The Democratic advocate., 1909-06-18
Observation-Disclosures
Miss TivertOn'S S
Tea Basket.

BY ALICIA sPRACUE.
Copyrighted. 1903, by Associated
Literary Press.


get home In time to prepare o'clock
dinners for their husbands and that
those who were single might be safely
housed before the early darkness Of
the winter evenings.
Miss Tiyerton sometimes wished that
they might stay later, for It was al
ways a long, lonely stretch between
their going and bedtime.
Sometimes Lavinia Greer stayed with
her, and on those occasions Lavinia's
brother Richard would call at o. And
these were the social oases in Miss
Tivertons desert of dreary evenings.
She always made more tea for Rich
ard and brought out her little sponge
cakes. Richard liked the little cakes,
and he liked Miss Tiverton's dainty
ways, her delicate pink and white pret-
tiness and her pale rose colored house
gowns.
Lavinia thought Miss Tiverton very
foolish to wear muslin all winter.
'Think Of the washingw she said as
she and Richard walked home one
evening "And Letitin Tiverton Is as
poor as Jobs turkey"
''She surrounds herself" said Rich
ard musingly. with an atmosphere of
beauty"
Laylnia shifted. She hated to have
her brother say nice things about Lett
tin Tiyerton. Lavinla had kept her
brothers house for many years, and it
had always been her great duty to nip
sentimental affairs I'm the bud.
Therefore 1t was many weeks after
that ominous remark Of Richards be-
fore she again spent an evening with
Letitia. She took her work over I'm
the mornings or went to the little tea
drlnkings, but she did not allow her
brother to darken the doors Of the lit
tie gray cottage.
One day Richard spoke of II mildly.
1--WE haven't been to Miss TIverton's
for long time" he sald-"not,
think, for four weeks tomorrow"
Laylnia gave him sharp glance.
How did YOU happen to remember
the dateT she asked acidly.
Richard looked Mt her quizzically
over his glasses II noted the date In
my diary" he said. II always write
down the events Of the day. Lavinia."
He did not tell her that he had added
after the formal statement, Brought
Lavinia home from Miss T's." the
further comment. Miss I. looked like
rose in her pink gown
A week later he urged Lavinia TO
call. "she VIII think something Is the
matter" he said.
Lavinia shrugged her shoulders. II
have been there In the daytime" she
said. II don't see what more she can
expect"
Richard thought for moment. "She
has told us that her evenings are lone
ly," he reminded his sister
"Humphw said Lavinia. ~ don't
know that we are called on 10 put our
selves out 10 go there these freezing
cold nights"
Richard returned 20 his book. but
after reasonably judiclous interval
he looked up to say II saw very
pretty tea basket In n shop this morn
ing, Lavinia, padded inside TO keep the
tea warm
"Who wants thing like thatT La
4
make coffee, Richard"
Richard said nothing more. He loved
tea, but Lavlnia preferred coffee, and
there you were Yet the next morning
he sauntered 10 the flaming Japanese
bazaar, where were displayed native
wares to tempt the tourists who were
making the old fashioned southern VII
laUo haIfua4, a4onnfna nlaoa nm tInf.
way to the tropics.
The tea basket was a quaint affair
OF oriental weaving with a gay pink
satin lining and green and pink cord
and tassel about the handle. The pink
made Richard think of Miss Tiverton.
With defiant look he went in and
bought the basket and ordered II sent
to her.
His heart failed him, however, when
the dark skinned salesman asked him
for card to put with the gift
Just send 1t without" he said hasti-
ly. Visions of Miss Lavinin's wrath
should she know Of his purchase came
to him oppressively.
The mysterious basket was to little
Letitla Tiyerton n source OF infinite
delightful speculation. She displayed
1t to her afternoon circle, the rose col
ored lining, the pink cord ard tassel.
the fine basketry.
And ] can't imagine who sent me
such a beautiful thing" she ended
radiantly when all had seen IT.
At the first glance Lavinla Greers
eyes had hardened OF all those wo-
men she only suspected where that
basket had come from. Richard had
sent it, This looked seriously like
the beginning of romance that would
be most lnconvenient to Miss Lavinia.
On the way home she thought over
a plan. 1t was simple. At dinner she
told Richard, "Letitia Tiverton was
too silly about a basket that some one
sent to her"
Richard started, and his face flushed.
He realized that Lavinia had put two
and two together and had guessed that
1t was he who had sent the ten basket
to Miss Tiverton,
Il wish you had seen her." Lavinla
pursued. II wish You had heard her
giggie and boast that you sent It,"
Richard turned questioning eyes
upon her. But she did not know tina,
had sent it." he said. There was
no card, Lavinia."
Layinia went on hurriedly. "Well
then, she guessed, for she Dragged OF
1t, Richard -it-itit was disgusting"
Miss Lavinia's face was O dull red
She did not like what she was doing
now that she was doing II. But she