The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1881-07-15
Four Blue Plates.

OldNlnB-rOOm IN Mrs dOLLENERs country
house, GABRIILE, her only child, one-and
twenty, exceedingly pretty w-browed, darl
eyed, and air-haired, sitting before small
table, on which are an old-fashioned' silver tea
set and four very old-fashioned blue plates.
The sound of merry voices floats in from tn,
garden, as OSWALD OWENS, three nd-twenty
tall, broad-shouldered blue-eyod, and dark
haired, enters the room and advances toward:
her. She drops the spoon with which she has
been toying, in momentary confusion, and
looks up with faint blush.
Miss HoILENER. Not playing Gro,
quet, Mr.. Owens?
Mr.. OWENS. "Not playing croquet, u
Miss Hollener 1 came to seek you.
They are asking for you in the garden.
Miss HoLIENER. l hope, if they con-
tinue to ask, they will continue to ask
of that safe distance;I Il don't want to
hear them. Mamma is there, is she
not?
Mr.. OWENS. Yes, enacting the role
of the hostess charmingly, as she always
does.
Miss HoLLNER. Then l certainly
shall not 60. You look as though you
thought me remiss in daughterly duty,
ION the contrary, his expression is of
one of intense appreciation. am not.
This is entirely mammals party, and she
likes croquet. AS for me, boldly
avow I detest it, and never could under
stand the wild enthusiasm with. which
SO many people whack unoffending
wooden balls abont, and then run wild
ly after them. I only promised to pour
out the tea, and having done that, pre-
fer to sit here by myself
Mr.. OWENS (half turning away. By
yourself? I beg pardon for my intru-
sion, and will remain no longer.
Miss HoLLENER. l had not finished
my sentence, Mr.. Owens, By myself,
or with pleasant companion.
Mr.. OWENS. And am I fortunate
enough to be regarded by you as pleas
ant companion?
Miss HoL1ENER with demure smile).
Well, / do not think you so very un-
pleasant.
Mr.. OWENS, (eagarly), Then I may
stay?
MISS HoIhENER. If you promise to
be entertaining.
Mr.. OWENS taking a seat on the OPP
posite side of the table,. Ipromise to
try, but am afraid my powers OF enter
tainment are but small. Are you in
terested in scientific subjects ?
Miss HoLLENER. Not at this moment,
unless old plates are scientific subjects.
1 was puzzling over these directing his
attention to the blue plates) when you
came in, They form, as you see, SER
les of pictures. Mamma bought them
at a sale the other day, and they are
ever so ancient, and consequently ever
so interesting. Are you learned in
earthenware loreP hope you are, and
can read the pictured story, for I'm dy-
ing to know what it all means. This
one evidently represents an incident in
the early youth of the. hero and hero.
inc; and this Some one outside calls,
"GABRIEhnE GABRuLEl" MISS HoLnE
NER, witha slight shrug Of her shoulder
leaves her chair, and takes few steps
in the direction of the voice, when the
caller, apparently satisfied that the call
cd is not within hearing, retreating, she
returns, and resumes her seat. Now
II you please, commence, Mr.. Owens.
Mr. OWENS. You take il for granted
then, am learned in earthenware lore
MISS HoLLENER. l do. / hear tha
you are extremely clever, and have in
vented something that the world ha
long been in need OF. You may, by-and
by il you will DO so kind, tell me al
about it; but now am just in the mod
to listen to story
Mr.. Owens, And ], to confess th
truth, just in the mood to tell one. Bu
! trust it will not disappoint you. 1t
barely possible, you know, to inver
something the world has long been
need Of" and yot lack cleyetness as
stoy.tollSr, But you are growing impa