The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1909-04-02
Valdean'S Easter Lady,
n ROMA NEE OF EASTER svNDAv

out.
The Easter lady?"
You are not wholly unknown N M
MISS Drummond. although / confess
never saw YOU until to-day" s,id ~
dean, slowly Last Easter chan,
10 be az St Marks church i'm the ci,,.
and there | heard YOU sing for t
hrst time. ] know IL was Won III
could not be mistaken in the yoir.
ala not see YOU, nor was | able ~
nnd out who you We're or where Is,
lNed, nut your voice has haunted nd
TOT whole year In my Thought
In my dreams. YOU have been known
10 me only as the Easter lady. In
now-at last
re checked himself. and delibor,.o.
ly began 10 turn the vehicle INFO
crossroad leading al right angles from,
the one they We're following The cfri
quickly laid small gloved hand ID
his arm.
No, no" She cried: mot that wsv
Keep straight on. Mrs. CamperdoWp
lives"
Mrs. CamperdOwn can watt sai1
Naldean. firmly. as the car shot irfo
the new road at an increased rate IN
"iNN'- HtA hNA ifAul 10 lAht Won
to Mrs. Camperdown yet. have
waited whole var for this oppor.
tunity; do YOU think | am going 10
turn you over TO Mrs. Camperdown
so soon"
Miss Drummond sank helplesslv
back in her seat. He knew she was
staring fiXedly at him. and he half.
expected an outburst OF expostulation.
but he did not turn his head.
Am ! being Kidnapped" she asked
at last; and the humorous note in her
voice assured him that his bold move
was being condoned.
Naldeans face frightened with a
quick CLEAN OF excited pleasure
Then you will let me drive you 70
town."
Indeed 1t will be a great favor 10
me II hope IL is not asking too much
OF you"
"Oh. shall be delighted. And we
can dine at the Red Eagle inn. which
is directly on the way. and still get
home before nightfall"
The ice was broken. il was aston.
ishing how quickly these young peo-
pie arrived at a mutual and cordial
understanding BY the time the Red
Eagle inn doomed up before them they
were chatting as gaily and unreseryei
~ as II they had known each other f0T
years They dined cozily and happily
at the inn. consuming much more time
than was necessary in the perform
ance. and then taking their places IN
the car once more. they resumed their
journey toward the city.
Il was sure something portentous
would happen to-day said Naldean
enthusiastically. as they bowled along
the highway.
And has anything portentous hap
pened?" asked Miss Drummand curl
ously.
surely. Nothing could be more
significant than this chance meeting
between you and me"
"But--does It portend anything
ITO me II does II holds a beautiful
promise. II is the fate OF the Nalde-
ans. Listen. Miss Drummond,' and
the young man became very serious
Easter Is strangely mixed up With
the destinies OF the Valdeans. My
father met my mother for the first
time on Easter day. My Grandfather
and grandmother first knew Of each
others existence on an Easter morn
ing and they were married the same
evening. II was the tricksy spirit Of
that festival that brought my great.
grandparents together nearly a hum
bred years ago. AS far back as the
record goes the members Of my family
have all met their affinities al Easter
time. viii you contend. Miss Drum
mond- Margaret-that our meeting
to-day has no meaning for the il-
ture?'
she gave him a quick. frightened
look. Then the warm color streamed
into her face and neck. and her eyes
dropped.
Might II not mean" he continued
with desperate earnestness, that we
are both controlled by the same fate
that rules in the Valdean family.
Might II not mean that you and IT
Nonsense" interrupted the girl
but her voice was very faint and trem-
ulous.
"Will YOU let me hope, Margaret
he whispered again.
She slowly shook her head. We
have known each other SO short
time" she protested.
we have known each other for five
hours" said Valdean. looking az fis
watch. What does il natter i is
fate. At least tell me that ! may
hope"
She was silent a long time; but a.
last she sighed softly and lifted her
eyes trustfully to his
Yes. II think you may hope
Richard"