The Washington herald., 1914-05-15
CLASSIFIED
WAN T ADS
DAILY SHORT STORY.
RUTH's TEA PORCH.
D. BELLE K. MANIATEs.
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By BELLE K. slANIATEs.
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Back from the street In the midst oi
hundred oaks stood the old colonial
house, bearing even In its dilapidated
state an aspect Of its former glory. The
pride of its occupants. now reduced e
three In number. had been steadily main.
tanned and fbstered by Miss Mehitabls
and Miss Angelina, sixty-eight and fifty.
nine years ID. respectively. They were
content to sdbsist on scant rations and
the memories of bygone days, but their
young niece, Ruth, secretly rebelled a
the stagnation of household conditions.
One day Miss Angelina yielded to the
oft-repeated request Of her older sister to
consult DR.. Perry, the family physician.
He prescribed six months In the noun
tsins of the Far West. Miss Mehitabls
sought Ruth to tell her the doctors
ultimatum.
.You must both CO." declared Ruth.
But we have spent all our income for
the year already" :
Then you must draw from the prin-
cipal. You go and consult Mr.. Robbins
now about raising the money and I will
60 and see Mrs Pankey about coming
to stay with me. She will be glad to
share the work for her lodging and
board"
The proposed arrangements were quick
ly contaminated. and when one day the
train had steamed westward bearing tha
flut.ering little ladies, Ruth walked
home from the station with Mr.. Bob
bins, the family lawyer.
How much money did Aunt Mehitaoie
draw from your" asked Ruth.
six hundred dollars. F"
..Then 1 must earn 800 each month
while they are away"
'Eernr gasped Mr.. Bobbins-
Since the mineral springs were 10.
Gated in Waterford the hotel has hac
more guests that 1t could take care OF
There are our big pariors never opened
now. ! shall bring down the old ma.
hogany bedroom set from the attic ano
put it in the back parlor and rent thai
suite and the living room. Upstairs there
Ia the guest room. my room. ana tnen
/ can serve tray breakfasts-
Miss Mehitable would never consent
to q Randolph earning money.
mo; I shall do it without her con-
sent She need not know.
When they reached the hotel Ruth went
to confer with the clerk. who gasped at
the offer of rooms. At the entrance 70
Midoaks she met the family doctor. to
whom she outlined her plan.
Quite a coincidence" he declared.
was lust on the point Of asking you II
you would house my young nephew
''Of course WILL" assented Ruth.
He has been overstudying for the law.
L advised him to become an understudy
to nature. I thought you might let him
have a small room for a consideration
and he could help you about the place.
'If he will keep the front lawn moved
and milk the COW and help IN the garden
he may have lodging and board free"
..I'u bring him over tonight" promptly
replied the doctor.
Ruth and Mrs. Pankey spent the day in
preparing the rooms. II was early drsk
when Ruth stopped work and donned
fresh white muslin In honor OF the doc
tors nephew.
He was very enthusiastic over the prop
osition Ruth related to him for replenish-
ing the scant treasury.
why not 60 in on q bigger scale ana
make more money!" he asked.
How Could II" she asked eagerly.
Serve luncheons and tea at little tables
on your porch. They are making good
roads between this place and the city.
It will be a favorite motoring point"
Her commercial instinct thoroughly
awakened. Ruth proceeded to develop this
plan. Within a week all available rooms
in the house were rented to dodgers, who
eagerly embraced the proffer OF tray
breakfasts.
The doctors nephew, Ben Markell in
formed his city friends Of the porch teas.
and they found it most enhancing to sit
on a white-columned veranda at a little
table covered with the finest of sIew-
white fabrics, graced by old-fashioned
garden flowers, and partake OF fragrant
tea served in cups of fragile china
A beautiful, busy, profitable summer
followed, Sundays standing out as red
letter days Each weekend. when Ruth
went to Mr. Bobbins' ONCE to deposit her
profits, she felt little thrill of achieve
ment.
do YOU know" said Ben one day late
in autumn. this life has convinced me I
should make a mediocre lawyer. / am
going to change my profession. Do you
want me-to leave?"
Mo-" she stammered blapkly.
"I have a plan which has been meteri-
aiizing ever since the night came. May
I tell your
His plan made her heart beat with ex-
c tement, but she feared her aunt's op-
position.
The next mornings mail brought let
ter from Miss Mehitable. Angelina
she wrote, foolish child. is married. At
the boarding house she met a rancher.
He persuaded her to elope. / am quite
upset Am starting for home tomorrow"
Il shall go to the junction and meet
her." decided Ruth. THAT will give
me two hours in which to tell her ALL
the news"
You are all I have left now. Ruthie,"
said Miss Mehitable when her niece came
aboard the train.
Il have something to tell you," began
Ruth, bluntly, as she braced for the
ordeal Something you won't like. In
the first place, DIR. Perry asked me to
take his nephew for the summer. He was
out of health"
"Of course you took him, Ruth"
Yes; he paid in work. He milked the
COW q had Mrs. Pankeys. fed the chick