Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-04-26
The Daily Story
TEA ROOM TEMPEsr-BY cLARIssA MAcKIE.
Copyrighted. 1918. by associated Literary Bureau

IN the meantime and ut the last mo-
ment hurried away to the Lloyd house.
mentally cursing himself for his weak
ness in doing so.
The sapphire ring burned in his peck
eft. 1t had been a magic ring that was
to open wide the gates of paradise To
him. Cornelia had said TO him the
night before, that she would be wait
ing in the library shortly before s
o'clock to give him greeting. Would
she be there now?
These and other questions tormented
Clifford as he approached the house.
They buzzed in his ears as he walked
slowly up the stone steps and rang the
bell
Il will go into the library" he said
TO the servant who admitted him. and
presently he stood in the quiet. digni-
fed room among the books that Judge
Lloyd loved.
For a moment he stood inside the
door. peerinG into the dim corners,
hoping that Cornelia had kept her tryst
with him.
mist Of white fioated out of a big
chair and stood before him-a very
beautiful Cornelia, but a very different
one from the girl he had parted with
the night before This was Cornelia
of indignant eyes and naughty head
and sorrowful lips. AS her lips parted
to speak the door opened quickly be
hind them. and Judge Lloyd entered.
The judge held out welcoming hand
10 Gerald and took his daughters hand
i'll his own. He stood there for Il mo-
mCnt holding them thus, looking from
the young mans anxious face to the
mutinous. downcast countenance of his
lovely daughter
Gerald" he said at last. when |
returned this morning ms wife told me
that my daughter had engaged herself
to you. DO you know what | said to
her." He regarded Gerald with kindly
eyes.
The young man shook his head. 'You
could truthfully have said | was un-
worthy of so great treasure" he
said earnestly.
COrnelia's chin went up the least bit
higher, and he could barely see the
soft curve of her rose tinted cheek
Judge Lloyd laughed softly. Il told
my wife | would rather give Cornelia
to YOU than to any other man know
he said cmphatic8lly. If you only
live up to the high opinion | have Of
you, Gerald. you will he a mighty hap
/ by man, for no woman could help low
ing You. There; l will leave you both
for moment before dinner is an
nounced. You will he frightened at
the array of relatives we have muster
ed to meet you, my dear boy"
Once more he wrung Geralds hand,
/ kissed his daughter tenderly and left
/ the room.
When the door had closed behind
him Cornelia slowly turned her head
/ and regarded her lover with open con
tempt in her violet eyes.
"Well?" she asked cuttingly.
"Well:" retorted Gerald stift1y. 81
I came because | thought You might Of
! fer me an explanation of your conduct
( this afternoon
MY conduct" repeated Cornelia in
! amazcment. What have | done that
requires an explanation?'
Nothing. except to humiliate me by
breaking your appointment with me
today and taking tea with a-a-brain-
less idiot like Monty Woodruff blaz-
/ ed Gerald losing his self control.
monty Woodruff repeated Corne
lia, with tears of Indignation in her
| eyes. II haven't seen him today.
waited and waited for you at the tea
room, and at last took tea alone. But
l saw you
"Corneliar' expostulated her lover,
aghaSt at her manifest falseness. II
. saw your face reflected in the mirror
| opposite my seat, and | saw Monty
Woodhulrs back or that Of some other
fellow sitting with you. and"-
"ImpossibIe!' retorted Cornelia.
Your own sister sat at the next ia
bic and saw me waiting alone, while
you sat in the opposite alcove with
the loveliest girl wearing the dearest
hat | ever saw
Gerald stared open mouthed. Then
enlightenment came into his eyes.
Was it fluffy white thing?" he de-
manded suddenly.
You know it wasr' sobbed Cornelia
He laughed contentedly. You're
right about one thing, and so am I. The
girl you saw reflected was the love
Hest girl in the world-your very own
self, Cornelia. As for me, the brain
less fool | saw reflected was myself,
and that's the truth. | ate all alone
too. Darling, don't you understand
Cornelia decided that Gerald's arms
would afford a comfortable refuge
while he explained the double misun-
derstanding and the puzzle of the mir
rors placed opposite and counter refec-
tons from other mirrors set in square
posts about the room and how they
two. who were TO drink tea together.
had both been misled
But l don't understand, dearest, "
he said in conclusion. You told me
to meet you in the left hand alcove,
and ! was there. while you
81 meant The left hand going out of
the ROOM" explained Cornelia. "You
will never want such stupid, suspi-
cious wife, Gerry, and
I'm not going TO have one" protest
ed Gerald. and then he added softly
Now. ! have a magic ring here and