The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-12-25
MRS. LAT0N'S TEA.


with crown of snow, Mrs. Harmon
was considering her EcFh-w Andrew,
a good-looking young fellow of p,
who. for his part. was considering the
timepiecc on the mantcl. whose hands
were already past three O'Clock.
We'll, Andrew. do you find the clock
very Interestingly"
In some confusion the young man
stammcrcd an excuse. but she went or:
Now. don't deny il, you naughty fell
low. Ycu wanted to know II your visit
had lasted long enough for you to take
your departure deccntly."
Not at all. aunt. Your guess IS
quite wrong. for haven't the slightest
intention of going yet. But WHY do
you keep Il regular sun dial like that
i'm your drawing-room?
perhaps because | was born so long
ago that it is | and not the clock that is
behind time. But. cnme-insteal of
criticising my drawing-room. tell me
what YOU are going to do when you
leave here"
''ln the first place l am not going to
leave here for some time; but when l
have wearicd You with my presence
until you cannot stand it cny longer.
it will rc time for me to go to Mrs. La
tons tea
Mrs Laton-Pauline Laton?"
Tho same
"Ah. yes, used to see her some time
ago. | remember her vaguely large
woman. dark
''She is = bIorde. aunt"
"Indced? She used to be brunette.
And so you are signing at th" feet of
Mrs. Laton?"
''NYc arc IL signing at her feet
"Shc l7ust enjoy it
''Wcll. I rather think she does"
al il fun?"
"Yse. af'cr =. fashion. W. are always
the sar;c little circle of friends. and
then. besides Mrs. Laton. there's sis
ter, rather @oosl-iookng g.rl. and 4
few other young matrons and bachelor
girls"
And what do you do besides look at
these women?"
I'VE take tea, which we moderate
with rum. a bit of lemon; we gossip and
we nirt."
"Oh, on
but. my dear aunt. one must do
something between five o'clock and
dinner"
..EvidtntIy. and flirting is what you
have found to DO"
1T is Il way to kill time
Il scarcely know what you mean by
the term. Explain it to me"
"Oh. iIrross; ;ble. y definition for the
word has long ben sought, but II has
rot yet Eycn found. But. given q young
woman tctc-a-tetc with Il yoUrs- me-,
who i not fool. and ! warrant Won i
won't l5e lor~ before you VIII have 4
practical demonstration. Filtration is
a manner of being discreetly iudi@crcet.
To know how to flirt * no common &C
complishmeIt. Ii is a veritable sci
encc."
and is love 4 science. too2"
''No. il is rather an art"
"And marriage-what is it?'
''Oh- that is philosophy"
Indeed? At what age does one at
tain this philosophy?''
AS late rs possible"
''It seems to me that at 2S-''
Aunt. aunt" cried Andrew. spring
ing from his chair. ''cou fess that YOU
are concocting some t-rr ,hlc plot. You
look as guilty as a conspirator-"
Mrs. Harmon smiled q fine smile and
] enjoyed for n moment the consterna-
| tion i'm her victims face. Then she an
swcred, after n pause:
.'Yes. you are right. l wish you TO
get married"
''In heavens name what have I done
| to you?'' gasrcd the young man, with
| comic seriousness: and. as The old lady
still smiled. he continued: See here.
aunt. I should never have suspected
| you of such thing. You. n woman of
| intelligence, a superior woman. de
sccndiug to the role of matchmaker,
| 1t is terrible shattering of my ideals"
"Come. come. my poor boy. do not be
so east down. The girl is charming,
| can assure you.''
''Of course" Andrew burst out. 1.-The
| girl is always charming. Oh, l know
| her; I can see her now; she may not be
| exactly pretty, but. you have said
| she is charming. She dresses admira-
| bly,. and makes all her own gowns. She
| stood at the head of her classes in
| school. and attends lectures now. More
| over, she has taken cooking lessons and
can put up preserves. She plays the
| piano, she sings. she paints, ard she has
! a tidy fortune in her own right. BAH
| No. n thousand times, no, | do not
want this miracle of perfection. l
! know thing or two, aunt, even if !
don't look it, and if | marry, 1 shall
| marry Il woman who suits me- But |
know girls-they are all alike-and /
| know what they are and what they are
| worth. There isn't one who suits me,
or can suit me, and l shall remain n
| bachelor"
'And you go to take tea at Mrs
| Laton's." murmHred Mrs. Harmon be
] tween her teeth. while a disturbing eN-
! preston came into her clear-seeing old
| eyes
Under this ironical and even inquisi-
! tcrial look Andrew lost countenance Il
| little: he could not deny that to matri-
| Inony he preferred flirting with Mrs.
Laton-
He was pulling himself together to re
ply. or rather to defend himself, when
, the street door bell was heard
"A caller. eh? Is this your reception
day, aunt. or do you, too, give your
friends tea at five o'clock? %
| ..You are impertinent. nephew AT
nv age woman does not give five
o'clock flirtations.' 1t is not even
caller. j am sure il is my little friend
Rosamond, the charming girl 1 spoke
Of"
Il shall flee, then
"Do you not wish even to see her?"
'.Neveri Or. if you irsist. I shall go
into this little ante-rcom and look at
her through the crack Of the door That
is the only concession | shall make
and the young man stepped quickly into
the next room as the opposite door