The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1910-01-26

Writing was burden at best ana any
conventional expression of devotion
that he could think Of seemed to him
exceedingly cheap. At last, by dint
of much self-control, he wrote let
ter so frank and open in it's declara-
ton that even the doubling Lucy
would have to be convinced of his sim
cerity.
The letter written. Ransom sought
the little card that Lucy had given
him, for the necessary address. She
ought to get this in three or four
days." he thought, "if she is near Chi
cago, and if she wires me I can be
with her on Christmas, after ALL" AS
Ransom made these observations, he
fumbled the card in contemplation.
"Hello!" he said aloud as his eyes
caught the reverse side of the card.
ut looks as if Lucy's aunt had given
away memorandum" He read the
notes on the back, written in deli
cate feminine hand. "The Sign of the
Blue Teapot, 1879 Hemlock street.
Luncheon 11-2. Tea 3-6. Fancy arti-
Giles. Homemade delicacies. Special
list of Christmas pies and puddings.'
During the next four days Ran
som was in a mood of expectancy and
perfect confidence as to the outcome
of his proposal; but when Christmas
eve arrived with no telegram he be-
gan to have misgivings. Suddenly 1t
dawned upon him that he would have
to spend Christmas alone; and then
with a distinct impression as to what
sort of Christmas dinner the French
cook at the club would probably pro-
duce, he recalled the notes on the
back of Miss Elting's card.
"I'll get some homemade things
and have them sent over" he thought
as he walked toward the new tea
room in Hemlock street late that aft
ernoon
Ransom never had been in tea
room before, and he felt singularly
out of place in the Sign of the Blue
Teapot. The feminine, would-be jap
anese atmosphere of the place. the
hanging paper Wistarial, the slight
bamboo chairs and tables, the cheap
Japanese prints and pottery, and the
inappropriate array of holly and ever
green struck him as being exceedingly
fragile. He walked with careful steps
past the cases filled with homemade
holly trimmed pastry. Then, as he
passed the desk, his eyes caught sight
of letter, apparently unopened.
Miss Lucy Prescott" it said.
Forgetting his former trepidation,
he walked quickly up and recognized
his own handwriting. The letter had
been redirected from the Chicago adj
dress to the Sign of the Blue Teapot.
Deeply astonished, Ransom sat down.
Presently substantial American
woman, clad in a kimono, approached
him. She stood beside him, her hands
poised on her hips. "Order, SIR" she
said.
"Tea, please" he answered.
Just then from the back of the shop
came Lucy Prescott. She hurried to
the desk. Ransom, too much sur.
prised for the minute to move,
watched her as she seized the letter
with apparent excitement. He
watched the color mount to her cheeks
as she read.
"Molly," she called, I'm going to
the corner to send telegram. While
I'm gone, you take charge of the
checks"
Ransom rose and sped after her, and
the geisha girl, mindful of an unpaid
check, hurried in pursuit. "Youl
check, sir" she called; but Ransom
had stopped Lucy at the door and was
coming back with her.
Follow me-" said Lucy, leading the
way to the pantry; and there, by the
dim light that displayed carefully ar
ranged tea canisters, sugar boxes ant
butter crooks, and whole rows of lit
| tie blue teapots, she explained.
"You see, Aunt Louise and 1 decided
! to run tearoom. Teaching is so hare
for me. and we had to do something
So she took what little capital we ha,
shop in Boston or New York-w,
didn't want to start In the west, wher,
every one knows us. went right OF
teaching till she wired me that sh
had made all the plans and woul,
meet me in New York. OF course,
was completely dumfounded. Sh
didn't know about you, or-that is
l hadn't told her that you were in Phi
adelphia. I hadn't the most remot
idea of how you felt, then, and Ma
urally 1 din't want you to think tina
I had followed you."
Then you weren't offended whe
you saw me on the tra1n?" Ranso1
asked.
"Well, not exactly offended, Raj
som; but I was so cross to think tina
you hadn't let me know before tina
you wanted to spend Christmas wit
me-" said Lucy obviously. II shout
be very cross with you now. for poo
Aunt Louise and had to go all tn
way to Wilmington and back, so ths
you wouldn't know that we were con
ing here"
"But why don't you ask me how
managed to find you?" asked Ransol
! @n0,y