Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 78, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 April 1910 — AN EASTER REVELATION [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AN EASTER REVELATION

She was the pretty soprano at the Church on the Hill. He was the young divinity student who supplied the pulpit In the absence of Dr. Raymond. Towering six feet from the ground, with a physique to match his seventy-two inches, Theodore Small had been the pride of his college on the football team. Added to this he possessed a face that merited the kindly badinage of his friends in calling him “Apollo.” By nature frank, cordial and sincere, with talents that won admiration wherever he ■was known, the young theologue's future seemed full of promise.' His fellow-students often rallied him on his power over the fair sex, declaring he had but to smile to win the heart of every woman, old or young. But Theodore Small, in spite of his twenty-five years and his association with many women, had never felt his pulse quicken at the sight of one more than another. Many eyes of blue and black and brown were wont to brighten whenever Theodore drew near. But it was a one-sided devotion. Courteous and chivalrous toward all women he had the unconscious power of making each one feel as If it were toward herself alone that these kindly attentions were akown. i But the first Sunday morning that he supplied the pulpit at the Church on the Hill, Theodore was conscious of a new pleasurable sensation as he walked slowly up the aisle of the almost empty Church. The mellow light from the richly colored windows shone in a golden ray across the choir gallery, where the singers were rehearsing the hymns for the morning service. The sunbeam ended where a young girl stood —a girl with large blue eyes and a wealth of hair that shone like gold in the sunshine. The church was echoing with the last strains of the song, and Theodore felt an added Interest in his duty as bis eyes fell on the fair soprano. The deacon who accompanied him introduced him to the little group. Hilda Parker was the last to receive the courtly bow from the morning's preacher. *" = A few minutes later and the auditoriumhaiTbeguirTOflit Tbesermoa was one of the young student’s beet and at the close, as he descended from the pulpit and mingled with the people, he heard mauy commendatory words. When at last the postlude ceased and the Sunday school service began, he felt a strong sense of anticipation as he took his place before Dr. Raymond's class—-several ~pews full of bright-faced young men and women. It was a difficult task to take the pastor’s place, for Dr. Raymond was the idol of his people, and especially were these young people wont to criticise any supply. It was Hilda Parker’s little brother Phil who had remarked in a most discouraged tone one time, “Oh, dear. I don’t like these specimens they send us from the Semiuary." But Theodore Small was happily unconscious of this feeling. He was content t{jat Hilda Parker sat demurely before him. busily conning her Bible and Blakeslee lesson book. The class was an interesting one and Theodore enjoyed the half hour better than he dared confess to himself. Five Sundays ere January did he supply the pulpit and in that incredibly short time hie had become remarkably well acquainted with his parishioners, especially the members of Dr. Raymond's class—and Hilda Parker. Then Dr. Raymond’s health broke down, and he was forced to take a much needed rest. Theodore was unanimously asked to fill the pulpit during the pastor's absence. It is needless to say that he hccepted. Hilda’s mother —dear woman that she was—was Wind to any earthly cause of her daughter's new interest In all religious matters. She herself, an earnest worker in the church and the president of the Women's Helping league, thought only of Hilda’s spiritual awakening. Theodore found it his duty to c«TT frequently on his people. Mr. Parker, as one of the deacons of the church, and the young; minister* ~lffCeiar m cou-~ ferred together. Theodore sought his counsel in many pastoral duties, explaining that he wished the work to go on during Dr. Raymond's absence as pearly like Ills methods as possible. Somehow Theodore seemed 'td' catT~on evenings when Hilda was at home. Poesibly-the deacon was more astute than his wife, for his eyes twinkled one night when he detected a disappointed look on the yoqng'minister’s face when he informed him that thfe ladies were both out. Easter was the last Sunday before Dr. Raymond’* return. Theodore’s life «t the Churcn on the Hill was nearly

over. Next month he would graduate from the Seminary and go where duty called. He noticed a gad little droop in Hilda's mouth as she extended fyer hand in welcome before the morning service, and he duly wondered at himself that he did not feel sorry for her. He had never been in love belore, you know. Hilda Parker never sang better than she did that Easter morning and as her sweet soprano voice echoed through the flower-laden air of the" church in the strains of “Messiah” like a beautiful revelation came the knowledge to Theodore Small that he Tdv'ed'Hllda Parkei —with—aH—-the-strength of his manhood. That evening after the usual Easter concert, he watched Hilda closely lest she escape him, for he felt that he must see her alone ere he slept. But Hilda was an unusually long time gathering up her music, and the church was nearly deserted when Theodore slowly mounted the steps Into the choir loft. “Are you reauy to go. Miss Parker?” he queried. As they emerged from the brightly lighted church into the darkness outside his heart was full of the words he longed to utter. He could not see Hilda's face, but he felt the trimly gloved hand on his arm tremble. “The Easter season is the symbol of all new life.” he began “From that first glad Easter morning with its wonderful promise through all the centuries since it has been a time of awakening and hope. Dearest, as the earth puts on her new robes of Spring, may It not be the time of the plighting of our and mine—with its hope for a new life together through many happy years to come? - ' That Theodore’s Easter Revelation came true is evident from the fact that two months later found them blissfully speeding westward on their wedding journey. ......