Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1901-01-11

Tea meant something WIN
Mrs. Popham Wing. 1t meant
the big silver tea service, with the
twisted silver serpents for handles,
and queer clusters of frosted oak
leaves on the top-it meant tea that
would have made old Doctor johnson
turn over in his grave, and coffee clear
as amber-it meant biscuits like mag
nified flakes of snow, and hot wafiies
1T meant raspberry jam, lucent honey
In the comb, and poundcake that was
mountain of gold underneath pear
ly crust of icing-it meant cream
puffs and dainty homemade maca-
roons-it meant broiled spring chick
ems, and strengthening sardines,
moreover, it generally meant a touch
of mild after-dyspepsia to all who par
took thereof.
The six matrons around the table
We're just beginning to appreciate the
flavor of their first cup, mingled with
a luscious morsel of current gossip.
"a little more sugar, if you please,
Mrs. Wing said Mrs. Deacon Hyde.
"Yes; it's quite true. Ask Mrs. Now
bray if it isn't"
Mrs. Mowbray shook her head until
the artificial bees in her cap bobbed
around as if they contemplated an i'm
mediate swarming.
yes" said she, lugubriously; II be-
lieve Sybil has made up her mind at
last"
Not to marry Mark Chesterfield
cried Mrs. Popham Wing, setting
down the teapot in such hurry that
the serpents tail thereon came In vio-
lent contact with the side of the sugar
basin.
"Yes, to marry Mr.. Chesterfield"
"Shes very unwise," said Mrs. Wing.
"Not but that Mark is an excellent
man, and a good provider, besides
being a member of the church. l
ought to know, for his first wife was
my own sainted niece, Priscilla Capsi-
cum. But he's crotchety man; he's
man that has his own ideas"
I'VE all have, | suppose" said Mrs.
Mowbray, making a feeble attempt to
stem the tide of popular opinion that
seemed to be running so strong against
Mr.. Mark Chesterfield.
"Oh, yes" said the Widow Munger;
! "but there's difference in ideas, you
know. Now, Mark is very trying
about house. They do say he wor-
ried your dear Priscilla Capsicum into
her grave"
"Ah-h-r groaned Mrs. Wing,
helping herself to a pinch of thinly-
shaved smoked beef.
Hes an excellent manw said Mrs.
Munger. 81 haven't a word to say
against him, but 1 wouldn't let a
daughter of mine become his wife
no, not If buried 'em firstw
There isn't much danger Of that"
thought Mrs. Mowbray, who was fully
cognizant of the fact that the three
Misses Munger were redhalred, frecll-
led and otherwise not particularly
] qualified to attract the attention of
! gentlemen in search of matrimonial
partners.
But she didn't say so; and just then
the attention of the tea-drinking cabal
was called to the sight of the new min
lister, crossing the street to call on
Benetta Jones, and the conversation
flowed into another channel.
Mrs. Mowbray went home and re.
ported the whole discussion to her
daughter Sybl, plump brown-haired
girl of eighteen, with large, almond
shaped eyes, a short, straight nose,
and a chin which, round and dimpled
though it was, expressed character in
no common degree
MY dear, do you think you are
wiseT asked Mrs. Mowbray, hesita-
tingly-for she was one of those hu.
man dry leaves who are blown hither
and yon by every gale of opinion.
"Pl risk it, MOTHER" said cheerful
sybil. Nobody can pretend to per-
fection in this world, and 1 like Mr.
Chesterfield"
SO the next month there was a we'd
ding in st. Aloysius' Church. and Sy-
oil Mowbray became Mrs. Mark Ches
terfield.
Mr.. Chesterfield was a tall, we'll
made man, with pleasant blue eyes,
an abundance of chestnut hair, and
leg-of-mutton side whiskers.
sybi, in her secret girlish heart,
thought him second Apollo.
The wedding tour to Niagara Falls,
Montreal and Quebec was delightful;
so was the homecoming to the pretty,
cheerful house in Larkspur street.
But there's no piano, Mark" said
Sybil, as she fitted in and out of the
rooms. "Oh, you must get me a
| piano"
Il am not millionaire, my love-
said he; Il am only man on a salary.
PianoS are expensive"