Warren sheaf., 1917-07-04
II viii cali her. said Abigail reluc

II will call her. said Abigail reluc.
family.
She stepped across the hall and open
ed Sophia's door. That was the signal
when there was company for both.
Don't you care, Sophia she whis-
pered with fierce intensity as her sister
followed her into the room.
Sophia was visibly agitated. She
stammered greetings to the minister
and his wife, which Abigail tried to
cover by commonplace remarks, but
there was an atmosphere of constraint
over the four people.
"Will you have some refreshments
asked Abigail presently. cit is a very
warm day. she observed. She left the
room and presently returned with
! foaming glasses of root beer and
plate Of freshly cut sponge cake. She
ate nothing herself, but looked intently
from her sister to Mr.. Weemers and
then at the minister's wife.
The latter set down her glass. ."Do
you know. Miss Horner, that when my
husband told me be was coming to
,Rosedale on Sunday was delighted.
The first thing said was, Now shall
see the Horner teapot"
>Abigails face softened. $50 he re-
t,lmembered our teapot" she asked.
Eyes, indeed. have mania for old
china, and Paul shares the mania. He
has spoken of the teapot as such a
lovely example of willow pattern, and
I told him I positively must see it,
| Abigail went to a walnut cabinet and
brought forth large blue and white
! teapot. 1t had been in the Horner
family for many generations and was
a treasured heirloom.
'How perfectly lovely!' exclaimed
Mrs. Weemers, while her husband
hung over it in silent admiration. Sud-
denly he Strengthened back in his chair
and laughed heartily.
"You do not know, Miss Abigail, how
hard strove one day, many years ago.
| to ask you to sell me that famous tea
pot. I had seen it and succumbed to
its beauty. I remember, just day or
so before left Rosedale, I called to
say goodby and at the same time to
ask if you would sell it, but realized
my presumption and hardly hoped you
would do so. l tried to broach the sub
| ject, but somehow I couldn't seem to
make any headway. I recollect that
you were called from the room, and Il
tried to approach your sister on the
subject, Nbut she seemed to want to
talk of everything except the teapot, so
1 I gave it up and went away. l wrote
to you once and asked about it, but as
I never heard from you presume the
letter. went astray."
Abigail and Sophia were looking at
each other over the blue teapot. There
was startled expression in Sophia S
eyes, while Abigail looked pityingly at
her sister.
Abigail found her voice first my
sister and would like to give you the
teapot, Mrs. Weemers," she said, with
decision in her tones. ''There is no 'one
to care for it after we are gone, and
you and your husband seem to prize it
SO highly we would like you to have it. .
"But-we cannot-it is too much
stammered Mrs. Weemers.
"Oh, yes!" cried Sophia eagerly. "You
must take it. We want you to have it,
Abigail and have so many old fash
ioned things"
Abigail left the room to wrap the tea
pot in paper and to escape the effusive
thanks Of the delighted Weemers. So
phia followed her sister, trembling with
some unexplained emotion.
Removing the lid, Abigail thrust her
hand into the teapot and drew forth a
yellowed envelope. She held it toward
i Sophia.
"It's yours" she said shortly.
No; it's yours" returned Sophia.
"1f it's mine," said Abigail in grim
tones, ''I'll burn it up" Andtshe thrust
it into the stove.
"Shall we have tea together In the
big dining room tonight. Abigail7'
asked Sophia timidly.
"Of course we WILL" said Abigail.