The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-06-25
/ THE D
ST I0R STORY
The Tea Room
LAURA REIp MONTGOMERY,

eoHthithe village street. A serene
b, iiiile played about her lips as she
aoaght Of the year that had Just
5eee finlshed. The occupants Of
the pretty, rambling house on the
eopdef OF Main street and the Lin.
coin Highway had grown steadily
iipcferj but the village had not
rknown Of this except In vague
WAY until the death OF Mary's moth.
ets Whose pension died with her.
Then the whisper had gone about
that Mary would be obliged to sell
tlie house where she had lived her
whole life, dismiss Aunt Chloe,
Whose faithful blac!.:: hands had
fitst handled her when she had
been born and who had tended her
ever Since, have I: Gale OF the fine
Walnut ! urniture and start life
atreshi
shte has absolutely no income
left and she's too trail to work for
any one Miss Pansy had com
naented pititully, "but she's 80 proud
and, afistoeratic.like thut no one
dases ask her plans or try to help
het.
~ went TO call, intending TO ask
tojlloye over to our house until she
had made her plans. We have plen.
~ ofsroom and | like her, but she
acted awful stiff. + guess she
,loesnst like 10 be with people.
she's lived alone SO much. The
Doctor stopped his car outside and
came up the walk, and ] know he
intended to stop and visit with her,
/ but she lust nodded, cool.llke, and
said Rhg was feeling all right, and
asked him to take a pot OF lilies
back With him for Mary Brown, who
lives next door, and before he knew
u he was Just walking back that
board walk carrying the flower
pot
Tsbitha laughed shortly: THAT
would have been a match long ago
i she hadn't acted so stiff; old
doc Ii awtully friendly and likes
TO mix; she'd spoil his practice
with her hIgh.and.mighty airs.
Folks about her like you to act
common and nice, and let you help
them. That amt Miss Mary's way,
though she's always ready to sit up
ali night with anybody who is sick
or dosfor them that need It. What
l1she ought TO do Is to be a taker. in.
tead OF sallus trying to be a giver."
Although such conversations had
been heard by Mary she had,
gertheless, been conscious Of her
ghbors' opinions, yet she had
pme so shy and self.absorbed
she had been unable to change.
1t Chloe had repeated many
w BITS OF gossip to her as she
served her mistress in the
sol. shaded dining room. 1t had
Tbeen the fat blue teapot in her
gervant's hands that had brought
about the great idea.
tYassum, ma'am, that motor par.
ltys@ante to know where they could
get q good cup Of tea. They ad.
t1ited your roses and said the place
booked like a picture with the tall
row Of hollyhocks along the side
ots the house. told them thar was
q hotel down street but they wont
iii mo tea there. Not tea lit TO
drink" Aunt Chloe had chuckled
as she poured out the clear amber
teaStnto the trail blue teacup.
Miss Mary permitted her tea to
lgrow cold as she turned the idea
oyarS IN her mind. She had often
Matched with wisttul eyes the gay
motor parties that flashed past on
the Lincoln highway and vanished
up tie ribbon of yellow road Dor.
dered BY flaming naples leaving
only an echo Of laughter on the
summer iii.
A week later the neighbors
stared frankly as they fingered near
the corner house. The narrow win.
dowsS on the west end Of the house
had been torn out and a great plate
glass window installed, The ram.
Bier roses had been carefully lift.
ed aside and when the work was
lfiniBhed the ,trclllses wcre replaced
With theft, burden OF dark green
vines heavy with roses. The large
gates ID the grounds that were
Usually closed were propped open
and q charmingly lettered sign ap.
prised passing parties that after
noon stee was served within.
Miss Mary's going to stay bore:
she's opened a tearoom. When
vent past there were two big cars
Sanding outside, empty, and
could see Aunt Chico In a starched
cap and apron passing little trays
on the south porch" reported Pan.
iii. ~ wonder q Miss Mary feels
very badly seeing strangers on her
pcrch2s
Before the cool tall days had re.
diced the number OF cars Mary had
ptit away enough money to carry
AUTOMATICALLY through the winter
,inonths, More than that, she dis.
Covered, greatly 10 her own amaze.
taent, that she had found content.
iaent! instead Of looking on each
aaylasin period OF dragging hours to
be lived through, she found herself
iisiig earlier that she might lose
none ot the busy, happy moments.
The mIngitng with the customers
sayes her D new interest In life, and
aftef her first shyness had worn
way she found herself talking
eagerly as her guests demolished
tliS plates OF tiny delicious sand.
wiches and asked her for the re.
,ceipt for her famous marmalade.
sThe interior OF your homo re.
minds me Of an old southern
{ hotse.t said o pink.oheeked girl as
4 ~ ,.arnrfad the delicata china