The Monticellonian., 1895-01-04

through the china closet and every corner of the pantry, and In short every spot in the house where there was possibility or impossibility of finding four blue china tea cups But our efforts were of no avail. Poor Mrs. Jennings rang the bell for tea with tears in her eyes, and the blue china was not brought forth in my honor, for the dear lady said she wasn't going to risk losing the rest of it."
 Mr. Van DuYne returned to the city the next morning, carrying with him his easel, his palcttes, his numerous paints and brushes and the many, mary unfinished sketches, and Mrs. Jennings and I turned our attention to searching the pantry and china closet for the seventh or eighth time. but nothing came of it.
 You don't suppose that Miss Lee Ainsworth would have carried them off for her collection2". Mrs. Jea aaings asked me.
 "Oh, my, mol" I answered, mortified at the idea. "She's from one oi the best families in Philadelphia, and, any way, why would she take four teaeups and not anything else?"
 ''I don't know, I'm sure," Mrs. Jen. nings said, meellly; but folks do get so crazy over china they'll do most anything sometimes"
 When the day came for me to leave Mrs Jennings, I bade her good-by and expressed the hope that her blue china cups might be found.
 But they never will be, Miss Wright" she said, gloomily. II haven't any hope of them left" and Farmer Jennings, who was waiting in the buggy to take me to the station, looked down upon us encouragingly and said:
 Well, well, wife, I wouldn't give up hoping, for things sometimes does happen in the most unexpected way"
 And they do, as Mrs. Jennings will testify now. I didn't hear about 1t until the next summer. Mrs. Jennings said They meant to write me, but they never got at it.
 had hardly alighted at their door, and Mrs. Jennings still was holding my hand in cordial welcome, when she C-NSiti iillGtl
 Well, l found them."
 "The china teacupsp You did where?" l asked breathlessly.
 ''Pll show you, she said, and she led mo into the parlor up to large, hand somely framed picture on the wall 1 looked at it in wonder. Dolly Briar- ley was looking on ut me from the canvas with her dark, mischief-loving eyes It was beautiful spot, with overhanging trees, and festoons of cle- matis and wild grapevine, and under heath the trees in striking contrast to the deep green of the grass, white cloth was laid, and on the cloth-did not my eyes deceive memo, there were unmistakably Mrs. Jennings llaring little blue china teacups! There were also cookies and tarts and little pie in the way of viands, and to par take of the feasts were Dolly's four dolls, propped bolt upright on each side of the cloth.
 Mrs. Jennings and l stared at each other for a moment, and then burst out laughing. At last Mrs. Jennings wiped her eyes and endeavored to sttle her peals of merriment.
 "It was that Mr. Van Duyne," she said. "You remember how wild he was over that china set the night of Mrs. Briarlcy's birthday?'
 "Yes," l answered, "and he told mo once he meant to make picture of Dolly's playhouse, but never thought that he would"
 Just let me tell you all about it. continued Mrs. Jennings. After you went away it went along, I guess, two months-anyhow it was getting quite coldish weather One night after the milking and the chores were done. Mir. Jennings drove up to the Center to get the mall, and to have the oilcan filled, and at the post office they told hlm that the man over to the express office left word for him to call for a package. We'll, he went over and got it, and it was such big, queer pack age, and he not having sent for any thing anywhere, he drove home fast to see what it was, and where it was from. He tied the horse out to the hitching-post and came right in with 1t.
 II hurried up and got the shears, and Josiah out with his jackknife and , we got it open and the papers off from : around it, and it was picture. And we set it upon the dining-room table and Josiah held the lamp up over my shoulder and we just looked at it There was MT Van Duyne's card stuck in one side of the frame, but 1 didn't see that at all at first ] was looking at the picture, and Josiah didn't say word, for he was looking at the picture too. Then 1 gasped outl
 '"Josiahl Josiahl Aren't those my teacups?'
 And Josiah looked closer and said: T believe on my soul they are, Emilyr
 "'Well, what are they doing there? and where are they, anyway? l don't understand anything about it-Dolly Briurley, nor the teacups, nor any thing else.
 And Josiah kept on looking with kind of puzzled look on his face as if he was a-studying out something Then all of sudden it all cleared up and he exclaimed:
 "'Why, yes, mother, it's that south lot adjoining the orchard. You know we always called it the woodlot until few years ago when l tried to clear it off l used to see Dolly going off down in that direction sometimes
 And then it all flashed over me and I said: Yes, that's probably where she had her playhouse. She was al