The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1921-10-07
Mays Porch Tea
Room
By LAURA

chair by the great south window that
looked down the village street. A Sc
rene 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 highway had
grown steadily poorer. but the village
had not known OF this except In 4
vague way until the death Of Mary's
mother, whose pension died with her.
Then the whisper had gone about that
Mary would he obliged to sell the
house where she bad lived her whole
llfe, dismiss Aunt Chloe, whose faith
full black hands had first handled her
when she had been born and who had
tended her ever since, have a sale Of
the 6ne walnut furniture and start
life afresh.
"She has absolutely no income left,
and she's too frsil to work IL any
one" Miss Pansy had commented pitt
fully, but she's so proud and aristO-
cratic-like that no one dares ask her
plEns or try TO help her.
Il went to call, intending to ask her
20 move over to our house until she
had made her plans. We have plenty
Of room, and ] like her, but she acted
awful stfn. | guess she doesn't like
70 be with people. She's lived clone
X much. The doctor stopped his car
outside and came up the walk, and
/ know he intended to stop and visit
with her, bnt 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 lnughed shortly. That
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, though she's always ready
to sit up all night with anybody who
IL sick or do for them that need 1t.
What she ought to do is to be a 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. II
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 holly
hooks along the side OF the house. |
tole them thar was a hotel down street
but they won't git no tea there. Not
ten fit to drink" Aunt Chloe had
chuckled as she poured out the clear
amber tea into the frall 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
eoln highway and vanished up the
ribbon Of yellow road bordered by
Gaming naples, leaving only an echo
Of laughter on the summer air.
A week later the nelghbOrs stared
frankly as they fingered near the cor
heT house. The narrow windows on
IN west end Of the house had been
torn out and a great p~late-glass win.
dow installed. The rambler roses had
been carefully lifted aside, and wher
che work was finished the treIlise'
were replaced with their burden Of
dark green vines heavy with roses
The large gates to the grounds thai
were usually closed were propped opeT
and a charmingly lettered sign ap
prised passing parties that Afternoon
tea was served within.
Miss Mary's going TO stay here
she's onened a tearoom. When I wen.
past 'there were two big cars stand
ing outside, empty. and | could Sc,
Aunt Chloe, In a starched cap anI
apron. passing little trays on the soutl
porch reported Pansy. 81 wonder /
Miss Mary feels very badly seeing
strangers on her porchi'
Before the cool fan days had re
duced the number Of cars Mary hai
put away enough money to carry he
comfortably through the white
months, More than that, she dlscoy
cred. greatly to her amazement. tina
she had found contentment. Instea,
Of looking on each day as a period 0
dragging hours TO be lived through
she found herself rising earlier tina
she might lose none Of the busy, haI
py moments. The mlngling with III
customers gave her a new interest
life, and after her first shyness ha
worn away she found herself talkln
eagerly as her guests demolished th
plates Of tiny delicious sandwichei
One day Harold Sinclair, a devote
acmlrer ~ Mary since sch0oldayl
called at the tea room.