Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1901-03-30
A CERAMIC EPISODE
By Katherine E. Maxwell.

| Man, said Ned BrScO, throwing himself
on a couch in his married sisters pretty
sitting room.
"Ncd,' said his sister solemnly, you've
done something you're ashamed of. Tell
me this minute what it is
Il suppose l might as well 'fcss up
| Nan, and tell you all about it, for Nora is
sure to anyhow. You know I've been
| awfuly gone on Nora for months, but |
| never was quite sure that she cared for
me- or course she's always seemed glad
| to have me over there and to go out with
me and all that, but l never could tell
whether she world be willing to let mat
tiers 20 any further or not, and-and"-
"You expected her to come and tell you
without being asked" put in his sister
sarcaStically. eco on"
"Wcll," Ned continued lamCly, 81 read
a story the other day thac put an idea
| into my head. 1t seemed such fine
scheme that l made up my mind to try
| it."
did You find it in The Complete
Guide to LovcmalingT Nan inquired
| maliciouSly. Her question was ignored,
and Ned went on, turning his head to cs-
cape the scornful look in her eyes.
you Sec there was fellow in the
same boat with me. He was awfully
gone on a girl, but didn't know whether
| she waS-cr-gone on him, you know.
And so to find out il she was he up and
told her all of n sudden that he was 60
ing to be married, and it turned out that
| all the time she was gone on him, and
| when he sprung the news on her without
any warning she just up and tainted. OF
course he caught her in his arms. When
she came to- he told her he was going to
marry her if she'd have him. and it all
ended beautifully" Ned concluded, with
a CHASTITY grin.
edward Stiles Briscoe," his sister ex-
| claimed, edo you mean to tell me that
you tried that with an intelligent girl
with brains? But go on; let me hear TO
| the bitter end"
"WhCn we got back from the golf links
this afternoon Nora asked me to come in
and have a cup of tea. I'd rather take
medicine hut she looks so deucedly pref
| ty when she's concocting the stuff that
| I've drank gallons OF it just for the sake
of looking at her"
Mrs Stewart smiled approvingly at
this little burst of sentiment, and, thus
encouraged, Ned proceeded with his sor-
| rowful tale.
I'VE went in the house, and she started
the little teakcttlc going. and while she
was waiting for the water to boil she
commenced talking about Minnie Ira
| vcr's elopcmcnt. and there | saw my
| chance and said I'm going to be mar
ricd in the spring."
| A groan from his sister was her only
comment. did she faint?" she asked
scornfuly.
"Faint. l should say not. 1t didn't go
| bit as it did in the story. Just as i fin
iShed, before | ever had a chance to look
at her, she dropped Il teacup smash on
| the hearth and then such fuss over Il
| bit of china you never saw. She got
down on her knees and picked up every
tiny spcck She wouldn't let me help her.
Kept saying, Don't come near; you might
step on piece | thought she'd never
get the pieces collected, but she finally
did and brushed the hearth, and when
she stood up I'll be hanged if her eyes
weren't full of tears, and all over a silly
little cup. 1t looked like an ordinary little
affair to me, but Nora said it was Il
kccpSakc-somc fellow gave it to her,
| suppose. After she tried several times
to fit the pieces together she seemed to
remember that | was there and said as
cool and unconcerncd as you please, ooh,
weren't you saying something about get
ting marricd| | said, Yes rather weak
ly, and then she put me on the rack by
calmly congratulating me. And, Lord
the questions she asked and laughing all
the time! Faint. Oh. yes" And Ned
gave bitter little laugh.
His sister did not seem to be listening
to him, and instead of offering any advice
she asked:
what kind of a cup was 1t Nora
brokc?'
'Oh, | don't know" Ned answered i'm.
patiently. I'm no judge of such things
1t looked common enough. Why, there's
one just like it," pointing to Mrs. Ste
arts tea table.
Him. she said, with funny little
smile. She picked n tlcecy shawl up
from the foot of the couch and, throw.
ing it over her head, started for the door
Where are you going" Ned asked
Its almost dinner time"
Il know, but I'm all dressed, and
want to run over to see Nora a min.
ute"
Don't breathe a word what I've said, -
Ned pleaded, but do try to find out from
Nora what said to her. swear I was
in trance"
Don't you worry, Neddy boy" his sis
ter said reassurngIy. I'll fix things for
you. How many cups of tea did you
drink. Ned?"
Not one. Nora was so upset over
that cup she forgot the tea and every
thing else"
Il thought So" Mrs. Stewart announc
ed vaguely and went out quietly. She
was gone but short time and burst
in the room again with smiling lips
and dancing eyes. Poor Nora" she
said, trying to look serious. 81 found
her still crying over that teacup. You
see she priced that cup very highly. II
was a gem really. We both got one the
same day. There was a japanese tea al
our church, and when you bought cur
of tea you kept the cup. They were
very valuable, you see. l don't think
care so much for mine as Nora did fol
hers, and | think it would make her fee
better if you would take mine over tc
her"
Il won't" Ned began, but he glanced
at his sisters face and started up, ex
claiming:
Nan, you don't mean
"Yes, do, you great goose" kissing
him.
"Here," she cried as Ned rushed
through thp hall "tnkp the cupI'