The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1908-04-17

MN i
less variety of sunshine
and shadow! Divine, indeed, with the
divinity of spring. The very smallest
and sweetest of the early wild flowers
bioomed in the sheltered places, and
the quail nesting on the hillside, called
melodiously across the valleys Mead
ow larks rippled their melody of tune
under foot, and the long absent lizards
summed themselves luxuriously on the
rocks.
1t was as though, after the mighty
throes of travail Mother Nature
hushed upon her breast, with the
brooding of tender motherhood, the
blessed Child, as yet too young for
its full uncovering.
It was day to revive old loves and
longings, and to arouse the fires of old
passions-to let slip from you dis
content and all uncharitabteness. And
over all the quiet of the morning the
bells pea1ed their Christ is riseS,"
and the tremor Of their echoes thriAe.ed
you to your finger tips.
Mrs. Chester dressed herself slowly
and with much deliberation, that Eas-
ter morning. The gauzy spring gown
lay, Ia all its dainty f1ufIiness of laces
aud ruffies and tucks, upon her bed.
Beside 1t lay the dainty hat and gloves
and the creamy parasol which was to
cast just the right tinge of white over
the piquant face Of the pretty little
woman who was to carry it. A tiny,
tiny lace handkerchief lay over a bit
OF a purse, wherein was the CLEAN Of
gold; and great bunch Of mammoth
violets filled the room with their fra.
GRANGE.
She was as bride who arrayed her
self for the coming of her bridegroom
and OF this she thought, but quick
frown gathered on her brow, worried
tie frown which fingered until the
bal settling Of the dainty hat upon
8 the fluffy dark hair finally drove 1t
y away.
The bells again rang out their
Christ is risen" as she stepped from
the door, She paused moment, then,
turning, walked rapidly around the
house. beyond the pepper trees, across
the rose garden to where, In a stately
row, the great white Easter lilies lift.
ed their heads to drink in the beauty
OF the morning. A little terrace led
up to them, and upon this she stepped
datntily, one hand grasping the little
niceties of her toilet-the white gloves
j., the bit of lace, the pocketbook where
S1a,we!e the pieces Of gold to be
dropped. with musical Jingle, from
tiny fingers into the contribution bas
ket; the dainty skirts and the furlet
parasol With the other hand she
broke of the longstemmed lilies
raised them caressingiy to her cheek
whitfield their fragrance, and stepped
back. Her foot slipped and turned OF
the forgotten terrace, there was lit
tie cry, as she fell, with all the snowi
ness Of her garments about her. anG
the vioiets and the Easter lilies upor
her breast.
She lay quietly q moment. dazed
and sickened by the suddenness and
pain of the fall, She tried to move
but warning pains shot up in the foot
doubled under her. Then she called
and waited, and called again; but no
body answered. Again she waited
then she became drowsy and faint
ness stole upon her. The bells rang
out. II am the resurrection and the
life" over and over again. Then all
was still. Faint sounds began to force
thenDelves upon her dull ears-the
drip, drip. drip of the hydrant into
stone basin. the ripping note or two