The Sauk Centre herald., 1907-11-28

fairly burdened consisted OF two bas-
kets In one were all the flowers the
garden would yield. in the other win
ter apples, shining and rosy, pearly
corn and golden pumpkins.
Faith blushed prettily as she looked
down on her burden.
81 am doing it for her, Aunt Creecy.
She IL long way from her home, and
1 want to have the chapel look pretty
tomorrow. There is no harm In trick
ing our little altar out for her benz
it,"
"Harm? It's good, sweet thought,
my darlin'. an eff Creecy's hans
warn't more than full shed like to-
help in The trickin'.''
THAT is just what do not want
Don't let. anybody follow me to the.
chapel. Aunt Creecy. If L choose to-
stay little late it won't matter"
She chose to stay very late. The tiny
altar was decorated with the fruits
and flowers she had brought AS she
placed the hast long spray of tube;
roses atop Of festtl,.ry pyramid OF
ferns she knelt before TIE altar witlt
claspel hands.
"The first fruits Of penft.nte, dear
Lord. lay before thy altar. For the
blessings thou hast voucllsafed receive
my thanks. for those thou hast with
held pardon my murmurings. l have
been rebellious, and for that DO re-
pent me-
The gloom about her deepened, but
she was not afraid. When she rose
from her knees she passed behind the
curtains that veiled the choir gallery
and took her seat ut the organ. With
head dropped into her clasped hands
she sat for q few silent moments; then
with the sad sweetness of Gn aeoliau
harp there stole upon the quiet of the
little church the hast piece Of music
she had ever played for Larry Har-
court. How he had loved it! And how
naturally the soft strains seemed to
mingle with the perfume of the sweet
olive and the tuberOses! He had loved
them too.
Presently her touch became more as
sured. If she was to make music for
the services tomorrow, as she had
promised tC do she must close that
door to the past, which was fast I'M
nerving her. But even as she touch
ed the chords to n more triumphant
| strain her heart clung desperately TO
thoughts OF the lover she had driven
to his death.
Her hands dropped from the keys. n
wave of passionate regret claimed her
| body and soul. a wall smote upon the
| stiffness.
larry, Larry, If you could but come
| back to me, my dear, then indeed
| would l know what ii was to return
| thanks!'
The silk curtain that separated her
| from the body of the church tinkled
softly on its brass rings. She turned
angrily to rebuke the intrusion. In
the dusky light OF the chapel Har'
courts broad shoulders made deeper
shadows. She lifted frightened eyes
to his face, made a step forward and
fell in a heap on the flower strewn al
tar.
The altar decorations were sad
wreck when he looked laughingly into
her happy eyes.
But, my beloved one, did not
| mean to startle you so. 1t would have
| been inexcusabie. l got out at the
| first gate, and Graham carried my
note to you. told him | would wait
an hour at the lodge. If after reading
my note you were ready to take up the
old sweet life where 1t was jOstled out
| Of our keeping you were to go to the
! chapel and play my favOrite air. Nat
| urally when | heard 1t | thought it
| was your welcome home to me, and,
my own, never did bird fly to it's mate
on gladder wing
He glanced ruefully at the wrecked
altar. 81 am afraid, dear, l have play
ed the mischief with your arrange.
| ments.'
She laughed happily and lifted her
| self to place her hands on his shout
| ders
Larry, did you hear what l said
just before you frightened me into a
| belief in ghosts?' :.
81 doubt if | did correctly. just re-
| call Il general impression Of sweet
| sounds, sweet perfumes of the old ia
| miliai flowers and the blessed con-
| sciOusness that the dearest girl in all
| the world was still mine to have and
| to hold"
When Faith next entered the chapel
| it was on Harcourt'S arm.
Milly and the girls had removed the
"truck" that had so excited Aunt
| Creecy's scorn to make place for a
bridal array of white flowers. The
| bridal robes that had been packed
away for wears came forth resplen-
dent. Harcourts plea for an immedi-
ate marriage was ably seconded by
! MilIy:
"You know, dear Miss Bates. we
| Grahams will not be here another
Thanksgiving day. and to see you mar
ried by Flournoy in that lovely little
chapel will make this the most perfect
! Thanksgiving have ever kept"
Creecy stopped her as she was about
to leave her room to go to the chapel.
Tears were in the old woman's eyes.
but she stoutly extended glass.
"It's orange leaf tea, my sweet
Drink it. l amt goin' to have yo' all
of a-tremble with him a-standin' like
the rock of Gibraltar"
Faith drank the tea as a concession
to Creecy's desire. She laughed light
heartedly as she handed back the