Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1908-03-06
66o
Chinese Teapot.
By Margaret E. Donnelan.

Philip Harding glanced at his watch
sfter having said good-by all around
b the home folks. He saw he had still
Ehree hours to train time. His trunk
vas already at the depot and his affairs
we're in ship shape order, save one, and
this one was causing him more anxiety
than all the others, for on II 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 he
reviewed 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. II she was
conscious of 1t, and 1t seemed impos-
sible 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 1t was done
be never knew.
As for sentiment, he laughed little
seriously as he remembered certain
day when they had wandered into a
Chinese curio shop. An odd Chinese
teapot had pleased her and he bought
& and told her to keep 1t as a souvenir.
She laughingly turned about and
sought him a tiny vase in return. He
remembered how he treasured 1t. The
sboicest spot on the mantel was its
sdt Of honor, but he never saw the
teapot, and one day, being curious, ne
said:
Helene, do you remember the day
We bought the Chinese souvenirs?"
1t seemed to him that it took her an
unnecessarily long time to remember,
but finally she did and then he said:
II have treasured that vase ever
Eince."
He remembered he had waited for
Aer 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
1ow 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
;ould not leave ii unsettled. He had
hied for a week to see her alone, and
cast night he told her that he was go
ing to say good-by today and so 1t
was with a 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 sit
ting room.
I'm 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 to-
gether.
Phil stammered: Isn't you sister
in?S
Helene? No, she went out, but said
Chat she would be back at half-past
Eve"
Half past five." 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 II 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 a lot Of. It's broken and
she'll be delighted to have 1t fixed"
He ran upstairs and came back with
the "old DISH" and Phirs heart gave
a leap, for he was holding the Chinese
teapot.
Did you say that your sister valued
it?" he said quietly.
Henry eyed it little apologetically.
: We'll, l won't say she valued 1t. 1t
doesn't look worth much, but she
thought lot of it. Perhaps someone
that's dead gave it to her."
The bright thought settled everything
TO him
Its full Of truck" he said as he
proceeded to dump 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, a faded
rosebud, a tiny watch-charm, etc.
Phil felt a little guilty as he glanced
at the pile. II seemed as though he
was intruding 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. i. 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. IL fortune depended, upon
his getting that train he would rather
lose il than miss seeing her.
He persuaded Henry not to light up
and they sat in the twilight. Every
nerve was strained for the sound Of
. well known step, At last her CHEEKY
voice sounded In the hall.
Sitting in the dark. brother?" 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 fol-
lowed his glance to the table she g-sse
a cry Of dismay. For once she was of
Ia o~,ord Che <,rpad po1a and