The record. (Greenville, Ky.) 1899-1???, 1917-05-24
| The EASTER SURPRISE:
RyLOUISE OLIVER.

1t was the evening Of Good t'fida! ,
and the rain that had started III the
early morning was still drizzling down
into the cheerlesS streets. Donald, III
the doorway opening his umbrella pre-
paratory to q trip to the movies TWO
blocks down, stepped aside to let the
girl pass.
He just called her ''the girl" for he
didn't know her name yet. she was
practically new to the building, ana the
little sign ON her door and the one III
the entrance announced modestly,
''Piano Lessons" without any hint us
to the name OF the person who did the
teaching.
Donald turned and held open the IN
side door for her. "Thank you, sle
said simply, with a ghost Of smile,
and passed on up the stairs
An uncomfortable feeling took h0a
of him. as it always did if he saw Il
child hurt or baby cry, feeling tnat
somehow he was responsible lof the
fact that someone in the world was not
| happy and that it was up to him 20 do
the best he could to make amends. 1t
was such a dear old world. What was
the use of being sad?
DOnald's creed being practical as we'll
as theoretical he put his wits TO WORK
during the Short walk downtown, anu
| Inv the time he came to the dripping
illuminated arch of the Lyric he had Il
nlan mapped out that WAS calculated
10 Danish dull care for the time at any
rate. from the brow of the little music
teacher.
Bv Saturday night "the Easter bun
nv" as he called himself, had such a
layout on his sitting room table that
magazines and cigar jar had been rele-
gated to the floor. He had had no luea
he was buying so much Stuif, ana Wlleh
the bags and boxes had disgorged their
contents he was appalled,.
Rut when the bright red and green
basket was trimmed up, with It's nest
of green grass, and its wonderful bur-
den Of chocolate eggs, cream eggs ana
eggs of all cOlOrS, pink rabbits, doWhy
chickens and ducks full of bonDonS he
decided that the artists were not all
dead and that he was going to get TINS
gorgeous Easter surprise to his sad
hearted little neighbor if he had to
wake The very dead themselves 70 30
it. ,,,,,a
( : ,.g,-l.,ls.ytar v-ag iafge LlGlclna
laundry baskets with ease. lie slla up
rhe drop door in his own kitchen, puliea
lhe rope and soon had his freight ana
l himself slowed Comfortably on tlie III
3 tel shelf. A manipulation of the rope
: and the cargo human and festive, rose
inward through the dark chute.
II f Donald touched the panel as he rose
5 so that he would know when he came
: TO the first door This he knew to Dc
L his destination. But as fate WoulC
e have if he went gliding on up through
the dark, two stories instead OF one
s. and stopped at the drop door tW'
= floors above.
J. He disembarked and lifted off his
IL freight as quickly as he couiu
5, Through the glass door to the IRE es
III cane came enough light for him to 10
d cate a table. He was in the act O
t LAYING his precious contributions upol
d this when the same light revealed
10 stout figure in the doorway which pro
% ceeded to veil Justify, Help, murder
police!'
Oh Mrs. Wilker, by all that was holy
Is And he with his gorgeous burden 10
ne the poor little piano teacher! He coul
III never explain! He must not be recoe
aS nized.
~ Quick as a flash he sprang to tn
~ door, gave the key Il quick turn an
lle was out with his burdens.
Ohf
is dows opening below. He was befor
~ what he thought was his own bac
~ door. 1t took just an instant to smas
the glass, reach in his hand and tur
the key. Thank heaven! he wa
5 home!
But surprise had not ceased. I'll
ro- light flashed and n girl in a blue sii
kimono stood before him staring II
credulously at the Gayly decked ba
ket, his tousled hair and knuclIles tn;
nd were dripping blood.
ng "You're hurt!' were her first word
alb "And you've been crying again !"
mt said in spite of the fact that his sens
an were swimming, and he had no id'
cry how he, or the girl either, came TO
re- in this strange kitchen. But when 81
re- got piece Of linen and began to tet
in it he realized she was at home i'll
that he wasn't. But he had reach
re- his destination at last.
al He laid his offerings on the tab
ald ''I-rm the Eastern bunny" he e
nus planned incOherently. Then seeing h
at mystifcatiOn he told the whole thi
the While she tied up his hand.
The little sign "Piano Lessons
'ult gone now and instead there is o
acn that says, "This fiat to let" But dow
Vi stairs lives happy couple that lau
nou whenever Mrs Wilker tells for t
'ept hundredth time how she alone rout
'l'h IL desperate burglar the night beft
~ Easter.
re" Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure NewsI
i'll per Syndcate.)
the