Smyrna times., 1916-05-31
AN INFORMAL TEA
BY LOUISE OLIVER.


Cornelia set out her favorite tea
service Of black-and-gold china upon
the tray, lighted the samovar and got
the tiny cakes Dasie had left for her,
and while waiting for the water to
boil opened a fresh box of caramels
and tore the wrapper from her latest |
favorite magazine. Cornelia was su. /
pervisor OF art in a girls school near /
the city. Every day at four. after a |
noisy, dirty trip on the cars. she had |
her tea to wash the crayon. water |
cOlOrs and carbon out of her system.
She filled her cup and took a sip,
pulled her chair nearer to the table.
prepared to enjoy her feast to the full.
Bang! The door Of the living-rOom
opened like gunshot, breaking a Jar
diniere, and explosively closed again.
So quickly did It happen that Cornelia
would have thought she had been
dreaming except that in the place OF
the jardiniere stood a redheaded
young man. robed, evidently Just
emerged from the bath. in Cornelia's
little sitting room trying not to have
a chill.
Cornelia sprang up and in spite Of
her astonishment managed to get out:
Come over here by the fire and take
my chair. You're freezing"
Il guess l surprised you!" grinned
the newcomer.
Rather" answered Cornelia with a
smile.
You see. It was this way" he ex.
planned hastily. Il live in there" Jerk
ing his head toward the wall. thereby
indicating the companion fat to the
one Cornelia occupied. MY bath is
across the hall. and when was
through the spring lock on my door
had slipped and l couldn't get in. l
knocked at every door on my side OF
the building and not a soul was at
home. Then l slipped down to the
entry and rang the ianitor's bell. but
l guess he is out somewhere. for he
didn't come. either. l barely escaped
arrest by a passing policeman who
looked in. so I made a dash up your
side OF the stairs, and then I hap
pened to think we had a common We
randa out OF our front windows. I
can get out here. smash a pane in my
window and-presto! change - I'm
home"
'Tll lend you my topcoat and a ham.
mer. I'll have TO leave the rest OF
your rescue to the gods
mo need when a goddess is 50
kind"
! You sound Hibernian."
'I am as Irish as Paddy's pig, and
proud OF &C." promptly answered he
and my name. to prove It. is Dennis
Harrigan."
0 An opened and closed window. {
f sound OF splintering glass. and thu
2 robe was gone.
d A week later Cornelia was chaper
oning a bevy Of young girls to a pom
TO skate. For a while. they skated Il
pairs. but when the girls decided 4
crack the whip. Cornelia declined AM
'' went upon a little excursion OF he
;. own up a tiny stream that appearel
II TO be frozen solid. But suddenly tn
Is ice cracked. and in an instant she wa
J. in the frigid water.
sr Faith. it's the goddess" said a II
\ miliar voice in her ringing ears. Col
/. nelia's departed senses returned wit
ID a jump.
The tall Irishman was carrying We
little Cornelia to the seminary. an
- the little adventure was over for th
N day.
But not for the next. and the mex
OF and so on ad infinitum. for Dennis ha
10 come over TO the little fat ever
day to inquire for his neighbor an
bring a rose Of two. And then he g
al to stopping longer. and finally sittir
Is for an hour or so. And then one ev
20 ming he said: "Cornelia, darling. II
sir been thinking that something WI
Cd meant when we saved one anoth
nd from an early grave"
Is Copyright. 1916 by the Mcclure Newsp
al per Syndicatel