The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-19
NLlr'S COLONIAL TEA
By lzoLa FORESTER.


ever since she vzz t.o-. ~ :o-!.
eight years.
Gabriel alva!s s:orcs3 z.s- =
drove b. OF re "a? - 80 :; -.
OFT cee=-y salute - ~ .Ec= :: 80
sirtng--oco E.cGc- II ea5 gc-= -
school 70 Miss G.b5o-s zc6 va! LEI
an affection to- 20 Oh l::.e ~
maid
Fo1 know. Cab s.e vo-.5 sz!,
with certain =, 9: 1e- tea5. 81
the las. OF the G.tbo-s4s
Gabriel reEe-t=.@5 IL r,a:--va
note Of loneliness he day - ca--s3
the load o. hard voot over % re
schooltouse TIE ,ezct4. s.erp=5
out 10 show him Ete-e she va.sa ::
put, and she asked lin !. he knew a
nice, pleasant p.sce 10 board STA
was living down near the sta.:oe ard
didn't like it.
Gabriel told her he'd speak 70 Miss
Gibbons. She couldn't have beer
day over eighteen. with big brown
eyes and wavy brown hair aad tie
deepest dinples.
She don't seem 70 have much sta.
b!lity," said Miss Gibbons gently, aft.
er she had boarded Polly week.
She Just seems 10 brighten Up the
whole place. In even thinking some
OF having little party for her Wash
ington's birthday. III set out all ny
colonial things, ask each one who
comes TO bring along something
they've got tucked away. too. Yol
can come, can't you. Gabe?"
Gabe was sure he could. In fact,
he'd make point OF it. But when he
paid his usual call Sunday, Polly
seemed out otrumor.
oh, it isn't anything Gabe." she
said shortly. It's Just everything all
at once | think III give Up The
school and go back home l heard
Mrs. Dwiggins say Friday they would
ask for my resignation If / didn't
First, they say the supervisor
drives over and stays too long in nv
district Well re does, too. Hes a
old goose. Then they say waved
my hand to the mail carrier" She
smiled del!ciougly.
The twilight had fallen. Miss Glib
bons was busy getting tea out in the
kitchen, and Gabe some way managed
to unburden his mind to a large ey.
tent in those few minutes. But the
next day. even Eusebia sensed some.
thing wrong in the atmosphere at her
tea
All about the parlor and sitting
room were Eusebias colonial treas.
ures, her moss-rose tea set and the
silver glaze teapot. There were the
Capitol steps silk quilt made by Great
Lucinda Allen, and the old
fintlock musket that had gone through |
the Pequot Indian wars, with a Revo- |
lutionary powder horn next It, and a |
homespun wooden blanket that old !
Capt. Ethan Gibbons had wrapped |
around his weary limbs at Valley |
Forge, There was a slender silver |
cup the great general himself was
said to have drunk from and the very
split bottom chair he had sat in the
night OF his sojourn at the Gibbons
home.
Polly had draped an old worn flag
over the picture OF Washington be-
hind the tea table where Eusebia sat.
flushed and happy, and the rooms
really looked festive. But there was
something wrong Polly knew it right
away, when Mrs. Deacon Ricketts,
gave her hand that was like a dead i
founder. Then, when she passed tea, Il
several OF the ladies said very primly. II
Much obliged, Miss Hall, I'm sure"
Expect to go home before Easter.
10 you, Miss Hall?' inquired old Miss
1hatterton, who was deaf as a post.
The question seemed to reverberate
through the low-ceiled rooms, and
Polly was pink to her ear tips. But
1usebia heard 1t and answered for
Ter placidly:
Well, faint at all likely. Well
iced her here to sing in church, and
would hardly pay to go way up to
'ermont and back again."
Mrs. Ricketts, coughed slightly,
TIRED her tea and fred the next
hot.
The deacon was saying there was
ONE talk on the school board of get
ing man teacher to look after those
ig boys. | should think they'd be
cal burden to you, Miss Hail."
Il like them" said Polly earnestly.
They all help me with the smaller
mes, and are good as can be-"
i don't believe that supervisor will
ct elected this year again." spoke up
liss Chatterton, with startling clear
ess, and there came a de silence.
really was the psychological mo-
tent in Eusebia's tea. Even the IA
lous mistress of the first administra-
en- herself would have needed all
er tact and diplomacy in handling
10 issue of the moment Polly flashed
n imploring glance at her, and
usebia poured another cup of tea
18th steady fingers.
DO try another one. Miss Rick
It's she said It'll quiet your
erves. Well, | don't wonder they
Tx OF removing him. Silly old thing.
around 'stiG of attending
his duties. Polly. isn't that Gabe
the door,"
Polly stepped out into the front hall,
nd Eusebia smiled confidentially at
or company and sprang her final
lot Of victory.
You know they're engaged to be
arried as soon as the school term
Ids. I'm real thankful. too. Gabe's
IT a treasure"
Copyright. 1916. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndlcatel