The Democratic advocate., 1908-02-14
WESTMINSTER MD, FRIDAY AFTERNOON, FEBRUARY II,
geleet Stnrp.
THE CHINESE TEAPOT.
BY MARGARET E. DoNNELLAN.

BY MARGARET E. DoNNELLAN.
Philip Harding glanced at his watch
after having said good-by all around to the
home folks. He saw he had still three
hours to train time. His trunk was al
ready 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 it depended his present hap
piness and future plans.
As he swung along in the direction of
Helene Thornton home he debated within
himself as to his chances. AS he re-
viewed the two years in which he 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. IF she was conscious of it,
and it seemed impossible that she was not,
she had kept the fact from him. When
ever he had attempted to drift beyond the
ordinary topics of mere friendship he had
found himself swung around to more pro-
sale things, and how it was done he never
knew.
As for sentiment, he laughed little
nervously as he remembered certain day
when they had wandered into a Chinese
curio shop. An odd Chinese teapot had
pleased her and he bought it and told her
to keep it as souvenir. She laughingly
turned about and bought him tiny vase
in return. The choicest spot on the man.
tel 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 p
1t seemed to him that it took her an
unnecessarily long time to remember, but
finally she did and then he said
81 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 it short time
afterward.
1t was like dash Of cold water, and
now as he strobe along it gaveh him 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 week to
see her alone, and last night he told her
that he was going to say good-by today and
SO it was with feeling of determination
that he rang the bell.
Her 12-year-old brother opened the
door.
"Come right in, Mr.. Harding, I'm
awfully glad to see you" He closed the
door and led the way to the sitting
room.
"Tm all alone. My cold is most bet
ter and I'm busy working for Aunt
Jane" He showed Phil collection of
broken china that he was glueing together.
Phil stammered : "Isn't your sister
inY'
"Helene No, she went out, but said
that she would be back at half-past five. :"
"Half past fve," 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 it 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'sbroken and she IL
be delighted to have it fixed.''
He ran upstairs and came back with the
"old dish, and Phil's heart gave leap,
for he was holding the Chinese teapot.
"Did you say that your sister valued
it?" he said quietly.
Henry eyed it little apologetically.
"Well, won't say she valued it. 1t
doesn' look worth much, but she thought
lot of it. Perhaps some one that's dead
gave it to her.
The bright thought settled everything
to him.
"It's full of truck" he said as he pro-
ceeded to dump miscellaneous collection
of things on the table. Such things as
tumbled out. A dance order, knot of
ribbon, snap shot which Phil recognized
Immediately, faded rosebud, al tiny watch
charm, etc. ~, ,
Phil felt little guilty as he glanced at
the pile. 1t seemed as thoug h he was in
truding on sacred ground. Still he had
not been to blame; it was the brother who
had unconsciously laid bare her secrets.
Henry worked and chatted.
"Funny she thought SO much OF the
old thing. She cried the day she dropped
it. Girls are queer, amt they?
Phil laughed. He echoed the remark
but with deeper meaning. He resolved
to wait, if a fortune depended upon his
getting that train he would rather lose it
than miss seeing her.
He persuaded Henry not tolight up and
they sat in the twilight. Every nerve
was strained for the sound Of a well known
step. At last her CHEEKY voice sounded in
the hall.
"Sitting in the dark, brother p She
turned on the light in the sitting room as
she passed in. Then she caught sight of
Phil
"Why, Mr.. Harding she started for
ward with outstretched hand, but followed
his glance to the table and gave cry Of
dismay. For once she was off her guard.
She turned pale and grasped at the table
to steady herself, then her face flushed
red; she was beginning to get angry.
Phil turned to Henry. "Say, Henry,
there's book in the library called "The
Cruise of the FREELY" Find it, and
here's dollar for your trouble"
After search of Is minutes Henry re-
turned to the sitting room. He had heard
the hall door close and saw Phil hurrying
down the street.
"rm sorry I couldn't find it for him, ;"
he said.
"Are youpleased with the way mended
the dish p
| ssVery much. YOU dear bungler," she