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

thcrc. Mrs. Murdoch was childlecs, but
her niece and narncshke, Euphen1in An
geline Butler, now away at college, was
coming home In June With diploma ana
any number of accomplishments Llsnton
was to be bncls then, and Mrs. Murdoch
wanted him to be also fancy free.
II say wax flowers don't suit Easter,
no matter what those strange people do,s
Leslie began.
Mrs. Gray gave her sllcncng look,
and said
II will bring the flowers, II you are
o,,ite sure they look we'll enough. They
are faded and dusty. In spite OF oil my
cnre Then they arc SO old they may
shatter--
"Whnt Of they do? Won't the Lord sec
and understand? Yo,,r sacrifice Will be
lest MS acceptable In His nostrils," Mrs
Murdoch said Enthusiastically. and eft YOU
hear anybody giggin'. er mntterln' about
how they look. why, you jest please SEND
en- to mo. I'll settle With EN- IN short
order-and I'm shorely goin to tell that
1oyneforth boy that this year mad my
say.so about everything" II
,iAs you please" Mrs. Gray snid. turn-
Ing hnlf away to hide the tears In her
ewes. she could not tear n quarrel, lenst
Mt ali ut Easter time. And the only way
out OF It was full surrender Mrs. Muir
doch was In the main kindly, but also
domineerng. with n narrow Jealousy or
folk better bred. All the moro jealous II
by chance they had less money than
she had. Thon. too, i had aggravated
her especially to know Mrs. Gray had
| brought Leslie up to be q gentlewomnn
In spite Of her slatternly and sllpshod
mother. Lghton had incn,itiously SAID
| of Leslie that she was "enchanttngly
old-fnshioned." Mrs. Murdoch did not
| wish him to DO enchanted with old fash
Toned ways. but rather to DO receptive to
| what was wholly now.
Leslie was very pretty-her mothers
high coloring blended oxqulsitely viii.
her grnndmother's chiselled outlines.
Moreover she had n veritnbe bird In
her throat, and sang with heart and
spirit, as n bird must. she had sung In
the chapel choir until Mrs. Murdoch
had given the melodeon, which had l,non.
supplnnted in her pnrlor with q fine
nav piano. Along with the Instrument,
Mrs. Murdoch had given the opinion
| that it was best accompanied by male
voices only.
So for n year past Leslie had sat be-
hind Granny. making the responses
| unsteady, and now and again sounding
timIdy refrain. Young Dynerorth
had protested. but Mrs. Gray was not to
| he moved. 1--WE must have peace NNc
1 will have It, at any cost" she had said.
Mrs, Murdoch greatly Modified.
| moved brisklySabout, bending, s1uinting,
searching for dust and cobwebs with
/ microscopic vision.
IF we'd only. thought In time Tor
YOU to practice. you might have helped
i sing the anthem, Leslie she said; then,
| after a pause, tentatively Nobody can
1 deny your slngtn' is nice. and I've been
thinkln' when Phemy--Augeline comes
home, maybe you and her had better
sing regular"
/ Mrs. Gray said nothing; Leslie looked
quickly away. Then all Of them fell to
Z, work helping black Jimmy, Mrs. Muir
z doch's housemad, make the church as
& clean as It was bare. This. though the
sexton had done his allotted share the
dav before.
i tho interior fairly shone. Mrs. Gray
looked back at It lovingly as she started
4 home. l IS
Mrs. Murdoch, lingering q little, said
Il spitefully to jimmy: mo wonder the
81 Grays hurry; that old bag Of bones
" they drive can't much more'ns creep
Lord knows I'm sorry enough FOR poor
folks; but 1t does make me mad to see
en- put on such high airs.
Easter weather Is trickey. There had
been hardly hint OF spring until Easter
4 morning; yet it dawned bright and balmy,
and swept quickly into almost midsummer
heat. Buds expanded visiby In the strong