The weekly Iberian., 1921-09-24
Mary's Porch Tea
Room
BY LAURA MONTGOMERY
SS<|SSS<SS<<ccSScS1>>
W. WI. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate


Mary sat looking TRANQUILITY from her
cialr by the great south window that
rocked down the village street. a Sc
rene smile played about her lips as she
thousht Of the year that had just been
iiIiiShed. The occupants Of the pretty,
rambling house on the corner of Main
street and the Lincoln highway had
grown steadily poorer, but the village
iiad not known of this except in a
vague way until the death Of Marys
inother, whose pension died with her.
linen the whisper had gone about that
Mary would be Obliged to sell the
mousse where she had lived her whole
lie, dismiss Aunt Chloe, whose faith
ful black hands had first handled her
when she had been born and who had
tended her ever since, have a sale Of
the fine walnut furniture and start
life afresh.
She has absolutely no income left,
and she's too frail TO work for any
one, Miss Pansy had commented pitt
fully, but she's 50 proud and ariSto-
cratic-like that no one dares ask her
! plans or try to help her.
Il went to call, intending to ask her
TO move over to our house until she
had made her plans. We have plenty
awful stiff. / guess she doesn't HE
to 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 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 1t
ne was just walking back that board
walk carrying the flower pot"
Tabitha laughed shortly. THAT
would have been 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 high and
mighty airs. Folks about here 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 all night with anybody who
is sick or do for them that need 1t.
What she ought to do is to be taker,
instead of allus trying to be a giver."
Although 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 gossip
to her as she had served her mistress
In the cool, shaded dining room. 1t
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
good cup of tea. They admired your
roses and said the place looked like
a picture with the tall row Of holly
hooks along the side of the house l
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 Lin
coin highway and vanished up the
ribbon of yellow road bordered by
flaming naples, leaving only an echo
Of laughter on the summer air.
A week later the neighbors stared
frankly as they fingered near the cor
ner house The narrow windows on
the west end of the house had been
torn out and a great plale-glass win
dow installed. The rambler roses had
been carefully lifted aside, and when
the work was finished the trellises
were replaced with their burden Of
dark green vines heavy with roses
were usually closed were propped open
and charmingly lettered sign ap-
prised passing parties that afternoon
tea was served within
"Miss Marys going to stay here
she's opened tearoom. When / went
past there were two big cars stand
ing outside, empty. and | could see
Aunt Chloe, in starched cap and
apron, passing little trays on the south
porch" reported Pansy. Il wonder IL
Miss Mary feels very badly seeing
strangers on her porch?'
Before the cool fall days had re-
duced the number Of cars Mary had
put away enough money TO carry her
comfortably through the winter
months. More than that, she discov-
cred. greatly to her amazement. that
she had found contentment. Instead
Of looking on each day as period Of
dragging hours to be lived through,
she found herself rising earlier that
she might lose none Of the busy, hap
py moments. The mingling with the
customers gave her new interest In
life. and after her first shyness had