Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-25
Euening Story
THE SILVER CLEAN,
Copyright 1915. by t he Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
BY Izola Forester.

Newspaper Synd1cate.)
"They say there's no doubt of the
operations success" Stanley was say
ing happily. We're hoping he'll be
able to play for the Easter service,
and see the beauty Of it all as well,
please God"
Esther stood just back OF the choir
stalls, on her way into the little room
where the altar hangings were kept.
She could not but pause as she caught
the words, and Mrs: Sturges' warm,
motherly voice answering back:
There isn't one heart that will not
rejoice with him. In the three years
since he came here he has endeared
himself so to all Of us that his joy is
our joy. Does he know"
He is hoping, as we are" said
Stanley. "Of course, until the ban
dages are removed he can't be GER
tain l wish you and Miss Sturges
could come over and see him. He
asks every day for you both"
well, We will, of course, this after
noon l had no idea he could be seen
yet" &c.,.
Esther slipped away into the vestry
, and laid away the hangings. There
was small passageway that led out
into the old fashioned garden between
+; the church and the rectory and she
slipped out that way instead Of wait
ing for her mother and her friends.
The air was sweet with spring
odors. There had been light, quick
rain, and everything seemed to exude
fragrance How often she had
walked up and down the tagged walks
with Roy, talking Of all the things they
two loved best, helping him, to bear
, his blindness.
He had told her 1t was her voice
and the touch of her hand that first
made him care for her. These and
her eager. sympathetic understanding
had made them SO companionable
and it was companionship he craved
mostly Their common love Of mu.
sic, too, was another strong factor
She sang contralto and often in the
old church their two voices mingled
In sympathetic harmony ..r. T.
But as he had grown more fervent
In his love for her she had evaded
him. Knowing his great love for
beautiful things she believed that II
ever his sight returned his love for
her would die. Not that she was
homely, but she was not beautiful
and she, too loved beauty as he did,
the Greek perfection Of line, the rare
Saxon beauty of coloring.
Roy himself was like a picture she
had seen once Of young Olympian
racer, tall and blonde, with the Greek
profile and only the closed, fluttering
eyelids to tell Of what he lacked. But
she was little and brown, brown hair
and eyes, skin that always freckled
with the first spring winds and fea-
lures that were Gallo in their irregu-
lar. provocative contour. Surely, If
sight ever came to him he never
would love her as he had done be-
fore.
She passed some boys bearing
palms into the church for the Easter
service. There would be the full Choir
al service with the mixed choir and
she was to sing in the offertory an
them:
"The shadows break in eastern dawn,
Oh, silver CLEAN that lights His way
Shine fair and clear where Mary
seeks ~.
Her risen Lord on Easter day.
She made an excuse that afternoon
while her mother went to call on Roy.
When she heard that they had taken
the bandages of his eyes and that he
could see, she prayed silently that she
might be thankful with all her heart
for him and think nothing of herself.
AS the choir came up the chancel
steps on Easter day, the girls last Of
all in their Oxford caps and snowy
collars, Roy lifted his head to watch
them He was not strong enough yet
to play the full service, but he was
to play the offertory anthem and he
wondered which of the singers was
Esther. One was tall and fair as one
OF the lilies themselves, and one was
dark haired, with blue eyes uplifted
to the angel In the stained glass win
dow above the altar. Which one, he
asked himself, which Of them all was
Esther
Not until there, came the hush be-
fore the offertory did he see her. As
he took his place at the grand old
organ. she rose with the others, but
when she began her solo he saw her
face, not turned toward him. but lift
ed as she sang the beautiful words.