Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-05-21
THAT TEAPOT.
Katherine white.

owes as he glanced at his friend, VINO
occupied the cosy armchair In froh'
of the open wood fire.
well. yes replied summers OF
course | don't want TO be too curious
but it does strike me it's an odd piece
of bric-a-brac.'
.It's not inquisitive, old chap with
n hand on Summers shoulder, You
are the hest friend / have in the world,
and I'll tell you its story n the
lines that made his face almost stern
and somewhat cynical when in repose
vanished from Henry Austin's race as
he leaned against the mantel and care
Iessly knocked the ashes from 1he
bowl of his m~eerschaum.
ssYou know I'd be glad to hear It,
Austin" the younger man repleo'
THAT pesky mining business mas shu'
me off from the world for three years,
but I have not forgotten my frienus,
nor ceased TO be interested IN what
concerns them" A..
Summers looked frankly up into the
face of his friend. His was a pleasant
omen c~ountenance, and through the
bronze which Idaho SUE and wind had
given a hearty sunshiny nature assert
ed itself.
"You were no ~archeologist three
short years ago." he laughingly n
tinued, nor do l remember any TURK
! ing fondness in your heart for crock
ery In a state Of dismemberment; put
tbis%you don't mind my touching IL,
do you. or will it drop to pieces IL an
unhallowed finger is laid upon itF ana
summers lifted it gingerly and turned
n around with cautious touch n with
increasing merriment. "Well, spout
half zone. both handles ditto, top much
battered and many pieces MISSING
COVERT had a cover once. L suppose
now lacking entirely. Now, in It's
original beauty and splendor / should
say. judging from its texture II the
STYLE of decoration, it must nave peeh
worth at least 80 cents. I've seen
something similar, If / mistake not, IN
all the Chinese stores down OWL Al
a bargain you might get 1t Tor W
bits Now, Austin, in It's prlstihe
beauty | might imagine its appealing
TO your fastidious taste, but III us pres
ent condition, and in this room He
paused and gave a cursory glance
about the luxurious bachelor apart
ment. cit isn't a legacy from some
lo~pg-forgotten grandaunt, is itF'
No" reylied Austin quietly, not re-
senting at all his friends banterlng,
'sbut il has it's associations.
"WeI. l give it up remarked SUM-
mers. replacing the object in question
and reseating himself. las you were
about to say" he continued inquir-
ingly.
.Do you know Jim Lce?' asked Aus
Tin as he settled himself in the fellow
%lounging chair and gazed into the fire.
stranger of mine" laughed sum-
mers. Resident of this burgE
yes" was the reply: "he is the pro-
prietor of the high-class restaurant on
Second street"
What? ChinamanT'
'Yes," replied the narrator, land a
very decent sort of fellow, too. Well.
Ii was at his restaurant n night that
first made the acquaintance of the
teapot. Cranhill made up a party one
night to see the sights of Chinatown.
He was interested in entertaining Mrs.
Stafford's niece who was visiting her.
He asked me TO join them and we did
the usual thing, took in the joss
house, packed to s~uffocation and smell
ing to heaven with their COMPOUNDED
incense: looked into the shops, also
fragrant with vile cigarette and opium
smoke, sandal wood and punk went
to the theater and had u hearing
more or less injured with the tin-pan
symphonies and the ~squeaking tiddles,
and finally wound up with he res
taurant. 1t was during the feast of
lanterns, and the Celectials were
in full force, packing the streets and
making pedestrianism through their
quarter almost impossible. AS we
turned to climb the stairs to Jim Lees
| had the ill-luck to punch an ugly
looking old Chinaman with my elbow.
I was escorting the niece and trying to
make way for her. He glowered at me
and muttered some of his heather jar
gon. / gave the matter no thought at
the time. You must go up there with
me some night" Austin broke off in
his narrative; really it's worth seeing.
Those inlaid tables and chairs of Jim's
must be worth a small fortune, and he
has some old Chinese embroidery that
is wonderful. His collection Of dag
gers and swords. wrought in old
bronze, would be a bonanza 10
some museum. He is an intel
ligent fellow, you know, and de-
lights in entertaining. We had a
jolly little supper-of curse Cranhill
had arranged 1t all beforehand. so We
would not be interrupted. When it
J came time to go, Jim, in his usual
courteous fashion, begged the young
lady to accept a beautiful ivory
handled fan as a souvenir of the oc-
casion. She refused, but, seeing this
teapot on a small side table, asked
If she might take that, instead. Jim
protested somewhat at the substitu-
lon, but she would have that or moth
ing, so the tea pot was wrapped up
and we babe our adieus and de-
scended to the lantern lit streets
again. The young lady persisted in
carrying the tea pot herself. That's
1t, you see-it is all so singular" A
pause ensues, during which Mr.. Aus
tin gaZes into the fire with a singular
dreamy and far-away look, and Mr..
Harold Summers tries to fathom his
last remark-at last