Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-21
x The Romance of Tea Shop

with one OF his long thin dngers.
It's relief TO talk to kome one.
you know. I've kept myself to my
self too long. perhaps Would you
mind if told you why come here
every afternoon. or are ". too busy
just now to listen to MOI"
Il am not busy for the moment"
Mary answered. But please don't
think ] am unduly curious. or that
want to pry Into your affairs" she
added
The tall. dark haired young man
gaZed Mt Mary very earnestly. Look
here. I'd better make n start by tell
Ing you who I am and all about my
self. / suppose. My names Peter
Clement. | am an orphan. and was
brought up by an old uncle down in
the country. always had a great
idea OF writing, 30 l came up TO Lon
don when was nineteen. and. as luck
would have 1t. got post at Man
drons'--he named a publishing house
-'and I've been working there ever
since. Four months ago they made
me sub-editor of Chippy-Snaps. and
two days decentralization I was feel
ing as II the whole world wouldn't
hold mel met her"
He paused and flushed a faint rcd.
we met In this tea shop. of all
places in the world. She was having
tea by herself at the very same table
quite full--only room ut her table
so ! sat down there. and somehow
we began to talk. and I found out
that she was n journalist. too--work-
Ing on a big woman's paper. We
got Interested In each other and we
practically arranged to have tea to-
gether tho next day"
Peter Clement paused. then he gave
an odd. hoarse little laugh.
Don't think me a fool because 1
fell in love Mt hrst sight, but that
girl was unlike any other girl. and
yet don't even know her name.
Why. I know nothing at all about her
except that she was an orphan like
myself and that she worked on big
weekly piper"
But didn't she turn up to tea next
day."
she turned up next day" Peter
Clement nodded his dark head. "Oh.
yes. she turned up, aud we had our
tea together. and we met every after
noon after that for week. but all
the time l never asked her what her
name was, nor did she ask me mine:
but we talked on nearly every sub
jet under the sun. l believe, and we
found out how wonderfully we agreed
about things. how much We had in
common"
He sighed. then suddenly bent to-
ward Mary and put his hand on her
left wrist: she could feel the nervous
electric trembling Of his fingers.
Il made up my mind suddenly to
tell that girl I loved hcr-the girl l
had known just week. ! decided I
would speak to her at tea go into tho
matter OF ways and means, and ask
her IL she thought she could ever
learn to care for mo. get her to tell
me her name and all about herself.
generally fin UP matters: but tho
Fates had grudge Eainst me.
suppose, for I was wired for down TO
Norfolk the very next morning. The
uncle had had stroke.
II expect when she turned up ut
the usual hour and didn't ind me
here, she thought that l ought to
have contrived somehow to let her
know that I'd had to go away: only
1t wasn't possible-I didn't know her
name"
He released his grip on Mary's
wrist. He began to draw patterns
on the table again.
He smiled n faint rather whimsical
smile. then moved a step closer &c
Mary. His eyes looked very bright
and shining.
I'VE could marry now and settle
down so comfortably IL I met her
that's what adds to the irony of the
situation. for my poor old uncle left
me all his money, and, as a matter OF
fact. am very we'll OFF: hut I'm he
ginning to doubt n We shall ever meet