The Lamar register., 1920-09-29
JEANS TEA ROOM
BY clARISSA MAckIe.


er and her grandmother The three OF
them lived alone there with tiny in
come from Jeans school teaching,
with the old house almost fulling down
for need Of repairs, and with IA tangled
old garden which had no one to take
care OF II.
Grandmother was old and feeble
and Mrs. Webb was not strong. When
Jean came home from teaching her
sturdy youngsters she was tired and
there was always housework to do.
30 the old house and garden were neg
lected.
''If l could only sell it" sighed Jean
''for a good sum of money, then"
she smiled and brushed away tear
then mother and grandmother would
die of Inconsistencies Well, we'll keep
it--somehow, all together!"
She turned as a motorcar slowed at
the gate. A smartly uniformed chauf-
feur touched his cap and opened the
door of the car
An elderly woman with gray hair
and soft appealing eyes smiled gra.
ciously on the slender girl at the gate.
II beg your pardon-can you tell me
IL there Is a tea room nearby?" she
queried. I'VE have had breakdown
and 1t IL long past luncheon hour"
Jean hesitated. With the woman's
question an idea flashed into her head
perhaps this was the answer to her
prayers-this might be the golden op-
portunity knocking at her gate II
there was n demand for tea rooms
why not supply 1T
In few moments three ladies were
sitting In the comfortable chairs in the
green gloom of the honeysuckle vines,
exclaiming over the roses that Jean
brought them and the pure chalices OF
the fragrant day lilies. Then Jean dis
appeared for a period to return with
pink slices Of ham laid on crisp let
tuce leaves. delicious balls OF cream
cheese, n pot of homemade jam.
simple salad and dainty bread and
butter sandwiches-these and a pot
and then went away and left them
alone.
When she came back they were so
generous In their praise Of the unex-
pected hospitality-so eager for Jean
to open q tea room there.
you are so near the post road. my
dear-all you need is a few tables on
the vernndn and your own beautiful
thlngs-your cooking is delicious-let
me have a sign painted for youl"
urged Mrs. Delbridge. the owner OF the
car and the hostess of the party.
"You are too kind" protested Jean.
hall
and I may come with hint Is vaca-
tion now and you will have plenty OF
time. Beware We shnll send all our
friendsr' They laughingly drove
away. their arms full Of flowers. and II
was not until they had disappeared
that Jean remembered that they had
not asked for check and she had not
thought to charge them!
"A poor business woman am l." she
murnured wryiy as she cleared the
table. Then she found a fve-dollar
bill pinned to the damask cloth and
she danced into the house waving Il
exultantly.
Exit Jean the schoolma'am and en-
ter Jean the keeper OF the tea shop
and weeder Of her garden once more
Hurrahi-
A week later n small gray car
stopped at the gate and Jean. who was
enthusiastically wedding the graveled
walk between the rows of fragrant
boxwood. thought of her grubby fingers
and mussed blue frock. "lt must be
Mrs. Delbridge's son." she thought ns
she went to the gate. In one hand
he carried two rustic swinging signs
and with the other he uncovered his
handsome head.
''Is this the waysIde tea room1" he
asked with twinkllng eyes.
"why-no-" hesitated Jean.
Il am afraid II is--or II is going to
bel" He grinned ms he displayed the
signs
Sure enough-framed in rustic
were the magic words: THE WAY
SIDE TEA ROOM" and one corner OF
the sign was heightened into point.
ing finger.
"How kind of Mrs. Delbridge." cried
Jean ecstatically.
"One is for your veranda and the
other to hang from some tree down
the road-a guide. Mother said you
would know the tree"
The old locust at the corner" e1.
planned Jean.
~ will hang 1t for you," declared
nAlk .tx. IL.