Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-20
THE ADVENTURE
OF THE TEA PLATE
By ERNEST KEARNEY.

"And 1 was to have led the singing!"
sighed Katrina, as she stood mournfully
looking out of the window.
Harold laughed instead of sympathzing.
How ridiculous she would have looked.
leading the songs with the mumps on both
sides! --,- ,-,-
you needn't laugh" went on Katrina,
laughing herself at the thought. you sound
as If you were swallowing loaf of bread
dough. You know you were madden than
hornet when you found you'd have to
give the cornet up to Bert Raymond
1t had been bitter pill and Harold look
ed solemn when 1t was mentioned. He was
a member of the Auxiliary Band, and Bert
well, Bert could play amazingly well, and
Harold was afraid-almost of losing his
position "Mumps'' was the most exasper-
ating thing to have. Harold rumpled his
shaggy hair with both hands and looked
exceedingly annoyed.
Bert Raymond plays so well, began
Katrina moving away from the window.
..Oh, do shut up!' growled Harold cross
ly, aiming a sofa cushion at her head
which she promptly lodged. He threw
second one which she lodged, too. but the
door opened just then, and the sweet-faced
lady who held the knob in her hand was
less fortunate. and received as welcome
broadside blow from the pillow, which near
ly took her breath away.
Gee whz!'' exclaimed Harold, jumping
off the couch. Il beg your pardon, Miss
Lucy, 1 hope it didn't hurt you. :"
May l come in?" asked Miss Lucy sweet
ly. when she had caught her breath. your
your reception was trifie surprising, but
never can get~used to your northern
ways
northerner's greeting she said. Its only
| that we are both cut of sorts with being
kept in by the mumps. and Harold was re-
| lieving his feelings.
oh said Miss Lucy, I'm relieved to
find that Is all. Do you ever relieve your
feelings by throwing ink stands or lamp
shades or chairs?'
One couldn't help being good-natured
where Miss Lucy was, and Harold's crouch
disappeared when he begged her pardon.
IT should be fierce If had a mump on
either side" said Miss Lucy, as she set
| tied herself in the wicker rocker.
You don't happen to know any war
stories, do you, Miss Lucy?" asked ka-
trina. This book is very tiresome, and l
| feo3 almost like throwing sofa cushions,
| too."
II can only remember one,'' replied Miss
Lucy. But I will tell that If you care to
| hear it."
well, I guessv' was Harolds compli-
| mentary response, and he picked UP the
maynard sofa pillow. and settled himself
| on the couch, while Katrina curled her feet
| up under her in the old stuffed easy chair
| and prepared to listen. too.
| 1T was away Dack toward the eHQ VI
| the year 1861 that Braddon Holmes began
| TO be dissatisfied with his life on the farm
| in Vermont, where he had always lived.
The war fever was hot In his BRAIN He
heard his uncle's family discuss 1t three
| times a day at meals; he heard the men In
the fields talk war; when he went to the
village he found excited groups gathered
| about the general store and postoffice dis
| cussing the latest news, and finally came
| the time when a call for volunteers resulted
| in many of the men he had known ever
! since he was a boy. going bravely off to
| war leaving the women folk with wet eyes
| and aching hearts. BraddOn, or Brad. as
| every one called him, was fourteen, but he
| was a large, broad-shouldered. muscular
| boy, nearly six feet tall. His parents had
| died when he was a mite Of a chap leav-
| ing him, with a baby sister. in the care
| Of their uncle. Brad remembered his father
"a big, flne-looking man-and he remem-
| bered the last words he had ever said:
| My son, remember you must be a man,
/ and to be a man Is first to be as brave as
| a soldier and to serve others, and learn to
! be as wise general that you may guide