The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-04-21
THE EASTER SURPRISE
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

SN~<~~~s~<~<~~<~~|er~ ~<<~~~~<~~~~~~~~<s
II was the evening of Good Friday
and the rain that had started in the
early morning was still drilling down
into the CheerleSS streets. Donald in
the doorway opening his umbrella pre-
paratory to trip To the movies two
blocks down. stepped aside 70 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, and the
little sign on her door and the one III
the entrance announced modeStly,
piano Lessons" without any hint as
to the maine of the person who did the
teaching.
Donald turned and held open the in
side door for her. Thank you, she
said simply, with a ghost OF SMILE
and passed on up the stairs.
An uncomfortable feeling took hoIu
Of him, aS it always did if he saw
child hurt or baby cry, a feeling that
somehow he was responsible for the
fact that someone in the world was not
happy and that it was up Ia him To do
the best he could to make amends. II
was such dear old world. What was
the use of being sad?
DUnald'S creed being practical As well
as theoretical, he put his wits To work
during the short walk downtown. and
by the time he came IL the dripping
Illuminated arch of the Lyric he had 4
plan mapped out that was calculated
70 banI>.l dull care for the time At any
rate, from the brow of the little music
teacher.
BY Saturday night the Easter bun
| ny" Us he called himself. had such a
/ layout on his sitting room table that
/ magazines and cigar jar had been r'le
/ gated To the floor. He had had no idea
! he was buying 50 much stuff, and when
! the bags and boxes had diSSOrged thelI
contents he was appalled,.
But when the bright red and greer
! basket was trimmed up. with its neS'
! Of green grass, and its wonderful bur
den Of chocolate eggs, cream eggs anc
]
chickens and ducks full Of bonbons, he
decided that the artists We're not al
/ dead and that he was going L. get thu
| gorgeous Easter surprise 10 his SAD
hearted little neighbor if he had Il
wake the very dead themselves to d,
IL.
The dumbwaiter was large. holdin!
laundry baskets with ease. He slid vi
the drop door in his own kitchen. pulled
the rope and soon had his freight an,
himself slowed comfortably on the lit
tel shelf. \ manipulation of the rope
and the cargo. human and festive, ros'
upward through the dark chute.
Donald touched the panel as he roS'
so that he would know when he came
to the first door. This he knew TO b'
his destination. But as fate would
have il he went gliding on up through
the dark. two stories instead of ont
and stopped at the drop door TIVE
floors above.
He disembarked and lifted off hi
freight as quickly as he could
Through the glass door TO the fire eS
cane came enough light for him to 10
cate a table. He was in the act o
laying his precious contributions upOl
this when the same light revealed
stout figure in the doorway which pro
ceeded TO yell Justify, Help, murder
police"
Mrs. Wilker. by all that was holy
And he with his gorgeous burden TO
the poor little piano teacher! He coul'
never explain! He must not be recog
niZed.
Quick as flash he sprang TO tn
door. gave the key a quick turn an
was out with his burdens.
Donald, down one flight, heard win
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
home!
But surprise had not ceased. TIL
light flashed and a girl in blue sill
kimono stood before him staring In
credulously at the gayly decked has
ket. his tousled hair and knuckles tina
were dripping blood.
You're hurt" were her first word:
And you've been crying again. h
said in spite of the fact that his sense
were swimming, and he had no ide
how he, or the girl either, came TO b
in this strange kitchen. But when sh
got a piece of linen and began TO tea
IL he realized she was at home an
that he wasn't. But he had reache
his destination at last.
He laid his offerings on the table
lin the Eastern bunny" he @,
planned incoherently. Then seeing he
justification he told the whole thin
while she tied up his hand.
The little sign piano Lessons
gone now and instead there is on
that says. This flat to let" But dOwr
stairs lives a happy couple that laug
whenever Mrs. Wilker tells for tn
hundredth time how she alone route
q desperate burglar the night befOr
Easter.
(Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure Newsp,
per Syndicate
Considerable.