesake
broke in.
Mrs. Gray herself got very white. The
| incongruity grated upon her-lifeless things
set to proclaim Easter whose soul is new
life. But over and beyond that there was
keener hurt. of threatened loss and be-
reavement The wax flowers all stiff and
staring as they Were, We're all that re-
manned of her far-off happy girlhood. She
had made them--ahI how proudiy-in her
last year at school-Miss Bidwell's select
| academy-when wars and rumors of wars
had seemed the idlest jest
Her father had gloated over them all the
way home, riding beside her in the car
riage instead of mounting his horse, with
the precious bouquet held carefully upon
his knees. He had made her invalid
mother look a it, before he let her see her
daughter, and had sent special messenger
that very day for the crystal so this amaz-
ing piece of art might stand In state ana
safety upon the parlor center table For
year at least he had dragged his cronies
in to admire and coyet the marvel. Long
after his death had broken up the old
home she had wept a welcome to the poor
gaudy roses and dahlias they came to
her bare new one. Her big downstairs
chamber was perforce the family sitting
room-all company was entertained In 1t.
Thus the wax flowers upon the mantel had
become known and noted throughout the
countryside. She had outgrown them long.
long ago-but she never could outgrOw nor
forget all they stood for
Yes, I said her wax flowers. Don
think, Miss Leslie. you know everything
Mrs. Murdoch said, with an ugly little
sneer. Not even eff you do set up to be
as heightened as your grandma. Why, it
was only last night that young man you
Lghton was telin' us-me and Mist Muir
doch-about them Eye-talian churches
said heap of EN- was trimmed all the
year round with artifcials, just the same
as a ladys bonnet. And wax flowers, as
everybody knows, look more like live ones
than any plain artificials. Mister Lighton
says them furriners put wreaths and
crowns of EN- on their saints, and even on
the Virgin Mary. OF course l don't hold
with that hate craven images same as
any of you. But them folks air, somehow
say what We will, closter back to the
apostles-so 1 reckon what don't hurt their
religion is plenty good enough for ours
specially when it's that or nothin'.'
Leslie looked at her grandmother, flush
ing like a wild rose. She, too, had heard
some of the Lghton wonder stores-not
told for wonders. but casually, in response
to her insipid listening.
Lighton was outlander who had come
to look over the mines. The looking over
of course, had taken him pretty well every
where; but oddly enough all the ways to
everywhere had managed to run within hail
Of the Gray place. He had got in the way