, 1886-07-25
MISS MARTINEAU'S TEA.

story. The place was perfect, with its
lace-worked draperv of vines-purple
wisteria, roses and clematis-and there
was n festive awning of Roman stripe
u~nfurled to the south, subduing the sun
shine to n hazy mellowness.
"This is just the place to do the ideal
in" said Amy Laying, who reveled in the
splendor of her friends ne%wly-acquired
fortune. IN the midst of such en-
chanting circumstances, you never
ought 10 lose your temper, Helene
Miss Martincau was swinging herself
lazily in a pretty hammock, with a look
on her face that expressed the most pro
found indifference. Could it be that she
was already bored by the excessive
elegance of her position?
"If people would only let me alone
she said with n shrug, Il could behave
like an angel. You never anoy me,
Amy, but" she added with a comical
sigh, Il feel as though it would take me
a lifetime to recover from those tete-a-
tetes with the dear count, as Mrs. Stuy-
vesant calls him."
"Well, | don't wonder at that, said
Amy laughing. "He is not coming to
tea, ! suppose!'
@He is not asked" Helene replied, with
a languid motion of q delicate feather
fan which she held.
"Poor fellowl l will tell Oscar he must
do his best to replace him.
A dash of un%accountable color ap-
peared in Helene's face, but the parro-
keet feather screened it.
as Oscar coming?- she asked Ian
guidly.
Il believe so. 1t is a tremendous con-
cession to you, my dear. He hates
society, you know, and l don't think he
took very kindly to your engagement to
Count Wierlawsky."
Don't he know that this is all broken
Off" said Helen, hurriedly.
"Yes," said Amy, "but Oscar is an ec-
centric. you know, though he is one OF
the dearest fellows in the world. He
was very fond of you, Helene, and I
think he is rather afraid to meet you for
fear he will find you changed"
what makes you think that?'
Ale asked me whether you were Just
the same as you were when you used to
study Greek with him, and copy his
chemistry notes. l know he thinks So
ciety and wealth have spoiled you,
though l told him the contrary. He
Says
"WhatY' said Helene, imperiously. as
Amy paused and went on sorting her
embroidery silks in silence.
ale says" she continued, with a fur
tive glance at her friend, "if you had
never gotten rich, he would have been
quite sure of you; but that now he
could hardly say how you will turn
out"
Indeed" cried Helene with a little rail-
ing laugh, giving her fan such a savage
firt hat the ivory handled snapped in
twain. II ami indebted to Mr.. Dwight
for his opinion. When a man takes up
preconceived ideas about me, | never
think it worth while to combat them"
She got out of the hammock slowly,
and trailed her blue cashmere morning
gown over the veranda.
II am going to order bisque and cara
mel ice" she said, suddenly. 1T is the
proper thing to have it surved in coffee
cups. Amy. Shall l bring out my Beluk
serviceY"
Amy adored planning. and the ar
rangements for Miss Martineau's tea
proved very absorbing. When Saturday
came the veranda looked like an en-
chanted garden. The floor was patched
with Oriental rugs, and plants were
blooming in every corner, while luxuri-
Gus chairs and divans were scattered
about alpp ,utla of n111u ohnnal fahlau
spread with embroidered cloths and
laden with dainty china.
AS Oscar Dwight stepped through the
curtained window on the veranda in the
wake of a butler who conveyed his card
to Helene, he realized that he must be
very late, for his fine head and gray eyes
over-topped n crowd of gossiping tea
drinkers, already assembled.
Helene was sitting at the far end of
the veranda. He singled her out at once,
for she was taller than most women,
and her small head had n proud poise
which he could not fail to recognize.
She was at her best that afternoon in a
rich gown of crimson plush that was set
off with ivory satin and trimmings of
duchess lace.
How beautiful she has grown," Oscar
murmured, with a sharp pang; "and yet,
if she had not come into her fortune, she
would probably have married that ras-
cally Russian"
The thought was uppermost in his
mind when he met Helene, and she held
out to him a hand of faultless shape and
fairness.
"Ah, Oscar," she said with a languid
smile-"or ought l to say Mr.. Dwight? l
am glad to see you-vraiment. But
how horribly old it makes one feel to
find you so grave and maturel You are
an inch taller, / do believe. You look
like-who was that heathenish Greek
you used to dote on?'
Really now, Miss Helene said Oscar
with n clever imitation of the fashionable
drawl. "you mustn't corner "A fellow in
that wayl"
Helene leveled her eyes at him in a
brief stare which gave no response to the
amused twinkle in his.
ut is just as | feared" thought Oscar,
with a sinking heart. They have
spoiled her among them"
Helene cast a furtive glance at his
face, and thought how well it had full
filled its early promise. He was making
proper speeches to her now. She listened
with a conventionalized smile, and then
said sweetly:
"You must take a cup of tea with me.
Sit here, if you please. You will find
this a coy corner, and l think you viii
like my tea"
Il have no doubt of it," Oscar replied.
AS Eschylus says"
~Mr. Dwight" she cried, f%iippantly.
don't begin by quoting Greek at mel
What had Eschylus to say about teal"
Nothing. II was about women