The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-12-16
LOVE In A TEA ROOM.

When Marie Arnold and Sidney OAR
ren had been engaged about three
months they quarrelled. 1t was just
an ordinary lovers quarrel; there were
hard words on both sides, and the shin
ing cfrclet of diamonds came off Marie's
slender finger and found a hiding place
Ia the depths of DarrelPs pocket
She said Good night to him, cold1y,
and hoped they would still be good
friends" and he went out into the rain
with rather white face and logged
determination on his lips.
or course they both repented shortly,
but both were proud, and for week
they did not meet. Marie spent part
of each day in tears, and Darrell began
70 think that he was a brute and was
wholly to blame; but all the same she
did not write the note she would have
liked, and he crushed down his longing
to call and see her. Sunday morning
they met in the aisle at church, but a
cold Good morning" was all that pass
ed between them.
The next day, Monday, Marie went
shopping. All the morning she wan
dered from one store to another, in
search of pretty novelties ana the bar
gains SO dear to a WOman's heart. BY
noon her head ached and she was thor
0ughly tired. YEARLY she called to
mind a certain little downtown tea room
that she and Sidney knew or old; a
charming little place, cool and shadowy,
with round tables scattered among the
palms and ferns. A dark-eyed little Jap
was the proprietor, and white capped
maids served most delicious tea and cof-
fee and thin sweetened crackers, in egg
shell china of strange design.
The more Marie thought of this place
the more she longed for a cup of the
fragrant tea to quiet her throbbing nerves
and drive away the threatening headache.
She slgnalled a passing hanSom ana pc
was driven rapidly down town.
Now It so happened that Darrell, out
Of the office on business and in too great
q hurry just then to stop for luncheon,
was passing this same little Japanese tea
room, remembered how good the coffee
was there. and decided to run in for a
cup. He entered just a step or two ahead
of Marie, and in the dimly lighted room
were full; only one, in far corner, had
two empty places and toward this Marie
and Sidney steered. They pulled back the
two unoccupied chairs at the same time,
and sat down side by side, each still I'M
conscious of the others presence.
A waitress came quickly I'D between
them and Marie and Sidney, looking up,
discovered each other. Marie gasped, Oar
rell swore under his breath, but 1t was
out of the question to leave the table
now so they gave the girl their orders,
bowed haughtily to each other, and then
stared determinedly at the palms.
When the maid came in with the tea
and coffee on a curious cloisonne tray
she brought also two wafer-Iike checks
and placed them together by Darrell 5
plate. Marie flushed uncomfortably, but
Darrell did not notice the mistake. He
drank his coffee hastily, intent only on
getting away as soon as possible, put just
he finished he discovered the Two
checks He looked UP impatiently, called
the waitress to him, and pointed to the
Look here" he said, testify, 'how do I
happen to get two checks for this cup of
cofTee?"
The girl looked blank for moment and
glanced at Marie
why, the other one belongs to the
lady" she said. Didn't you want hers,
It was perfectly natural She had seen
them come in together apparently, and sit
down side by side; but it was distinctly
annoying 4 man, occupying the third
chair at the same table, tried vainly to
suppress smile: Marie blushed and Oar
ren muttered something about the wait
ress stupidity which nearly reduced
the Door girl to tears It was Marie who
took the situation in hand with chara G.
terfstic energy. She nodded reassuringly
to the maid and then turned to Darrell
with a dazzling smile.
oh come, Sidney" she said, gayly,
haven't yous teased this girl. zenough2
Why don't you take the checks and come
Darrell picked I'D the checks and they
went out together to her cab, which was
still waiting.
f'Tu drive you back to the office If you
like" said Marie. And on the way down
the flashing diamond circlet found its way
back to its rightful Dlace.-Boston Post