Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-04-14
Easter For Two

| q HE stood in the doorway, a frown
| ~ wrinkling her pretty forehead
| and something of tragedy in her
voice and gesture
Il can't CO." she declared, in evident
disappointment.
Cant go, Elizabeth?" he repeated,
in perplexity. You're not i'll. What on
earth has happened?"
| "My hat she began and stopped
abruptly.
| "Well?' he queried
| Didn't come said she
| Horrors he exclaimed. He pulled
aside the curtains and looked out on
an ideal Easter morning. "Horrors"
he repeated, while the ghost Of a
smile relaxed his firm mouth.
'It's no laughing matter" said the
| girl, with some warmth
| 81 know" he said contritely. "Of
course it isn't. Haven't you another
hat?'
The girl glanced at him scornfulIy.
| Perhaps you'd like me TO wear a
winter hat she said.
Exactly" he said calmly II GER
tainly would. 1t will be a tremendous
| service at the Church of the Apostles.
| Menoni is to sing, and there's to be q
string quartet from the symphony"
You don't ina gine'' said she, in
amazement, that I'd go to the Church
of the Apostles Easter Sunday wearing
my winter hat, do you?"
He smiled patiently.
Il confess had no proper realization
| of the enormsty of such an act,'' said
he. Would they put You Out?'
| The girl shrugged her shoulders in
| quaint little gesture of despair.
That's the man of it," she said. "Of
course | can't hope to make you under
| stand. but the simple fact remains that
can't 60"
'All right" he said cheerfully, and
he resumed the seat he had vacated
when she entered the room.
But you'll go just the same" she
said.
"Alone? Never"' he protested, with
vebemence.
Il hate TO keep you away from
church on the only day in the year you
ever co. she said.
See here" said he, well compro-
mise. Well attend service this morn
ing at place where your hat will not
be cOnspicuous-at a place. i'll fact,
where they will never know whether
it is of the winter variety or the latest
Easter creation. VIII you go?"
"Of course l WILL she replied.
They took suburban car and rode
to the end of the route. Then they
walked a mile or so along Il secluded
road and presently turned into a clump
of woods.
Elizabeth looked about her with in
terest, then turned TO her companion.
And where is the church, she
asked.
THE groves were Gods first tenn
ples,'" he quoted serenely.
II believe you're glad the hat didn't
come she said.
He regarded her with quiet amuse-
ment
81 believe l am" he returned.
Il don't believe my hat will be I'M
duly criticised here" she said. with IL
meaning glance in his direction.
"And | shall have You all to my |
self he said. with content. Lets
perch on the fence and have an Easter /
service for two There il ut least one |
devout worshiper here he said point !
eddy
They climbed the low fence and sat |
down on the top rider. The air was
soft. and it was freighted with the
smell of warm, wet earth. The sun
light through the branches made an
interviewer shadow fabric on the
ground Bird voices piped with pleas
ant plaintiveness.
Its good TO be alive" he comment
ed.
Isn't it," she said.
land to be here" he went on.
Rather than at the Church of the
Apostles?' she asked.
Decidedly" he averred.s I've much
more courage here"
more courage?" she questioned.
yes. More courage to make an
Easter confession he explained.
"Shall / be given absolution?'
THAT depends IT isn't murder, is
it,"
More like suicide. | imagine he re-
turned grimly. You won't laugh at it.
will your he said, with very apparent
anxiety.
The seal of the confessional, you