Free press., 1908-02-08

ell on her k1se1 in the snow and
laced hfy 0l the snow-coyered
ave of the sleeper. A moment later
ne had entered the church.
Here's Sarepty with the lilies," ex-
claimed Mrs. Lackey, as Sarepty glided
in and stood tremblingly by the old
sheetiron stove. The lights blinded
her at first, then with returning vision
two figures alone became visible to
her. A man was standing on a STEP
ladder locking down into the eyes Of
beautiful girl who was reaching a
trailing vine toward him.
The man, attracted by Sarepty's
burning gaze, turned suddenly and
saw a slight, dark-robed figure holding
bunch of lilies to her breast
Sarepty's heart gave hot leap
along her breast and then stood still.
1t seemed to her that it would never
move again. She felt only a great
calmness after the burning fever OF
the past few days.
They're just lovely" commented
Mrs. Lackey, taking the lilies from
Sarepty's trembling hands. Prudence
and Mr.. Dean air a-goin' to arrange
them. Did you know John Dean 'ud
come home fer good an all? You used
to be lovers like, didn't you, afore you
took up with Tobia Toon? But surely
you're not goin' now, Sarepty?" she
exclaimed, as Sarepty, without reply
ing, gathered her shawl closely around
her and turned toward the door.
"Yes-mother's alone, an guess I'd
-T,0 S@A
ing the while how it was possible to
talk with that awful weight on her
breast 1t seemed as though Tobia
had laid his cold dead hand on her
heart
81 wish you'd jist dust them books
an pile 'em up in the corner" Mrs.
Lackey continued. "The young folks
air a-goin' to arrange the flowers, an
the dustin an sich like falls to US es
air married an settled down"
Sarepty took up the old dust brush
and commenced to dust and arrange
the books. Prudence Laekey's laugh
ing tones and the questioning ones OF
the man on the ladder fell on her ear
as her trembling hands busted them
selves among the books. When the
last one had been carefully gone over,
she lay the brush on chair and quiet
ly stole out.
1t was quite dark when she passed
out into the cool air, and she shivered
as she reached the churchyard, uncon.
sciously quickening her steps.
She walked quickly along, saying to
herself over and over again that she
was glad he was happy; it was but
natural that he had forgotten her; she
hadn't expected him to remember, 1t
all happened so long ago. She had
never realized before how beautiful
Prudence Lackey was, nor how pale
and faded she must seem in compari-
son.
An oyermastering quietude took
possession of her; with such oppres-
sion it was impossible to think clearly.
She was only conscious of dazed
feeling and desire to be alone.
She had gone about a quarter OF
mile when the sound as of some one
running smote on her ear. She grew
afraid, terrified at she knew not what.
Perhaps it was Tobia come to upbraid
her!
The wind caught her shawl and bore
it away; she turned to pursue it, when
the figure of a man running at full
speed became visible. He was holding
in his hand some white thing that
waved and fiuttered in the wind.
She felt her strength going and the
solitary lamp in her mother-in-law's
window seemed so far away: She
managed to reach a big thorn tree
growing by the roadside and sank
down, unable to move or speak.
A faint moon had risen and Sarepty
could see the man but a few yards
away. 1t was Tobia with the lily she
had laid on his breast! The next min
ute she had tainted.
When she came to she was lying on
some ones breast wrapped in mans
soft overcoat, and voice that sent
the blood leaping through her veins
was murmuring:
"Retta, darling, Retta! why did you
run away from me? When I tackled
that vine I went to find you and you
had gone" He held bunch of lilies
before her happy eyes, exclaiming:
"See, here are your lilies. stole them
because they were yours
There was wedding on Easter and
the bride wore a bunch of warm, fra
grant lilies on her breast that her hus-
band had stolen from the meeting
house, while the solitary lily on Tobia