The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-04-03
The Daily
Short Story
HER EASTER


1t was Easter Sunday. A couple
of blithe, youthful lovers wandered
down a deserted back street They
selfishly wished to be alone with
their great happiness on that bright
morn of the awakening.
The whole world seemed spring
ing back into joyous life. The sky
was cloudless, the gentlest breeze
blew from the warm south, and the
sun shone brilliantly for such an
early spring day.
The grass in the little front door
yards of the modest homes that
lined the careless way of the lovers
was tender in its new greenness,
while the trees were just beginning
tot show a faint, yellow trace of
that returning to life that the
Easter morning so gloriously be-
spoke.
The Girl and the Man were I'M
conscious of any other creatures on
earth than their own happy selves.
They had been to church, breathed
an earnest prayer for their own fu-
ture earthly state, and then had
come away before the service was
concluded, to be alone, and had
wandered far from the exclusive
eighborhood of her home into that
Of a humble, simple district.
There is nothing but happiness
in the whole world" the Girl
was telling her lover as they stroll
ed on unmindful Of where their lott
ering footsteps led. Il don't see
how people can find fault with life.
Everything in it is perfectly beau
tiful. The whole earth is happy
on this Easter day"
On they went, each expressing to
the other the conscious JOY that
filled their hearts.
The houses that they strolled by
became more modest in structure
and stood farther one from another.
These houses were occupied by
tradesmen and their families, or
clerks who earned and supported
their wives and children on, small
salaries.
The lovers never gave thought
full glance to these homes, so alb
sorbed were they in their own bliss
full love.
Suddenly the soDs of a child fell
upon their ears. They were low,
choking sobs, as though the little
one was endeavoring to suppress
his grief. The sound came from a
n
lovers were passing, and at first
it did not even interrupt their con-
yersation. AS they drew near, the
sobs continued, and when they
paused in front of a small brown
cottage a boy of was discovered
sitting alone on the bottom step of
the narrow stairs.
He was a pretty, fair haired boy,
dressed in a fresh white blouse and
tiny new knickerbOckers, as be-
fitted the Easter festival. He had
not thrown himself upon the steps
leading up to his door, as wlful
child might in giving away to some
passionate feeling But he sat
there, his tiny right hand support
ing his golden head, the tears
streaming down his cheeks, his
eyes red with weeping. Every mo-
ment an uncomfortable sob would
shake his childish frame.
The Gifirl and the Man paused
before him. a bit resentful, per
haps, that their Easter walk had
thus been interrupted. Not unkind-
ly the Girl asked:
What is the matter?'
The reply she evidently expected
was that his ball was lost, or that
his Easter eggs had not taken sue
cessfully on the pretty colors of his
older brothers.; or some childish
reason for a childish grief.
my father is dead. was the
simple reply. Again great gasp
ing sob burst from the child.
oh" said the Girl. Then she
knew that there was absolutely
nothing more to say.
She gave quick glance at the
house and realized that this grief
was a new one. Then she noticed
that from the old fashioned door