The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1896-05-14
THAT TEA POT.
Katherine White.

occupied the cosy armchair in front
of the open wood fire.
# well, yes, replied Summers; "of
course I don't want to be too curious,
but it does strike me it's an odd piece
Of bric-a- brac''
ITS not inquisitive, old chap with
hand on Summers shoulder. You
are the best friend have in the world,
and I'll tell you its story and the
4 lines that made his face almost stern
and somewhat cynical when in repose
vanished from Henry 4Austin's face as
he leaned against the mantel and care
lessly knocked the ashes from the
bowl of his meerschaum.
'sYou know I'd be glad to hear it,
Austin" the younger man replied.
.'That pesky mining business has shut
me of from the world for three years,
but / have not forgotten my friends,
nor ceased to be interested in what
concerns them
# Summers looked frankly up into the
face of his friend. His was pleasant,
open countenance, and through the
bronze which Idaho sun and wind had
given a hearty sunshiny nature assert
ed itself. III:
'You were no archeologist three
short years ago." he laughlngly con-
.Etinued, "nor do I remember any lurk-
Ing fondness in your heart for crock
IL cry in state Of dismemberment; but
this-you don't mind my touching 1T,
do you, or will it drop to pieces it an
unhallowed finger is laid upon it," and
Summers lifted it gingerly and turned
it around with cautious touch and with
Increasing merriment. "Well, spout
half gone, both handles ditto, top much
battered and many pieces missing;
J! covert had a cover once, l suppose
now lacking entirely. Now, in its
original beauty and splendor should
say, Judging from it's texture and the
style Of decoration, it must have Deen
worth at least so cents. I've seen
something similar, if l mistake not, IN
all the Chinese stores down town. At
a bargain you might get 1T Tor two
bits Now, Austin, in it's pristine
beauty I might imagine it's appealing
to your fastidious taste, but in it's pres
ent condition, and in this room he
paused and gave a cursory glance
about the luxurious bachelor apart
ment. ''1t isn't a legacy from some
long-foIgotten grandaunt, is it,?
NO. reylied Austin quietly, not re-
senting at all his friends bantering,
"but it has it's associations
"Wel, give it up" remarked Sum-
mers, replacing the object in question
and reseating himself. GAS you were
about to say he continued inquir-
ingly.
s'Do you know Jim Lee?" asked Aus
tin as lie settled himself in the fellow
lounging chair and gazed into the fire.
= stranger of mine,' laughed Sum-
mers. Resident of this burg?'
Eyes," was the reply; she is the pro-
prietor Of the high-clasS restaurant on
Second street"
what? Chinaman?' .+. -"
'Yes,'' replied the narrator, "and a
very decent sort of fellow, too. Well,
1t was at his restaurant one night that
I 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.
i He asked me to join them and we did
the usual thing, took in the joss
house, packed to suffocation 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 our hearing
more or less injured with the tin-pan
symphonies and the squeaking tiddles,
and finally wound up with the res
taurant. 1t was during the feast of
4 lanterns, and the Celectials were out
In full force, packing the streets and
making pedestrianism through their
quarter almost impossible. AS We
turned to climb the stairs to jim Lees
1 had the ill-luck to punch an ugly
looking old Chinaman with my elbow.
/ was cscorting the niece and trying to
make way for her. He glowered at me
and muttered some of his heather jar
gon. I 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
a must be worth a small fortune, and he
has some old Chinese embroidery that
4 is wonderful His collection Of dag
gers and swords, wrought in old
bronze, would be bonanza to
some museum. He is an intel
ligent fellow, you know, and de-
lights in entertaining. We had a
jolly little supper-of course Cranhill
had arranged it all beforehand, so we
would not be interrupted. When it
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 &C.
scasion. She refused, but, seeing this
teapot on a small side table, asked
If she might take, that, instead. Jim
protested somewhat at the substitu-
ion, but she would have that or moth
ing, SO the tea pot was wrapped up
and we bade our adieus and de-
seended to the lantern lit streets
again. The young lady persisted in
carrying the tea pot herself. That's
I 1T, you sect is all so singular A
pause ensues, during which Mr.. Aus
tin gazes into the fire with singular
dreamy and far-away look, and Mr.
Harold Summers tries to fathom his
! last femark-at last
We'll, ] say stin-that's too bad
{ What is so singular about a young
Iady's being contrary and wanting