The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-04-11
The Eue1ine Story
Tulips i'm the Square.

capable ct filling the place. So much
for the difficulties of Herr Baum.
eve of his famous Easter festival
And for Margaret Hall. released
only that day from the city pesthouse.
and lying stretched out on the window
sill Of q wretched room there was
the wretched room for 2 week. no
money and-no voice! Why hadn't
they let her die? She clutched hope
lessly at the cords of her throat. PAR
alysis.' the city's doctor said pitifully.
and turned away from the blight In
her face.
Her great voice was gone. the voice
that would have borne her to the high
pinnacles of fame. Because Of 1T she I
had sent Robert Lynn out Of her life,
stay. Would he care now, il he knew. |
she wondered. She prayed that he |
might never know. and-breathed his
name passionately out into the night. |
ingly and caressed the hot dry cheeks
IA bit of breeze that was soft and
earthly. and sweet with hope and flow
ers Flowers! She looked up with
there beyond the clothes lines and
chimney pots and the church with the
spire-crimson and yellow tulips.
whole beds Of them. in the square.
Perhaps they would let her lie there
through the cool. dark night with their
dewy petals on her parched lips. She
drew a daring breath. She would 60
l-quickly away from the sordid room
| out to the tulips in the square.
to the street e Sic felt STRANGELY bouy-
ant and strong. block. and the
buoyancy had left her; another. and
needle stabs of pain pricked at her
knees and feet. The tickle April
| breeze no longer lured her on. There
was a clinging chill in it.
| The vestry door of the church with
the spire was open. Two men went
| strolling in, and a woman with a book
slowly turned. She would rest in
there, and after a while-go back. She
was too tired tonight for the tulips.
She pushed the padded door open
into the warm, flower-scented air OF
the church and sank exhausted and
faint into q nearby seat. The organ
rolled out few big notes and as
through a. mist she saw the choir gath
ering to the stalls, and down in front
Of the chancel a woman fluttering
The choir! Lilies! Why, it was
Easter time! She started up. She had
forgotten 1t, and in another moment
they were going to sing she must t
mot yet!
But even as she staggered to her
feet a tall queen lily seemed to beckon
her imperiously. She gazed at 1t
|
drew her. Conscious of the strange
vigor in her limbs again. she walked
straight into the perfumed presence
and pulled the proud head hungrily to
her lips.
The woma n looked at her with more
than a passi lg curiosity. you are as
white as tn, lilies. child" she said.
"Are you ILL.,.
had begun and she seemed to be lis
tenine With the first notes Of the
great prelude a sort OF terror took
, possession of her and she looked
t next nome mt she was writhing in the
thrOes Of a mortal struggle. Her I'm
= gers beat and tugged at her throat a.
though they would tear her In pieces
, and she fought franticaAy Tor Dream
The woman rushed to her. only to be
thrown back against pillar.
The organ, threading its tOrtuoul
maze of perplexity and grief. seemed
to drag the girl mercileeely into III
agony; then, gradually feeling the way
j into clearer places, in the same man
s ner it seemed to call her out OF hel
confusion and torment of spirit unit
!, | it reached out triumphantly after 1t!
d great redeeming chord of victory ant
;, life. Then at last the girls convulsiv'
d fingers dropped and q something tina
5 was at first unbelief, then hope, theI
s veritable surety. swept her race INK
: The thing that happens once. may
be. in a generation, in q century, hat
o happened. m.
t Strengthened and stretched out Quito. Dot,
chord. And when 1t came-ans
n paused-clear, unencumbered. exuit
e ant. the imprisoned voice burst IL
IS bonds, and leaped feariessiy OUT lnu
the pregnant silence. "Behold! be
n hold! they rolled away the stone!
& The choirmaster Of st. Luke's whirl
ed around on his chair. He was t
: have pitched the prelude to the .a LIS
It ensemble, emitting the great openln
2 solo. What did it mean? they LOOK
ed in turn at him dumb with amaze
ment. 4, -,
:. Herr Baum fell on his keys, FUN
=, h1ed- found them finally, and accom-
nanied 1t in unhalting winged 1nen
l. up to the last regal note men ~" y,
10 sWho did that?'' he shouted "wh
did it," u..
e Ranm looked around. At the en-
trance to the chancel, between tn
:" 1,fCh lilac. a girl was standing,
Girl with q radiant, glorified face.
II Tit was L" she ersafn m;rs ssssa''e
tn sl,yi he'd held it! + Ten her I d!an
mean to take her solo. She wouldn
"a mind IL she knew. and I am soin
n now-away."
- mean to do it! Who are yo'
xirl?" His voice WAS rough wen 9.
eitement and the girl fell back fro1
=. him. the joy in her face in the II
l.o The woman interposed sharpl'
..Herr Baum, can't you see! In
IL ~frl a. been ILL., She didn't me1
no snv harm. I saw Il all. Somethin
=. wonderful has happened to her!
Harm! Harm" he reared NJ
are you taking about? She.s
" anger nent rom .sxses. :.
AZ. Wtre0 All Over ing CAty s.s.,'.1r~-