The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-02-28
6be
Chinese Teapot.
By Margaret {. D0llelan,


Philip Harding glanced at his watch
after having said good-by oil around
to the home folks. He saw he had sun
three hours to train time. His trunk
was already at the depot and his affairs
were In ship shape order, save one, and
this one was causing him more anxiety
than all the others, for on 1t depended
his present happiness and future plans
AS he swung along in the direction
OF Helene Thornton's home he debated
within himself as to his chances. AS ne
reviewed the two years in which ne
had known her he could not remember
OF any time when by word or sign she
seemed aware Of the deep admiration
and love he had for her II she was
conscious Of it, and it seemed impos-
aible that she was not, she had Kept
the fact from him. Whenever he had
attempted to drift beyond the ordin-
AIRY topics Of mere friendship he had
found himself swung around to more
prosaic things, and how it was done
he never knew
AS for sentiment, he laughed a little
nervously as he remembered q certain
day when they had wandered into q
Chinese curio shop. An odd Chinese
teapot had pleased her and he bought
iit and told her to keep 1t as a souvenir.
She laughingly turned about and
bought him a tiny vase in return. He
remembered how he treasured it, The
choicest spot on the mantel was its
seat of honor, but he never saw the
teapot, and one day, being curious he
said:
Helene, do you remember the day
we bought the Chinese souvenirs?
It seemed to him that 1t took her an
unnecessarily long time to remember,
but finally she did and then he said
II have treasured that vase ever
since"
He remembered he had waited for
her to say something and at last she
said, rather indifferently:
"Oh, the teapot; | broke 1t short
time afterward"
1t was like a dash Of cold water, and
now as he strobe along 1t gave him a
chilly feeling of doubt. However, the
question must be settled today, for he
was to be gone four months and he
could not leave it unsettled He had
tried for a week to see her alone, and
last night he told her that he was go
ing to say good-by today and so it
was with a feeling Of determination
that he rang the bell
Her 12-year-old brother opened the
door,
sCome right in, Mr. Harding, I'm
awfully glad to see you." He closed
the door and led the way to the sit
ting room.
sim all alone. My cold is most bet
ter and I'm busy working for Aunt
Jane" He showed Phil a collection of
broken china that he was glueing to-
gether,
Phil stammered: isn't you sister
in?"
Helene? No, she went out, but said
that she would be back at half-past
1--WE.
"Half past Ave-" echoed Phil. At that
time he would be on his way to the
train. He knew that she had gone out
to avoid him and for the instant he
was angry, then he resolved desperately
to wait, even If he missed the train, and
settle ii at once,
Henry chatted away as he worked
and finally surveyed his finished task
with pride
Helene has an old dish upstairs that
she thinks lot of, It's broken and
she'll be delighted to have it fixed"
He ran upstairs and came back with
the 'old dish" and Phil's heart gave
a leap, for he was holding the Chinese
teapot.
Did you say that your sister valued
it?' he said quietly,
Henry eyed 1t a little apologetically.
"Well, won't say she valued it, 1t
doesn't look worth much, but she
thought lot of it. Perhaps someone
that's dead gave it to her.T
The bright thought settled pEerything
to him.
TITS full Of truck" he said as he
proceeded to dump q miscellaneous col
lection OF things on the table. Such
things as tumbled out, A dance order
a knot Of ribbon, snap shot which
Phil recognized Immediately, faded
-aasAhnd. a tiny watch-charms etc.