The Washington critic., 1889-01-16
AN IDYL IN CHINA.

Most old maids have hobbies, and
Miss Pamela Pell's was old china. Her
home was filed with treasures in porce-
lain.
One day at an auction there was very
lively bidding for q mandarin teapot.
She was very anxious to get II, and some
one else, man. she could tell by the
voice, was equally anxious to get 1t, but
after some heavy bids II was knocked
down to her.
As Miss Pamela was going away, q boy
brought her card with these words
written on it:
Madam, if you knew how dear tn at
teapot was to me, you would never have
outbid me. If you ever care to sell it,
please inform me Of the fact"
1t was signed Henry Marchmont, and
the address given was q fashionable
hotel
. That night she sunk peacefully to
sleep with the teapot on table near her
bed in full view.
She awakened with start A little
night-lamp revealed figure sitting at the
table-a young lady, with regular fea-
comb, like family portrait of fifty years
the cabinet in her hand, and appeared to
be drinking invisible tea from it, and in
dumb show refilled the cup with nothing
as Pamela gazed.
"a thousand pardons, Miss Pell," she
said, as Pamela looked at her. II hope
] don't intrude. I've no card-Miss Eu-
dora Tibbetts. Do you know, l think
1t was mean of you y
"What was mean?" gasped Pamela,
for the other lady, otherwise like any,
body else, was as transparent as glass.
ooh! to bid for this teapot at all, :"
said Eudora, "You know poor Howard
was so fond of me. think If had
lived, might have married him-though
/ am not sure. Dear me, you might
have let him have the bit of china. So
devoted of him to want II, you know
showed so much romance of tempera.
ment.
"I-I dind't know!" painted Pamela.
"Why, of course, you didn't" sighed
the transparent lady. "How silly of me
to forget! l died thirty years ago, and
you're about twenty five. I should Judge.
was great belle. / say, just to oblige
me, can't you let Howard have the tea
pot after all?'
Miss Pamela Pell tried to say some.
IuluS pOilte, Dtlt IleT Cutlc WAS BtttlIB
SO extremely transparent that she could
not speak; and now only sort of vapor
hovered over the little table, q pair Of
eyes seemed to shine as through mist
and Pamela tainted.
She awoke with headache, but with
firm resolution in her mind. She
wrote to Mr.. Marchmont, asking him to
call. He obeyed, and she entered the lit
tie parlor, holding the teapot in her
hands.
"You seemed to want this bit of china
so much that have resolved to give il
to you" she said. "Only will you tell
me why you cared for ii 50 much ?"
The old man looked at her frankly
tenderly, sweetly, and answered.:
''For the sake of the woman I loved.
1t was hers, thirty years ago."
WAS her name Eudora ?" she asked.
Yes" he answered.; "Eudora."
81 will not sell this to you," Panels
said. 81 give it for Eudora's sake
He bowed and bade her adieu. In an
hour there arrived at the door two terri
BILE china dragons that set the girl who
opened 1t into Mysteries. They were
from Mr.. Marchmont.
But that was not the end. Yesterday
Pamela's aunt remarked to friend:
Eyes, approve of the match. To bs
sure, he is thirty years older than she II
or more; but he's so handsome and Sc
rich, and their tastes are congenial."