The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-08-10
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY.
Genius At Tea Makinp

she undertook TO introduce Mr.
Bradley's twenty.year.old daughter
70 . little group Of her own par
tculAr friends whom she thought
~ would be desirable for her q
y KNOW. To understand the confuF'
ion one must understand the Pen
Icy Bradley menage. It was locat
20 In, an apartment hotel-the
apartment was the same that Mrs.
Bradley had once occupied before
her second marriage. 1t had been
changed only by. the addition Of q
hundred OF the books that Penley
Bradley could not be parted from
Z kspipe or 80, q new chlttonier con
tathing his rainment and, on oc
casions, Penley Bradley himself.
J He had hoped that when he mar,
riet the brilliant and efficient Mrs
4 Duane be would persuade her "a
give NJ her work at Burton's and
] the $4,000 . year that went with
Bradley had dreamed OF a house
! n the suburbs, gardens and lawns
and room enough for thousand
hooks instead OF the hundred that
4 seemed TO crowd each other in tho
living room at the apartment no.
gel where they lived instead.
And now the new Mrs. Penley
NJ Bradley was giving little tea
10 Introduce her new daughter to
some worth while people," She
4 vas frank about 1t and Alice, the
= Daughter, came back quite as
irankiy. They did not in the least
dislike each other.
AAnd now, Alice Mrs. Brad.
ley called from her room where
she was hurriedly dressing after
speeding home from Burton's,
while Alice was arranging flowers
IN the reception room beyond,
rnow, Alice, expect, you to fall
In love with aud captivate one OF
the three men have picked out
IS eligible for you. They will be
here this afternoon. Roger Steele
eonld dream OF and he Is qutta y
could dream Of, and he Is tilte a
n!ce Sort OF stay.at.home, flresids
loving creature besides. Tom
ereerie hasn't a cent in the bank
never has, but he makes a lot
and he's brilliant You've read his
playa And there Is Harry Balm
hridSe-awtully English, over
hsre studying silk worms or to
baeco, sor sail boats or something,
1 don't remember, but I've heard
all about him. He's quite n catch
Il YOU can Impress him, and"
Mrs, Penley Bradley looked at her
watch and interrupted Alice. who
had framed protest. What do
y. You suppose has happened to that
maid? I told thotn TO send her up
BY half.past 8. The lemons aren't
ctit and don't belize there Is any
sugar. They were going 10 send
HE things up from downstairs; but
dear knows what's happened"
II wish you had, let me get
khings ready this morning, nam
j mat scolded Alice. II know It
wnhld be too much for you
" couldn't let you be worried"
MIS- Bradley was trying to get a
falenhone connection with the pan.
In the hotel dining room below
stairs. ut really is an awiul0ioh
getting up a tea, and then 10 the
steward down below. 81 Wish you
would send up some other sand.
wiches. ] ordered watercress and
they sent lettuce, and thore' isn't
any butter on them and-and will
you hurry that maid along? Our
guests will be coming soon. There
l7iil be about twenty"
When her stepmothor was
through telephoning Alice sum.
moned courage to say:
Eou didn't send cards to Nor
tor Gray, did you-mother?'
sof course not" came back
frankly. Morton isn't IN a class
With the people I'm asking today.
Hes nice enough IN q way-Alice
Sou don't mean to tell me you care
about hint"
The frankness OF this query
rather took Alice's breath away,
She was not as frank in her re,
iosnder. II only thought he was
an old friend. It was through him
that you and papa met. We ought
al least to feel grateful"
soh, II that's ALL won't argue
With you. But you see he's Just
general business manager at Bur.
ton'S. In a business way he may
be 4 genlrs, but the people I'm ask.
ing this afternoon are different.
They arerthe people I want you to
know now"
Would you be ashamed to In,
troduee him to these people
Roger. Steele, Tom Greene and the
Hainbridge Individual, / meant"
Don't follow me up So" came
hastily from Mrs. Bradley. Don't
YOU see that I'm all upset over the
refreshments? They haven't sent
the maid and there isn't a speck
81 butter on those sandwiches. No.
yon can't go and get things; the
quests viii be here any time and
yor must be ready with me TO re.
ceiye them"
a half an hour later the guests
had arrived. Some had even
spoken OF leaving. But still no re.
Treatments had appeared. There
was tea service in one end Of the
room but no boiling water had
Seen sent up with which to make
M And no maid had come. Mrs.
Bradley did not send her com.
piaint TO the pantry again, for the
Telephone was located in the gen.
ersi reception room.
The hall door rang and Alice
ran down the short hall, expect.
INT. as Mrs. Bradley thought, to
admit the delayed maid and the
needftls for the tea service.