Connecticut western news., 1881-06-15
FOUR BLUE PLATES. liE

I [Drawing-room in Mrs. Hollener's coun- try house. Gabrielle, her only child, one-and-twenty, exceedingly pretty. low-browed, dark-eyed, and fair haired, sitting before small table, on which are an old-fashioned silver tea set and four very old-fashioned blue plates. She is looking at one of the plates. The sound of merry voices floats in from the garden, as Oswald Owens, three-and-twenty, tall, broad shouldered, blue eyed, dark-haired, enters the room, and advances toward her. Sine drops the spoons with which she has been toying, in momen- tary confusion, and looks up with a a faint blush.]
 Miss Hollener Not playing croquet, Mir. Owens? S-A :, --s,tS,.- ..-s!,-
 MT. Owens "Not playing croquet,;"' Miss Hollener. I come to seek yon.. They are asking for you in the garden. Miss Hollener I hope, if they con- tinue to ask, they will continue to ask at that safe distance don't want to hear them. Mamma is there, is she not?
 MT. Owens Yes, enacting the role of the hostess charmingly, as she al- ways does. s5l .t..
 Miss Hollener Then I certainly shall not go. You look as though you thought me remiss in daughterly duty. ron the contrary, his expression is one of intense appreciation. I am not. This is entirely mammals party, and she likes crcquet. As for me, boldly avow I detest it, and could never understand the wild enthusiasm with which so many people whack unoffending wooden balls about, and then run wildly after them. I only promised to pour out the tea, and having done that, prefer to sit here by myself
 MT. Owens half turning awayl: By yourself? I beg pardon for my intru- sion, and will remain no longer.
 Miss Hollener I had not finished my sentence, MT. Owens. By myself, or with pleasant companion.
 Mr.. Owens And am I fortunate enough to be regarded by you as a pleasant companion?
 Miss HolIener with demure smile |: We'll, I do not think you; are very un- pleasant. ''.- -''-
 MT. Owens [eagerly]: Then I may stay? .,
 Miss Hollener If you promise to be entertaining. 2~satsss .a
 Mir. Owens taking seat on the op- posite side of the table9: I promise to try, but am afraid my powers of en- tertaining are but small. Are you in terested in scientific subjects?
 Miss. Hollener Not at this moment, unless old plates are scientific subjects. I was puzzling over these directing his attention to the blue plates when you came in. They form, as you see, a SC. r1es of pictures. Mamma bought them at sale the other day, and they are ever so ancient, and consequently eve1 so interesting. Are you learned il earthenware lore? hope you are, anG can read pictured story, for am dy ing to know what it all means. Thi one evidently represents an incident il the early youth of the hero and heroine and this Some one outside calls, "Ga brielle Grbrielle p Miss Hollener with slight shrug of her shoulders leaves her chair, and takes 8 few step in the direction of the voice, when tn caller, apparently satisfied, that tn called is not within hearing, retreating she returns, and resumes her seat. Now, if you please, commence, MT Owens.
 MT. Owens You take it for granted then, that am learned in earthen war lore?
 Miss Hollener: do. hear that yo are extremely clever, and have invente something that the world has long bee in need of. You may, by and-by, if yo will be so kind, cell me all about it; bu now l am just in the mood to listen t story.
 Mir. Owens And I. to confess tn truth, just in the mood to tell one. Bu I trust it will not disappoint you. It barely possibly, you know, to inver "something the world has long been i need of" and yet lack cleverness as story y-teller. But you are growing in patient, and I hasten to begin. Th first plate, if you please. [She han6 it to him. He studies it moment Once on time Will that do for a b, ginning? .s
 Miss Hollener: Excellently we'll. carries me at once back to the days my childhood. They were happy day