The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1920-07-09
HEDAlLY
H0RTSTORY.
Jeans Tea Room.
az cLARlssh MAcKiE.

OA4A RAA46 De WSbb "ssS 49, .0-''
When Jean came home from teacn'
IN her sturdy youngsters she was
bred and there was always house
work to do, SO the old house and
GARDEN were neglected. Now, Jean
vas looking at, the wide chimneys,
the sagging roof, messy and green;
1t the tangled garden where only
roses bloomed freely. The cur
lrants and raspbefries were faith
Stul friends.
III | could only sell It," sighed
Jean, tor a good sum OF money,
Sthen--" she smiled and brushed
away q tear; then mother and
GRANDMOTHER would die Of home
sickness! Well, well keep 1t
s somehow, all together"
she turned as q motor car slowed
ehe gate. A smartly uniformed
chauffeur touched his cap and
opened the door Of the car.
An elderly woman with gray hair
and soft appealing eyes smiled
graciously on the slender girl at
the gate. :,
Il beg your pardon-can you tell
me II there Is a tea room nearby"
She queried. I'VE have had a
breakdown and It is long past
i,.- Il 49,. hat,rh
1ean hesitated. With the wom-
an's question an idea flashed into
her head-perhaps this was the an
swer to her prayers-this might be
the golden opportunity knocking
Il her gate. II there was a de-
mand for tea roorns-why not sup
ply Il? i
There Is no regular tea room"
she said pleasantly; but II you
care to come In will give you
!, come lunch on the veranda-it is
|cool and shady there"
N,In q few moments three ladies'
were sitting in the comfortable ,
CHARS In the green bloom Of the
|honeysuckle vines, exclaiming over
HE roses that Jean brought them
~ the pure chalices Of the fra
4 Int day lilies. Then Jean dis. |
appeared for a period to return
With pink slices Of ham laid on
erisn lettuce leaves, delicious balls |
q cream cheese, o pot Of home |
made Jam, a simple salad and dain-
II bread and butter sandwiches
these and a pot Of tea Jean placed
before the ladies and then went |
/. away and left them alone.
~ When she came back they were |
% generous in their praise Of the |
Unexpected hospitality-so eager
for Jean to open tea room there. !
"You are so near the post road,
ny dear-all you need Is a few Ia
bles IN the yeranda and your own |
beautiful things-your cooking is
telicious-let me have a sign paint
ed for you!" urged Mrs. Delbridge,
the owner Of the car and the |
hostess Of the party.
aYou are too kind" protested
lean.
Il shall send my son out next
week and ! may come with him
Ii Is vacation now and you will
have plenty Of time. Beware! We
shall send all our friends" They |
.aughingly drove away, their arms |
tiilltcl flowers, and It was not I'M
\ II they had disappeared that Jean
remembered that they had not
asked for a check and she had not
thought to charge them!
"A poor business woman am L.
she murmured wryly as she cleared |
he table. Then she found a five |
dollar bill pinned to the damask |
cloth and she danced into the
house waving 1t exultantly.
exit Jean the schoolma,am and
snter Jean the keeper Of the tea !
shop-and weeder Of her garden
once more. Hurrah!"
A week later a small gray car
!. stopped at the gate and Jean, who
was enthusiastically wedding the
travelled walk between the rows OF
tagrant lockwood, thought OF her
ubby fingers and mussed blue
bck. at must be Mrs. Del
idge's son" she thought as she
int to the gate. In one hand he
arried two rustic swinging signs
and with the other he uncovered
his handsome head.
"Is this the Wayside tearoom?'
he asked with twinkling eyes.
aWhy-no-" hesitated Jean.
II am afraid 1t is-or.it Is going
70 be-" he grinned as he display
ed the signs.
Sure enough-tramed in rustic
Were the magic words: "THk
'ySAYSIDE TEA ROOM" and one
cbrner Of the sign was heightened
into q pointing finger.
SLOW kind Of Mrs. Delbridge,
cried Jean ecstatcally.
zone Is for your veranda and
the other to hang from some tres
down the road-a guide. Mother
said you would know the tree"
.sThe old locust at the corner"
explained Jean.
4 will hang It for you," declared
PIN Delbridge, and from the tool
1t In the car be brought the nee
essay tools and presently the
quaint sign was swinging in the
soft wind. Afterward Phil hung
dc other Sign over the front willis
MrS Webb and Jean prepared
hiEh tea IN the reranda. There
Vas fresh strawberry shortcake
md plenty Of cream and other de-
Hcinus yiands, for the Webbs were
famous housewives.
Phil fingered on the front steps
vsRF Jean A whippoorwill was
iirSing IN the orchard and the
roses were heavy with fragrance.
q sha1 chine again-and again.
promised Phil, releasing Jeans
duttering fingers.
= 90 come" said Jean IN Q small
voice; and her tone might have dis
c6lraged Phil Delbridge had he
not read her eyes. He felt that
Wills Jeans tea room might be the
beginning Of the story, the ending
q the story must come only when
beautifnl Jean belonged to him.
MOST CONSPICUOUS,
Il understand yours was the
mast conspicuous Of all the bathing
suits on View"