The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-03
Po4rs COLONIAL TEA
BY lZoLA FORESTER.

ever since she was born, for forty |
eight years.
Gabriel always stopped when he
drove by on the way to town to call |
out a CHEEKY salute to the face at the |
sitting-room window. He had gone to |
school to Miss Gibbons, and really had |
an affection for the odd little old |
maid.
You know, Gabe,' she would say.
with a certain tilt of her head, Il 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
schoolhouse. The teacher stepped
out to show him where she wanted it
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 it.
Gabriel told her he'd speak to Miss
Gibbons. She couldn't have been
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 to brighten up the
| whole place. I'm even thinking some
Of having little party for her Wash
| ington's 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, cant 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 ofH.umor.
ooh, 1t isn't anything Gabe." she
said shortly. IT'S just everything all
at once think I'll give up the
school and go back home. l heard
Mrs. Dwiggins say Friday they would
ask for my resignation il l didn't.
First, they say the supervisor
drives over and stays too long in my
district. Well. he does, too. He's an
old goose. Then they say ! waved
my 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 large ex-
tent in those few minutes. But the
next day. even Eusebia sensed some
thing wrong in the atmosphere at her
Washington tea.
l n n
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
fintlock musket that had gone through
the Pequot Indian wars. with a Revo-
lutionary powder horn next 1t. 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 a hand that was like dead
founder. Then, when she passed tea
several of the ladies said very primly
Much obliged. Miss Hall, I'm sure
Expect to go home before Easter
do you, Miss HALF" inquired old Miss
Chatterton, who was deaf as post
The question seemed to reverberate
through the low-ceiled rooms, and
Polly was pink to her ear tips. But
Eusebia heard 1t and answered fol
her placidly:
well, faint at all likely. Wei
need her here to sing in church, and
it would hardly pay to go way up tc
Vermont and back again"
Mrs. Ricketts, coughed slightly
/. stirred her tea and fred the mex
shot.
The deacon was saying there wal
some talk on the school board Of get
ting a man teacher to look after those
big boys. should think they'd be {
real burden to you, Miss Hail."
: 81 like them" said Polly earnestly
: They all help me with the smalle
ones, and are good as can be-"
81 don't believe that supervisor will
oIaotaJ chic WAR uain - anpka M
Miss Chatterton, with startling clear
D ness, and there came a dead silence
D It really was the psychological me
|. ment in Eusebias tea. Even the ia
+. nous mistress of the first administra
J. ton herself would have needed al
her tact and diplomacy in handlin
the issue of the moment Polly fashe'
an imploring glance at her, an
Eusebia poured another cup of te
with steady fingers.
do try another one, Miss Ricl
8 etts." she said. It'll quiet you
IN nerves. Well, / don't wonder the
IS talk OF removing him. Silly old thint
1t gallivanting around std of attendin
e! to his duties. Polly. isn't that Cab
al at the door,"
nj Polly stepped out into the front hal
ID and Eusebia smiled confidentially a
st her company and sprang her fins
81 shot of victory.
De You know they're engaged to b
nc married as soon as the school teri
ends. I'm real thankful. too. Gabe
got a treasure"