Little Falls herald., 1914-11-20
{ waa he who had sent the tea basket

~, l9l4 ss
It was he who had sent the tea basket
to Miss Nverton.
81 wish you had seen her," Lavinia
pursued. II wish you had heard her
giggle and boast that you sent it,
Richard turned questioning eyes
upon her. but she did not know that
had sent it, he said. ''rhere was
no card. Lavinia."
Lavinia went on hurricdly. well.
then. she guessed. for she Dragged of
it. Richard-it-it-it was disgusting"
Miss Lavinia's face was dull red.
She did not like what she was doing
now that she was doing it. But she
was desperate.
Il can't imagine e'-Richard's tone
was incisive-"1 can't imagine. Lavi-
mia. a woman of Miss Tiverton's deli
cact doing thing like that"
Lavinia tossed her head. You don't
know much about women, Richard"
she retorted.
Richard walked abroad that night
consumed by angry doubts. Surely
Lavinia would not lie. Surely Miss
Tiverton would not brag. His gold
headed cane tapped the pavement ir-
resolutely. Then suddenly he strobe
down the street, irresolute no longer.
Miss Letitia, alone and little visit
full in her small gray cottage, heard
the tap Of the cane as she had heard
it every night when Richard went
forth for his evening walk.
Behind her curtains she had watched
him regularly and had admired the
straightness of him, the briskness of
his walk. the brown waves of hair
which in defiance of modern fashion
be wore so long that it almost touched
his coat collar. --
1t had never dawned on Miss Tiver.
ton that such a great being as LAWN.
las brother could look upon her and
find her lovely. In her humility she
had not dreamed that the basket was
an Offering from such source.
She had thought the women Of her
circle might have dubbed together to
bestow on her this gift Of friendship,
and her effusiveness at the afternoon
gathering had been due to her graft
tude
The tap Of the gold headed cane
sounded right in front Of her gate,
stopped and began again on the stone
walk that led to the front door.
Then the bell rang. Miss Tiverton
answered it. Richard stepped over her
threshold-for the first time without
his sister Lavinia.
Il came," he said when he was seat
ed, ito ask question, delicate ques-
ton, Miss Tiverton. Who sent you
your tea basket?"
Miss Letitia's clear eyes met his
frankly. "Oh, did La vinia tell you that
one was sent me?'' she asked. Its
such a beauty" And she brought it to
him, displaying the rose lining and the
tassels.
Richard drew long breath of relief.
The doubts that Lavinia had planted
fed. There was nothing Of deceit in
that childlike soul, in that fower-like
face.
E"Miss Letitia," he said, with his hand
on the basket, 'haven't you guessed
who sent it," s."
. Her puzzled glance met his. NO."
she murmured.
IL sent it." be confessed, because
it reminded me Of you-the rose color
and the pink-ike your pretty gown.
you- pretty self, rose of woman"
Miss Letitia stood half poised for
fight. "Oh!' she said breathlessly, and
her eyes were like stars. "Oh, Mr..
Greer!'
Richard grew bolder. II sent it be.
cause 1 love you, Letitia. There is no
happiness that could exceed that Of
winning you for my wife,"
It came upon little Letftia almost too
suddenly. that vision Of happiness. and
she swayed toward him, looking just
then more like lily than a rose, and
the tea basket dropped from her nerve
less hand.
Richard caught it deftly as he drew
her to him. "You will pour tea for me,
won't you," he demanded. trying to
bring the color back to her cheeks, ''for
the rest Of my days, Let1tia7 Lavinia
gives me coffee-but, then. oh. hang
Lavinia! Will you marry me, sweet
hearth
And Miss Letitia, after a startled
"Oh. Rfchardr' buried her face against
bis coat and said YES"