The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-06-25
Eoenirlg Story
The Tea Room.

BY LAURA REID MONTGOMERY.
Mary. sat looking TRANQUILITY from
her chair by the great south window
that looked down the village street. A
serene smile played about her lips as
she thought of the year that had just
been finished The occupants of the
pretty, rambling house on the corner
of Main street and the Lincoln high
way had grown steadily poorer, but
the village had not known of this ex-
cept in a vague way until the death
of Mary's mother, whose pension died
with her. Then the whisper had gone
about that Mary would be obliged to
sell the house where she had lived her
whole life, dismiss Aunt Chloe, whose
faithful black hands had first handled
her when she had been born and who
had tended her ever since. have sale
of the fine walnut furniture and start
life afresh.
"She has absolutely no income left.
one" Miss Pansy had commented pitt
fully, but she's SO proud and aristo-
cratic-like that no one dares ask her
plans or try to help her. =
ST went to call, intending to ask her
to move over to our house until she
of room and I like her. but she acted
awful stiff. I guess she doesn't like
to be with people. She's lived alone
SO much. The doctor stopped his car
outside and came up the walk, and 1
know he intended to stop and visit with
her. but she just nodded, cool-like, and
said she 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 it he
was just walking back that board
walk carrying the flower pot
Tabitha laughed shortly: THAT
would have been a match long ago if
she hadn't acted SO stiff; old doc is
awful friendly and likes to mix: she'd
spoil his practice with her highland
mighty airs. Folks about here like
you to act common and nice, and let
you help them. That amt Miss Mary's
way. tho she's always ready to sit up
all night with anybody who is sick or
do for them that need it. What she
ought to do is to be a taker, instead of
allus trying to be a giver."
Altho such conversations had not
been heard by Mary she had, never
theless, been conscious of her neigh
bors' opinions, yet she had become so
shy and self-absorbed that she had
been unable to change. Aunt Chloe
had repeated many stray bits of gos-
sip to her as she had served her mis-
tress in the cool, shaded dining room.
It had been the fat blue teapot in her
servants hands that had brought
about the great idea.
'Yassum, ma'am, that motor party
wanted to know where they could get
a good cup of tea. They admired
your roses and said the place looked
like a picture with the tall row of
hollyhocks along the side of the house.
I tole them thar was a hotel down
street but they won't git no tea there.
Not tea fit to drink" Aunt Chloe had
chuckled as she poured out the clear
amber tea into the frail blue teacup.
Miss Mary permitted her tea to
grow cold as she turned the idea over
in her mind. She had often watched
with wistful eyes the gay motor parties
that flashed past on the Lincoln high
way and vanished up the ribbon of
yellow road bordered by flaming
naples leaving only an echo of laugh
ter on the summer air.
A week later the neighbors stared
frankly as they fingered near the
corner house. The narrow windows
on the west end of the house had
been torn out and a great plate-glass
window installed. The rambler roses
had been carefully lifted aside and
when the work was finished the
trellises were replaced with their bur-
den of dark green vines heavy with
roses. The large gates to the grounds
that were usually closed were propped
open and a charningly 1ettered sign
appriSed passing parties that afternoon
tea served within.
Miss Mary's going to stay here;
she's opened a tearoom. When 1 went
past there were two big cars stand
ing outside, empty, and I could. see
Aunt Chloe in starched cap and
apron passing little trays on the south
porch" reported Pansy. II wonder if
Miss Mary feels very badly seeing
strangers on her porch?'
Before the cool fall Gays had re-
duced the number of cars Mary had
put away enough money to garry her
comfortably thru the winter months.
diSpnUarad
~ to her own amazement, that she
had found contentment. Instead of
looking on each day as a period of
dragging hours to be lived thru, she
found herself rising earlier that she
might lose none Of the busy, happy
moments. The mingling with her Gus
toners gave her a new interest in life,
and after her first shyness had worn
away she found herself talking eager
ly as her guests demolished the plates
of tiny delicious sandwiches and
asked her for the recipe for her ia
nous marmalade.
1.-The interior of your home reminds
me of an old southern home" said
pink checked girl as she regarded the
delicate china cup.
and brought all this furniture when
she first married. She would be hor-
rified at the thought of my keeping
tearoom, but do you know" Miss
Marys eyes were bright as she spoke,
'I have found so much happiness
here. 1t seems as tho the cutting of
that great window had removed old
illusions that hampered me and kept
me isolated from my neighbors. Since
I've gone into business I've found that
it is pleasant to receive favors. The
first day I opened up Mrs. Sawyer
brought me six apple pies, to help
out if you have a rush. as she said,
but I know why she brought them"
here the bright eyes grew misty with
feeling. ''She was afraid I didn't
have enough'i i'm the house to prepare
If had any customers"