Little Falls herald., 1914-11-20
Miss Tiiyertons
Tea Basket
A Present That Brought Quick
Results.

BY ALICIA sPRAeuE.

+ BY ALICIA sPRAeuE.
**+++++4&t.s, +4&t.s,s.aa.+t,3s.+*******+*+**$
Miss Tiverton always poured tea at
precisely o'clock in the afternoon
for a select circle Of feminine friends.
They drank tea at that early hour
so that those who were married might
get home in time to prepare o'clock
dinners for their husbands and that
those who were single might be safely
housed before the early darkness of
the winter evenings. =
Miss Tiverton sometimes wished that
they might stay later, for it was al
ways long. lonely stretch between
their going and bedtime.
Sometimes Iavfnia Greer stayed
with her. and on those occasions La.
vinia's brother Richard would call at
8. And these were the social oases in
Miss Tiverton's desert of dreary
evenings.
She always made more tea for
Richard and brought out her little
sponge cakes. Richard liked the little
cakes. and he liked Miss Tverton's
dainty ways. her delicate pink and
white prettlness and her pale rose
colored house gowns.
Lavinia thought Miss Wverton very
foolish to wear muslin all winter.
Think of the washing!" she said as
she and Richard walked home one
evening. And Letitia Tiverton is as
poor as Jobs turkey"
"She surrounds herself" said Rich
ard musingly, with an atmosphere of
beauty"
Lavinia shifted. She hated to have
her brother say nice things about Lett.
tia Tiverton. Lavinia had kept her
brothers house for many years, and it
had always been her great duty to nip
sentimental affairs in the bud
Therefore it was many weeks after
that ominous remark Of Richards be-
fore she again spent an evening with
Let1tia. She took her work over in
the mornings or went to the little tea
drinkings, but she did not allow her
brother to darken the doors of the lit
tie gray cottage.
One day Richard spoke of It mildly.
I'VE haven't been to Miss Tiverton's
for long time." he said-"not. think,
for four weeks tomorrow"
Lavinia gave him sharp glance
How did you happen to remember
the dateY' she asked acidly.
Richard looked at her quizzically
over his glasses. Il noted the date in
my diary" he said. II always write
down the events Of the day. Lavinia."
He did not tell her that he had added
after the formal statement. Brought
Lavinia home from Miss T.'s," the
further comment, Miss T. looked like
a rose in her pink gown"
A week later he urged Lavinfa to
CALL "She will think something is the
matter" he said.
Lavinia shrugged her shoulders. II
have been there in the daytime" she
said. II don't see what more she can
expect" - :
Richard thought for moment. 'She
has told US that her evenings are lone
IT," he reminded his sister.
"Humphv' said Lavinia. II don't
know that we are called on to put our.
selves out to go there these freezing
cold nights"
Richard returned to his book, but
after reasonably judicious interval
be looked up to say. Il saw very
pretty tea basket in shop this morn
ing. Lavinia, padded inside to keep the
tea warm"-
"Wh0 wants thing like that?" La
vfnia questioned scornfully. II always
make coffee. Richard"
Richard said nothing more. He loved
tea. but Lavinia preferred coffee. and
there you were Yet the next morning
he sauntered to the flaming Japanese