Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1910-06-08

Della Priddy's|
Tea Party
A Scheme For Revenge That
Had a Happy Ending.
By dARHSA MAcKIE
copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

party that night
In the other half Of the house two
~omen sat talking In a sunny bow
xipdow. Everything here was neat
and orderly, but the rooms lacked the
air of festivity that was impaired by
the preparations for the party.
III | was TO give a tea party to the
sewing society wouldn't you think
was mean IL didn't invite my next
door neighbour demanded Ann Bart
impatiently
~ don't know" returned Mrs. White
srssively. Il guess I'll put this cdging
IN plain What do you think. Annf"
Mrs Bart stabbed her knitting nee
dies into the folds Of the shawl and
leaned back In her rocking chair. I'D
mt II in plain IL was you. Sonny.
You needn't try TO get out OF answer
ing me, for want TO know what's the
reason Della Priddy didn't ask me TO
her party? Haven't ! always been
nice TO her, I've asked her time and
again 10 every kind Of doings me and
lanes ever had Not that she'd ever
come step. but | invited her. and
now James Is dead and buried and
I've come to live In the other half Of
the house l should think she'd have
manners enough to ask me. I've been
4 member Of the sewing society ever
since | married and came to SILVIA
ter-that's twenty years ago. It's a
public slight, that's what It Isl"
Mrs. White quivered uneasily. you
never knew Della before you was mar
he'd and came to StillwaterY" she ven
tured hesitatingly.
Ann Bart shook her head.
"rll have to be going along home.
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 awkwarily and shifted her
glance from her companions face to
the towering plants in the window
"yoGr night blooming cereus has got
-one. two. three-it's got seven buds
on It. They look like they'll open to-
night" She turned surprised eyes
upon her hostess.
Mrs, Bart's lips took on bitter
curve IS she replied: YES. it'll be
a.bloom tonight. | guess I'll have to
admire 1t all by myself. Every mem
Der Of the society asked TO come In
and see Il said she had an engage
ment-just rs IL didn't know twas
Della Priddy's party they were going
to-
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
befali Delia's tea party. Indeed. she
was quite willing TO become the au-
thor Of any catastrophe that would put
an end 10 the merrymaking.
At > o'clock she saw Della, arrayed
In black silk skirt and white shirt
waist. tripping down the street with
pitcher In one hand. Della would be
back 10 ten minutes.
Like little fury the widow flew
across the hall and opened Delia'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
sd-cven the bubbling of the teakettle
III the kitchen bespoke the pot OF fra
grant tea that was 20 come. Ten places
were laid, and Ann Bart swiftly count
ed the members OF the sewing society.
and there were nine and one over
that would be pella'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
own room and fetched large Gat bas-
ket from her Kitchen closet. Into the
DasAet she set the plates Of ham and
caKe and cheese. the dishes of pre-
serves and the bowl of salad. Guilty.
she returned to her own rooms and
sought the stairs leading to the large.
open raftered attic that was shared
a'lKe by the two inmates of the house.
oh the north half of the room Della
rriddy kept her belongings, and in the
souih half AIMS things were stored
."ay Ann was particular to place
Tue captured yiands in Delia's half Of
lne attic. When Della found them she
mlght conjecture what she pleased.
AIRS Bart was too angry to analyze
aef own motives at that moment.
a large chest was set back under the
.aiters, Ann erept forward and threw
oaeS the lid. The chest was half filed
WIN boxes and bundles and formed
ie hiding place for the plates Of
1ood These were set carefully on top
Inc packages In the trunk. and Ann
leid one small box In her hand while
sue arranged the chest The sound Of
footsteps on the path below brought
yer 10 her feet with sudden sense Of
suit- She dropped the lid with bang
.uu threw the basket into q distant
"rner among her own things.
once below In her own rooms she