The Van Buren press., 1894-10-13

Gently mounted. Her sister did not
follow and to Elinor's acute ear the
click of china was painfully audible.
Content fully earned her right to
the Van Tooker name by the luncheon.
The darns on the state tablecloth
were covered with scattered blossoms
and leaves CLEANED from their few
house plants, the beautiful china set
of the table, and II the menu was not
elaborate, people need not expect
much for luncheon, especially On Mon
day and among women whose appe-
tites are naturally delicate from lack
of exercise. The few dishes were care
fully prepared, Christine as waiter
was perfection, and Mamma Tooker's
table talk had always been matter
of pride with the family, SO all was
going merry as marriage bell when
Bcssies eyes fell upon the empty
bread plate which Christine had set be-
fore her.
"What a beautiful PLATED" she ex-
claimed. do look at this, Harold.
Isn't the decoration unique? Mamma
has often told me, Mrs. Van Tooker
OF your exquisite china. Where have
I seen a plate like this before?" con-
tinued Bessie, not needing the
silence which fell upon the
company mot long ago, surely;
the design seems familiar. Wouldn't
you like to know. Mrs. Van Tooker,
who has its mate? 1t must have been
in somebody's parlor; that's just like
some people, you know. They're 20
afraid people won't know they have
anything if it isn't kept on exhibition.
There was a family Just next door to
us In acknowledgements, of course
who decorated to death In the china
line; parlors, library and all filed with
beautiful dishes. We were madly en-
vious until one day, don't you know,
somebody dined there and told some
body else SO we all heard 1t, that they
ate off the coarsest kind of dishes
every day and had to carry the pretty
ones out of the parlor to eat on when
they had conlpany!'
The expression Of Mrs. Van Tooker's
face was edifying. Elinor did not try
to smile, but Contents hysterical giggle
helped out Bessie's hearty laugh.
Neither did Harold Phelps smile when
his eyes met Elinor's as they rose from
the table. On the contrary, his face
expressed resolution not unlike that
which Contents had worn earlier in
the day, as he spoke:
Content, shall never rest satisfied
until you prove to Miss Ware that l
was correct about that air from Cav
alleria Rusticana,' over which we were
disputing when we first came out to
lunch. You have the score; take her
to the music room and convince her.
Mrs. Van Tooker is going to let me
smoke a cigarette out here before l
follow YOU"
Quick to catch the meaning, Con-
tent lovingly encircled Bessie's waist
with her arm and drew her into the
music room. As soon as they disap-
peared he carefully brushed the
crumbs from the offending plate, and
before Elinor and her mother could
demonstrate carried it to its former
place on the parlor mantel. Christine
took her cue and quickly emptied the
remaining dishes, which were as rap
ly transferred 70 their places.
As they set the last dish in order and
stood before the fire, Contents soft
alto floating out to them from the
music room, the Van Tooker counte-
nance was so thoroughly softened and
penitent that Harold ventured to re-
<rru to q n old cuhiocf
"The house is already furnished he
said, "and have decided to yield to
you. You shall have all the china
you want in the parlor."
II think I have lost my taste for
china" she replied, land l too will
make a concession. believe you are
right about some things, Harold dear,
but we must ask for mammals bread
plate for q souvenir. Kate Fields
Washington.