The Washington critic., 1886-08-24
MISS MARTINEAU'S TEA,


randa, sort of open.air annex to the
sitting.room, which was located in the
second story. The place was perfect,
with Its lace worked drapery of vines
purple wisteria, roses, and clematis
and there was festive awning of
Roman stripe unfurled to the south,
subduing the sunshine to a hazy mel.
iowness.
"This is just the place to do the ideal
In" said Amy Laying, who revcled In
quirtd fortune. "In the midst of such
enchanting circumstances you never
ought to lose your temper, Helene"
Miss Martiueau was swinging her
self lazilv In pretty hammock, with
look on her face that expressed the
most profound Indifference. Could 1t
be that she was already bored by the
excessive elegance of her position?
eff people would only let me alone"
she said, with a shrug, 81 could behave
like an angel. You never annoy me,
Amy; but" she added, with comical
Sigh, 81 feel as though 1t would take
me Il lifetime to recover from those
tetc-a.tetes with the dear count, as
Mrs. Stuyvesant calls him"
"Well, don't wonder at that, said
Amy, laughing. "lIeis not coming to
tea SUPPOSE"
"He is not asked" Helene replied,
with a languid motion of delicate
feather fan which she held.
Poor fellow / will tell Oscar he
must do his best to replace him"
A dash of unaccountable color ap.
peared in IIelene's face, but the pNro.
quet feather screened it.
us Oscar coming ?" she asked, Ian
guidly.
II believe so. 1t is tremendous
concession to you, my dear. lie hates
society, you know, and l don't think
he took very kindly to your engage
ment to Count Wierlawslly."
Don't he know that this is all
broken off 2' said Helene, hurriedly.
eyes" said Amy, "but Oscar is an
eccentric, you know, though he is one
of the dearest fellows in the world.
He was very fond of you, Helene,
and think he is rather afraid to meet
you for fear he will find you changed" :"
"Wbat makes you think that?'
''He asked me whether you were just
the same as you were when you used
10 study Greek with him, and copy his
chemistry notes. | know he thinks So
ciety and wealth have spoiled you,
though / told him the contrary. He
"What?" said Helene, imperiously,
as Amy paused, and went on sorting
her embroidery silks in silence.
"He says" she continued, with a
furtive glance at her friend, eff you
had never got 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 lit
tie railing laugh, giving her fan such a
savage iirt that the ivory handle
snapped in twain. 81 am indebted to
Mr., Dwight for his opinion. When a
man takes up preconceived ideas about
me | never think il worth while to
combat them"
She got out of the hammock slowly
and trailed her blue cashmere morning
gown over the vcranda.
81 am going to order bisque and cara
mel ice" she said. suddenly. at
is the proper thing to have it served in
coigee.cups, Amy. Shall | bring out
my Beluk serviceY'
Amy adored planning, and the ar
rangements for Miss Mnrtineau's tea
proved very absorbing. When Satur,
day came the verandn looked like an
enchanted garden. The floor was
patched with Oriental rugs, and plants
were blooming in every corner, while
luXuriant chairs and divans were scat
tered about alongside of oddly shaped
tables, spread with embroidered cloths
and laden with dainty china.
AS Oscar Dwight stepped through
the curtained window on the verandG
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 overtopped a crowd of gossip
ing tea,drinkers already assembled.
Helene was sitting at the far end OF
the veranda. lie singled her out n
once, for she was taller than mos
women, and her small head had I
proud poise which he could not fail tC
recognize. She was at her best thai
afternoon, in rich gown of crimson
plush that was set of with ivory saith
and trimmings of duchess lace.
"Ilow beautiful she has grown,
Oscar murmueed, with a sharp plng
land yet, if she had not come into he
fortune she would probably have mar
Iied that rascally Russian"
The thought was uppermost in hi
mind when h3 met Helene, and she
held out to him 4 hand of lautless
shape and fairness,
"Ah, Oscar !" she said, with Ian
guild smile--"or ought | to say Mr.
Dwight? am glad to see you-yrui
ment, But how horribly old it make
one feel TO find yOu 50 grave and mn
ture. You are an iuCh taller, / do he
lieve You look likc-Who was tina
heathenish Greek you used to dot
on?"
"Really now, Miss Helene" sal
Oscar, with clever imitation Of tn
fashionable drawl, you musu't corue
II fellow in that way %
Helene lcycled her eyes at him i
brief stare, which gave no response I
the amused twinkle in his.
at is just as ! feared" though
Oscar, with II sinking heart. The
have spoiled her among them.'
Helene cast n furtvc glance at hi
face, and thought how well it had fuI
hlled its early promise. lie was max
ing proper speeches to her now. Sh
listened with Il conyontionalized smile
and then said swectly;
"Iou must take a cup Of tea wit
me. Sit here, If you please, You wi
find this coy corner, and think go
will like my tea
II have no doubt Of it" Oscar II
pied. "As .Eschylus says
Mr. Dwight" she cried, fir
PANTY, don't begin by quoting Gree
ut me- What lad Aschylus to 81
about tear