Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-12-28
APowerful Blend
BY CLAUDIA ASHTON

IT HERE is nothing serious the matter
| assure you, Mr. Martin" said tn
doctor with a slight aeerbity, for he hat
been asked the same question man!
times. and as his patient was suffering
only from a feYerish cold, such extrem'
anxiety seemed absurd to him How
could he know that John Martin, th'
man who had begun life as an erranC
boy and now had more money than h'
knew what to do with, had only one
dread which was, that the wife he
adored. who had fought by his side
through long years of hardship and
helped him to win success, might be
taken from him?
On this occasion Mrs Martin had bad
cold, and the doctor had advised her to
stay In bed for q day or two. With his
wife confined to her room, John Martin
was absolutely lost He had insisted on
her having a trained nurse, and he spent
all his time in wandering disconsolately
about the house.
You are quite sure :" he said to the
doctor. perfectly certain there is moth
ing seriously wrong; she-she-is not
sickening for anything?"
Only the old mans intense anxiety
prevented the doctor from answering
him quite sharply. but he replied again
that Mrs. Martin had merely a severe
cold.
You'll come In and see her again this
afternoon. won't your" asked John Mar
tin as he accompanied the doctor TO the
door.
Il really don't think" began the doc
tor, but something in the trusting blue
eyes, more like those of a child than of a
man who had looked on the world for
seventy odd years, stopped him. Very
well, I will look in again." he said, and
went.
John Martin had a miserable. lonely
lunch, and then betook himself to the Ii
brary, where he sat in front Of the fire
and regretted that riches had come to
him In the old. far-off days when Mary
had a cold he looked after her himself.
Now, II he went into her room the nurse
seemed TO resent IT,
His thoughts went back longingly TO
the rare occasions when she had had a
headache, and he had made her special
cup of tea, which always cured her. He
smiled as he remembered she always
said no one could make cup of tea like
he could. How Perkins, the immaculate
butler. would scorn such a proceeding.
Still, II his tea could cure Mary's head
ache. why should he not make some?
Why should he not make tea. If he so
desired? He was master; he could do
as he chose.
He looked at the fire; its glowing en-
bers we're ideal for toast. ard Mary al
ways liked bit of hot buttered toast
with her tea. And why not make II? Not
in the kitchen, of course. not under the
eyes of the servants. but
here in the library, in secret and alone.
There were difficulties, certainly. but
they could be overcome: he squared his
shoulders and sat up very straight. He
would do II. Mary should have tea. not
the weak, washy stun the housekeeper
provided. but tea with a good. strong
flavor about it, such as they had enjoyed
In the old days Of poverty and freedom.
He would buy the things and smugele
them into the library.
He decided that his purchases could
not be made in the shops where the
trades people knew him, so he walked for
some distance TIN he came to side
street, and here he found what he
wanted And what n number Of pur-
chases were needed Tea FIRST. Of course
half a pound at one shilling and six
pence a pound, good, pungent. black tea;
a quarter Of pound OF sugar. bread for
the toast, and a quarter of a pound Of
fresh butter. Even milk he had to buy.
so he bought a pennyworth. and bottle
in which TO carry il.
But this was not all: Guns eaucars
plates. knives. toasting-fork. ali were
needed He might, he thought abgtract
two spoons from the dining-room while
Perkins was downstairs, and at the same
time he might secure the silver tea-pot
But for the silver teapot he felt only
seorn. his soul hankered to see again On
the tea-tray a little brown earthenwara
pot So be bought brown teapot and
Two blue cups and saueers. which re-
minded him Of some Mary and be had
bought when they were furnishing their
cottage
Fate was kind in allowing him 10 en-
ter his house unobserved: he shut him
teif in the library ana began prepara-
tons. With What joy he examined HIS
purchases. Mary always said he could
cut bread for toast better than anyone
else. and his hand trembled with con-
scious pride as he cut two even slices.
Then he put the kettle-for he had