Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-03-28

as Luctfer and won't let anybody help
her by any ways"
so am to blame for that. am ~"
demanded Imogen fercely.
''She ought TO have her home back"
said Mrs. Owen obstinately. It's
proved her father paid the money for
It l must be going now" she contin-
ued. with a side glance at the flowers.
You mustn't mind what l said about
Huldah Scott. / can't help feeling sor-
~ for her"
II expect everybody in town feels
the same way" challenged Imogen-
They seem TO feel sorry for her."
admitted Mrs. Owen. ''GOodby. I'm
ogen. Come around and see me when
you can"
The subject OF the lawsuit her father
had instituted against the meager es-
tate OF old James Scott was sore one
for victorious Imogen Morse. Three
years had passed since Huldah had
been turned from her home. and in
that time she had tried half a dozen
ways to earn a living and failed I'm
each. But she was a splendid house
keeper. and formerly she had earned
comfortable livelihood by taking
boarders In the rambling old house of
her father. Now she was Knocked
hither and thither among the few
wage earners in the village. At pres
ent she was tending the bakery for
the Smiths.
Imogen always looked forward to
Easter as a season OF great Joy, for
she loved the resurrection OF the how-
ers from their wintry sleep, the new
clothing OF the earth. the vague prom
Use Of a new life beyond this old one.
All these things bore significance for
her.
She impressed the story of the resur-
rection on her Sunday school class.
She found herself waxing eloquent as
she compared the arising of the bless
ed Lord from his death sleep to the
awakening of the dormant plant life.
She was filed with Joy at the APP
proach of Eastert1de. and it was not
herself but black shadow Of her real
nature which had carelessly overlook
ed the wrong that had been done to
Huldah Scott.
The next day would be Good Friday,
and Imogen resolved that she would
have some hot cross buns for her
breakfast, so after her dinner was
cleared away she walked down to the
bakery. The store was quite empty
save for little girl perched on a stool
behind the counter. 1t was the bakers
child.
"welI, Edna, who's tending store
todayr asked Imogen briskly.
Miss Huldah's tending store. She'll
be back in a moment. Have your lilies
withered up yet. Miss Imogen" asked
the little girl eagerly.
"withered up? What do you mean.
child ?" demanded Miss Morse.
why, father said he should think
the lilies would wither up under the
touch Of your hands, you're so hard
hearted" said the child, with the bru-
tai directness of her age.
Imogen gasped and turned white.
''Well, 1 never" she gasped; 81 never
did, Then she turned and fed from
the place.
Back in her own rooms, she looked
strangely at the lilies. Once she reach
ed forth finger tip and touched the
white waxen blossom. 1T didn't with
err" she said eagerly. 81 wonder what
/ can do. Suppose 1 should touch one
tomorrow or Sunday ana IT should
turn browni l never thought of that.
I suppose l am not At; l am not ft"
Miss Imogen bowed her black head on
her hands and sat very still.
She was very busy the next two
days. and on the night before Easter
she sat in her sitting room with the
three Easter lilies ranged in a row be-
fore her.
ITS no credit to me to give Huldah
Scott back her house again. That's her
own. What can l do that will hurt
me the most? Speak up. Imogen
Morser' she commanded herself.
The gate clicked, and Huldah Scott
ran up the path and knocked lightly
on the door "Come fn." said Imogen.
'Tts me-" said Huldah breathlessly.
"I just heard little Edna Smith tell
what she said 10 you the other day
about the lilies whitening. I'm awful
sorry, Imogen, but you mustn't mind
Folks say all sorts Of mean things
about
Imogen arose and placed her hands
on Huldah's shoulders. II don't mind.
hul0an, Sne SAID seriously. IN gao
of 1t. Z always thought | knew what
Easter meant, but ! find / didn't real
ize It meant the resurrecting of soul
from sin rs much as anything else.
and I've set myself a stint"
What Is it?' asked Huldah.
I'm not going to touch another
Easter lily until I'm satisfied I'm |
cleansed of some OF my sins" said /
Imogen grimly. "All these lilies are |
for you. and the new plum colored suit, |
and your place back and all. It's no !
credit to me-"
HuIdah took Imogen's hand and /
closed II tightly around the largest. /
snowiest blossom OF the Easter lily.
"Oh. Imogen. you are worthy nowT'
she said softly.