The Washington herald., 1914-08-24
DAILY SHORT STORY.
THE GOOD ANGEL.
By LOUISE OLIVER.
(Copy1lght. 1914


They called her their guardian angel.
this little Nanshekki, with her cherubic
smile and eyes as black as sloes' that
were so full of understanding.
Bert Haworth and Leona Farley al
ways waited for their tea until Nan
shekki's busy fingers could serve 1t.
Others demanded the little japanese girl
as we'll as they, so they were always pa
tient. It was an excuse to proiong the
almost daily tete-a-tete to which they
both looked forward-Bert after busy
day in the office, Leona after shopping
or a matinee.
Nanshekki was called their guardian
angel for several reasons. First, because,
with her little sloe eyes, she had inter-
preted the situation at once when Bert
had been introduced TO Leona one .wlntry
afternoon by a friend in the tearoom'
She had seen the look Of interest and
admiration that had leaped into -he
mans eyes while Leona was acknowledge
Ing the introduction with her prettiest
smile And she had smiled knowingly ID
herself, when afterward she had found
his tea muffin altogether untouched, at
the place he had cOnfiscated beside MS
pretty new acquaintance.
After that Bert had managed to come
TO the tearoom almost every day at d
Sometimes Leona was not there. On such
days Nanshekki knew that it was use
less to tempt his appetite. Dear knows
he ate little enough the other times! He
was too busy looking at and listening
to the girl beside him.
At both sides of the softly lighted room
were little retreats where One-or two
could have his tea in private and at the
same time hear the music of the little
orchestra For the japanese have way
Of retiring from the world without the
use Of thick walls and solid doors
Heavy curtains of beads, with an artistic
Arrangement Of artificial boughs, screened
the OCCUPANTS Of those little stalls from
the eyes of those in the main tearoOm.
Everywhere was a sort of orange twi-
light from a hundred vari-colored Japa-
nese lanterns.
One day Nanshekki adroitly filed up
her tables with a reckless heedlessness
of space. When Leona appeared for her
cup Of tea not a vacant table remained.
why, Nanny, what has happened to-
day that you forgot US? I mean"-she
colored-''you have always been so good
about reserving a table for two"
Nanshekd was desolated. How had 1t
happened? But suddenly she had a
thought A stall? Wouldn't the lady
like one for today? 1t cost so little more.
And for two-so cozy!
Ieona hesitated. then smiled. why,
Just the thing! Tell Mr.. Haworth, if he
comes in, just where I am. will you.
Nanny? That is, if he asks for me-"
she added.
And Nanshekki did as she was hidden.
And after she had delivered his order she
kept wisely away. How beautifully her
plan had worked out!
When they emerged later to go home
they were so radiantly happy! And Bert
had pressed a bill into Nanshekki's tiny
hand. wish us happiness, Nanshekd!
We are going to be married! Wen have
to call you our guardian angel"
Hitter that they came together almost
every day, and the little waitress how
cred around delightedly. She loved to
catch the sparkle of the little lady's ring.
No one else dared to take their order.
They were her property absolutely.
Then the sky fell!
Nanshekki foresaw the trouble long
before It really happened. for it took days
and weeks to reach the stage where It
broke the little lady's heart. The little
japanese girl saw the look in the wicked
lady's eyes that she knew boded i'll for
the happiness of her idol.
Nanshekki had not always had the
honor of serving in a fashionable tea
room. When she first came to America,
Kinsanui, her fathers friend, who had
promised to get her work, and who Incl
dentally collected her wages and sent
only half to the parent, keeping all the
rest as ommission-Kinsanui had only
been able TO get her a place at serving in
4 restaurant. where things stronger than
tea were in demand.
When two years later Nanshekld saw
the wicked lady" as she called her. IN
the tearoom, she recognized her at once.
She rubbed a scar on her own little neck
reminiscently. A wine glass thrown at
the little japanese girl for a mistake in
the order had cut deeply
Now, however. the wicked lady did not
look the same. Her clothes were 50 beau
Hful and her air was what the AmerI-