The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-07-09
Euening Story
jeans Tea Room.
q CLARIssA MAcKIE

which was the birthplace OF her
mother and her grandmother. THE
three of them lived alone there with
a tiny income from Jeans school
tea ching, with the old house almost
falling down for need of repairs, and
with a tangled old garden which had
ne one ITO take care of it.
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 homework to do, so
the old house and garden were neg
iected. Now. Jean was looking at the
wide chiTnneys. the saggtng roof, messy
and green; at the tangled garden
where only roses bloomed freely. The
currants and raspberries were faithful
friends.
IF I could only sell it, sighed Jean.
for a good sum of money, then
she smiled and brushed away a tear;
then mother and grandmother would
die of inconsistencies! Well, we'll keep
it-somehow, all together"
She turned as d motor car slowed at
the gate. A smartly uniformed cflauf-
feur 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.
st beg your pardon-ean you tell
me if there is a tea room nearby p"
she queried. I'VE have had a break
down and it is long past luncheon
hour"
Jean hesitated. With the wornan's
question an idea flashed into her head
perhaps thfs was tho answer to her
prayers-this might be the golden OPP
portunity knocking at her gate. If
there was a demand for tea rooms
why not supply it?
There is no regular tea room" she
co Ma Ixr- hut n
come in I will give you some lunch on
the veranda-it is cool and shady
there"
In a 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 chalfees of
| the fragrant day lilies. Then Jean dis
appeared for period to return with
| pink slices of ham laid on crisp let
| tuee leaves. delicious balls of cream
cheese, a pot of home made jam. a
/ simple salad and dainty bread and but
| ter 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 so
/ generous in their praise of the unex-
| peeted hospitality-se eager for Jean
/ to open tea room there.
''You are so near the post road, my
! dear-aIl you need is a few tables in
| the VeTdnQd ana your own
things-your cooking is delieieus-let
me have sign painted for your!
i urged Mrs. Delbridge, the owner of the
car and the hostess of the party.
You are too kind" protested Jean.
1 ''I shall send my son out next week
and 1 may come with hint is vaca-
ton now and you viii have plenty OF
i time. Beware! We shall send all.our
| friendsi" They, laughingly drove
away, their arms full of flowers, and
/ 4
that Jean remembered that they II
not asked for a, check and she had not
| thought to charge them!
"A poor business woman am I, = she
murmured wryly as she cleared the
table Then she found a five dollar
bill pinned to the damask cloth and
she danced into the house waving ii
exuitantly.
Exit Jean Hhe schoolma'am and
enter Jean the keeper of the tea shop
and weeder of her garden once
more. Hurrah!"
A week later a small gray cal
stopped at the gate and Jean, who was
enthusiastically wedding the graveled
| walk between the rows of fragrant
lockwood thought of her grubby fin
gers and rnussed blue frock. TT mus
I be Mrs. Delbridge's son." she thought
as she went to the gate. In one hand
he carried two rustic swinging signs
and with the other he uncovered his
handsome head.
rs this the Wayside tea room?" he
asked with twinkling eyes.
"Why-no-" hesitated Jean.
Il am afraid it is-er it is going &c
be-" He grinned as he displayed the
signs.
were the magic words: THE WAY,
ISIDE TEA ROOM" and one corner OF
the sign was heightened into a point
How kind of Mrs. Delbridge," criet
Jean ecstatically.
other to hang from some tree dowT
1.-THE road-a guide. Mother said yeI
would know the tree
THE old locust at the corner" ex
planned Jean.
''I will hang It for you" declared
Phil Delbridge, and from the tool XII
lin the ear he brought the necessar!
J tools and presently the quaint sigr
was swinging in the soft wind. After
ward Phil hung the other sign owe
the front while Mrs. Webb and Jeal
: prepared a high tea in the veranda
There was fresh strawberry shortcaly'
and plenty of cream and other dell
/ cious viands. for the Webbs were IA
nous housewives
: Phil fingered on the front steps will
lean. A whippoorwilI was singing II
the orchard and the roses were heav.
with fragrance,
81 shall come again-and again.
promised Phil, releasing Jeans ffiut
, tering fingers.
I do come" said Jean in a smal
81 voice; and her tone might have dis
/ eouraged Phil DelhFidge had he no
, read her eyes. He felt that Will
E fJean's tea room might be the begin
7 ming OF the story, the ending of tn
J story must come only when beautiful
? lean belonged to him.
| Copyright. 1920. by the Mcclure News
s paper Syndicatnl
|: LITTLE BENNy'S NOTE BOOK