Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-03-30
POLLTS COLONIAL TEA
BY IzoLA FORESTER.


1apflel always stopped When nc
drove by on the way to town to cal
out CHEEKY salute to the face at the
eittingroom window He had gone &c
school to Miss Gibbons, and really had
an affection for the odd little old
maid.
You know, Gabe,D she would say,
with certain tilt OF her Head = am
the last OF the Gibbonses"
Gabriel remembered the plaintive
note Of loneliness the day he carried
the load OF hard wood over to the
schooIhonse. The teacher stepped
out to show him where she wanted II
put, and she asked him If he knew a
nice, pleasant place to board. She
was living down near the station, and
didn't like 1t.
Gabriel told her he'd speak to MISS
Gibbons. She couldn't have been o
day over eighteen, with big brown
eyes and wavy brown hair and the
deepest dimples.
+She don't seem to have much sta.
bility," said Miss Gibbons gently. aft
er she had boarded Polly a week
She just seems 20 brighten up the
whole place. I'm even thinking some
Of having little party for her Wash
ingtons birthday. I'll set out all my
colonial things. ask each one who
comes to bring along something
they've got tucked away, too. You
can come, can't you, Gabe?"
Gabe was sure he could In fact,
he'd make point OF 1t. But when he
paid his usual call Sunday. Polly
seemed out ofHumor.
ooh, it isn't anything. Gabe.. she
said shortly. It's just everything all
at once. / think I'll give up the
school and 80 back home. ] heard
Mrs Dwiggins say Friday they would
ask for my resignation II l didn't
First, they say the supervisor
drives over and stays too long In my
district. Well, be does, too. He's an
old goose. Then they say / waved
sny hand TO the mail carrier" She
smiled deliciously
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 ex
tent in those few minutes. But The
next day. even Eusebia sensed some
thing wrong in the atmosphere at her
Washington tea.
All about the parlor and sitting
room were Eusebia's colonial treas
ures, her moss.rose tea set and The
silver glaze teapot. There were the
Capitol steps silk quilt made by Great
grand.aunt Lucinda Allen. and the old
ilintlock musket that had gone through
the Pequot Indian wars, with a Reyo,
lutionary powder horn next II, ana a
homespun woelen blanket that old
Capt. Ethan Gibbons had wrapped
around his weary limbs at Valley
Forge There was 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 al the Gibbons
home.
Polly had draped an old worn nag
over the picture Of Washington be
bind 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 ike dead
founder. Then. when she passed tea
several Of the ladies' said very primly
Much obliged Miss Hall. I'm SIRE
Expect to go home before Easter
do you. Miss Hall?' inquired old Miss
Chatterton, who was deaf as post
The question seemed to reverberate
through the lowceiled rooms, and
Polly was pink TO her ear tips But
Eusebia heard ii and answered for
her placidly.
well, faint at all likely Wen
need her here to sing IN church. and
It would hardly pay to go way up to
Vermont and back again"
Mrs. Ricketts, coughed slightly.
stirred her tea and fired the next
shot.
The deacon was saying there was
some talk on the school board OF get
ting man teacher to look after those
big boys. / should think they'd be s.
real burden to you. Miss Hal"
Il like them" said Polly earnestly
They all help me with the smaller
ones, and are good as can be-
II don't believe that supervisor viii
get elected this year again, spoke up
Miss Chatterton, with startling clear
ness, and there came a dead silence
1t really was the psychological mo
ment in Eusebia's tea. Even the III.
nous mistress OF the FIRST administra
ton herself would have needed al
her tact, and diplomacy IN handling
the issue Of the moment Polly flashed
an imploring glance at her, and
Eusebia poured another cup OF ten
with steady fingers
40 try another one. Miss Rick.
etts.g she said. it'll quiet your
nerves Well, don't wonder they
talk of removing him SHY old thing
galliyanting around std Of attending
to his duties Polly. isn't that Gabe
at the door%
Polly stepped out into the front hall
ana Eusebia smiled confdentially at
her company and sprang her final
shot Of victory
You know they're engaged to be
married as coon as the school term
ends I'm real thankful, too. Cabe's
got o treasure
fcopyright 1910, W the Mcclurs Newspa
per Syndicate.)
Wanted 1rhlnas cseared Up.