Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-05-20
Della Priddy's
Tea Party
A Scheme For Revenge That
Had Happy Ending,
BY Cl-ARISSA MACKIE
: Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association,

Della Priddy dew brlskly around her
little Kitchen Della was giving a tea
party that night.
In the other half OF the house two
women sat talking In sunny bow
window. Everything here was neat
and orderly, but the rooms lacked the
air of festlvity that was impaired by
the preparations for the party.
If was to give tea party to the
sewing society wouldn't you think I
was mean II didn't invite my next
door neighbour demanded Ann Bart
impatiently
II don't know" returned Mrs. White
evaslvely. Il guess III put this edging
in plain. What do you think, AnnT
Mrs, Bart stabbed her knitting nee
dies into the folds OF the shawl and
leaned back In her rocking chair. I'D
put It In plain II | was you. Sonny.
You needn't try to get out of answer
ing me. for | want to know what's the
'eason Della Priddy didn't ask me to
her party2 Haven't | always been
nlce to her? I've asked her tune and
again TO every kind OF dolngs me and
James ever had. Not that she'd ever
come step, but | Invited her, and
now James IL dead and buried and
I've come TO live In the other half OF
the house should think she'd have
manners enough TO ask me. I've been
Il member Of the sewing society ever
since | married and came to SILVIA
ter-thats twenty years ago. It's a
public slight. that's what II isl"
Mrs. white quivered uneaslly. you
never knew Della before you was mar
rled and came to Stillwaterp" she ven
tured hesitatlngly.
Ann Bart shook her head.
I'm have to be going along home, 1
guess" said the other woman, rising
slowly and picking the threads from
her dress. There's supper to get for
Henry and the children and"-she
paused awkwardly and shifted her
glance from her companions face to
the towering plants In the window
your night blooming cereus has got
one, two. three-it's got seven buds
on I'll They look like they'll open to-
night" She turned surprised eyes
upon her hostess
Mrs. Barts lips took on bitter
curve as she replied: Eyes, It'll be
a-bloom tonight | guess I'll have to
admire It all by myself Every mem
Der OF the society | asked to come In
and see II said she had an engage
ment--Just as II didn't know twas
Della Priddy's party they were going
tor
As the afternoon wore on her bitter
ness Increased, and she was trembling
with anger and disappointment that
she could no longer conceal from her
self She wished some calamity might
befall Della's tea party. Indeed. she
was quite willing to become the au-
thor OF any catastrophe that would put
an end to the merry making.
At 8 O'Clock she saw Della, arrayed
In black silk skirt and white shirt
waist, tripping down the street with
q pitcher 10 one hand. Della would be
back Ia ten minutes.
Like little fury the widow dew
across the hall and opened Della's
door The table was set for supper
gold banded china, pale pink ham,
pickles and preserves. three kinds OF
cake. balls Of pot cheese, golden sal
ad-even the bnbbling OF the teakettle
IN the kitchen bespoke the pot OF fra
grant ten TINT was TO come. Ten places
were laid. aud Ann Bart swiftly count
ed the members OF the sewing society,
and there were nine aud one over
that would be Delia's cousin from the
Junction She was always invited to
DelIa's parties
Ann Bart hesitated for an Instant
only. Then she darted back into her
ket from her Kitchen closet Into the
basket she set the plates OF ham and
cake and cheese. the dishes Of pre-
serves and the bowl OF salnd. Guilty.
she returned to her own rooms and
sought the stairs leading to the large.
open r0ftered attic that was shared
alike by the two inmates Of the house.
vi iht uOith iSollh
Priddy kept her belongings, and In the
south half AIMS things were stored
away. Ann was particular to place
the captured viands IN DeIin's half OF
the attic. When Della found them she
might conjecture what she pleased.
Mrs. Bart was too angry to analyze
her own motives at that moment.
A large chest was set back under the
rafters Ann crept forward and threw
back the lid The chest was half filed
with boxes and bundles and formed a
safe hiding place for the plates Of
food. These were set carefully on top
Of the packages IN the trunk. and Ann
held one small box In her hand while
she arranged the chest. The sound Of
footsteps on the path below brought
her to her feet with a sudden sense Of
guilt. She dropped the lid with bang
and threw the basket into a distant
corner among her own things
Once below in her own rooms she
found herself clutching a small paste
board boz. She had forgotten to re-
place II In the chest She heard Della
on the back porch talking to the cat,
and she hastily thrust the beG 10 her
workbasket and threw her knitting
over the whole
naIia'a sIOhf afan ANNA into tha hall