The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-08-14
TEA THAT WAS TEA
And Results It Wrought Were
Satisfactory to at Least
Two People.
BY ANNA e. BLEY.

Ou, 10 JudL YOU, NhASo
Birdsall turned from the typewriter.
wait a minute" running through
bundle Of folded policies Here 1t is,
MacDougall & Son-Insurance Brok-
ers" she read from the printed stick
er at the bottom.
1T doesn't take you long to turn
EN- out, Miss Birdsall," remarked the
boy admiringly as he slipped it into
his pocket.
Louise Birdsall's lips parted in
smile.
What's in the kettle, Bobbie?" she
inquired.
Nothing yet, it's for tea for the old
man"
Does he like tear"
Headache, and he's had an awful
crouch on all morning"
Poor old gentleman" exclaimed
Miss Birdsall sympathetically. Where
are you going to get the tear"
"At the Peerless"
AT the Peerless!" she calculated.
why, it won't be fit to drink"
Cant help it, nearest place" and he
picked up the kettle to go.
Miss Brdsall glanced at the clock;
quarter of an hour
"Sit down, Bobbie, and Ill make you
some tea that is tea."
She pulled out the lower drawer of
the typewriter desk and drew forth
small brass canister, from another re-
cess came a teaspoon.
Just second, Bob," she laughed.
and ran into the tiny dressing room ad-
joining the large airy Office.
In a twinkling she returned, hold
ing up little blue and white china
! teapot. "The kettle was boiling, so it
didn't take long to make. BY the time
you get to the office 1t will be nicely
stepped"
Bobbie looked at the gay little tea
pot doubtfully Gould you wrap 1t
up?" he suggested.
why, it is much easier to carry this
way"
81 know, but If the fellows in Wat
kins' office see me go by with flossy
little teapot like that, they'll guy the
life out O. me-"
With quick understanding, Miss
Birdsall wrapped the teapot in the
mornings newspaper.
"Bobbie, / want this teapot returned
with the tea leaves in 1t, no wiping out
with the office towel. Do you get me,
Robert?"
81 gotcha,' he replied with grin
The door slammed and Miss Birdsall
settled down to work.
The next day at noon fashionably
dressed young man walked into the
Office of the International Insurance
company. Miss Birdsall rose, her
cheeks flushing slightly as she recog'
nized young Mr.. MacDougall.
Miss Birdsall?" he interrogated
pleasantly.
YES" she said with quiet dignity.
81 am returning the teapot with sim
cere thanks"
Pray don't mention it, | hope the
tea helped Mr.. MacDougalls head"
81 assure you it did" He smiled and
added: "In fact, he has been a new
man ever since"
Miss Birdsall peeped absent:minded-
ly inside.
I'VE didn't wash it out" he apollo
gized, and then they both laughed
gaily, and Miss Birdsall remembered
her admonition to Bobbie.
With a few desultory remarks. Me
MacDougall politely left.
What delightful person" thought
Miss Birdsall, as she carried the tea
pot into the dressing room. Delight
full ia spite of his money"
During the afternoon she recalled
him again and again. Since she had
been policy writer for the Internation-
al she had heard continually of young
MacDougall of his money, of his ex-
travagances, and of the beautiful old
house occupied solely by his father
and himself 1t was therefore a sur
prise and a pleasure to find him quite
natural and extremely agreeable.
Two days later, Bobbie came in
again at noon.
Nothing ready, Robert, she called
out In business-like tone.
I'm not after policies" Then
leaning confidentially over the counter
Gould you let me have some more
tea, Miss Birdsall?"
"Why Bobbie-" Miss Birdsall
wheeled about In her chair.
THE boss has terrible headache
been raising Cain all morning"
Dear me-" murmured Miss Birdsall
"of course" Rising quickly, she com
menced collecting the tea things. While
the kettle was boiling, sudden
thought struck her.
What does Mr.. MacDougall drink
the tea from?"
"a glass"
well upon my world" and forth
with she produced fragile teacup anC
! saucer. From some nook in her desk
she took lemon and deftly cut three
or four slices with her penknife. These
she slipped into clean envelope, to
gether with several cubes of sugar anC
a teaspoon.