The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-20

n Why don't you ask that hun
kfy-l0oking young man next door
to come Ia and help you clear
up?" Miss Luclnda Parker asked
from the doorway.
Eat up. you mean. AuntIe?''
Polly asked.
Miss Lucinda nodded.
YEARLY Polly Wended her way
across the road to the white house
With the blue blinds. She, heard
the click-click Of typewriter as
she approached.
would you" Polly began
timldly.
Would L? I'd do anything on
earth that would let me leave my
hero in the third act" the young
man supplemented. Never,
never" he said, emphatlcally,
Write serials for any one. It's
tie worst life without exception
"But not,s interrupted Polly
With assurance, las bad as keeping
q tea room!"
why" the young man said
serIoisly, ~ thought you said you
l6fed It; that 1t was the only thing
you wanted to dol"
Polly looked at the young man
With quiet scorn. His bright grey
eyes, Ills lean cheeks-his clever
mgtth, nothing escaped her care
fplI scrutiny.
"That was last night" Polly
said slowly. II only want you,'
she explained. ITO eat up ten LETT
tuce and mayonnalse sa- dwichcs,
ten pimento, ten walnut and cream
cheese, fifteen nut bread and .
home made cake"
II thing I'm equal to the task, {"
the young man said, with twink
Y ling eyes. ''It you had lived for
the last three weeks on canned
salmon, canned tuna fish. canned
sardInes and canned cherries. you
w6uid, too"
"You sound like grocer's
catalogue" Polly offered.
That's Just what l am. You
see"
But they had entered the little
tea room. outside OF which the
sign Of ':The Blue Teapot" paint
ed by Polly's unaccustomed hand,
tipped tlnsteadily In the breeze.
80 / sit at each Of the tables
4 In turn rather like a progressive
dinner Of my college days Or"
he laughed up at Polly, but he saw
with dismay that her LIP was
dulvering and one tear had splash
ed on her white little cheek.
Poor kid! It's pretty tough
for her." he thought, as she made
a dash for the Kitchen, Didn't
think II meant SO much 10 her,
this tea room business"
IL But he gave a shout Of delight
when she came back,wfth heaped
/; plate OF sandwiches and q great
platter Of cake.
"It is good, isn't it?" she begged
as she saw the pile diminish
steadily.
Good! The best ever! What
YOU ought to be IS some mans
wife instead Of cooking for an
tunappreciative bunch Of"
Polly giggled.
why don't you marry me
them" she asked on tie end Of
J 4 her gurgle.
N He looked up and met her eyes,
gray fire and gray mist meeting;
he saw the blush that slowly
mounted to the brown tendrils Of
her hair, the smile that slowly
I. died on her lips.
4 didn't mean it, Of counsel"
Polly said angrily./
Conversation died.
The young man ate on thought
n fully, through nut bread and
cream cheese and angel cake, he
made increasing progress. When
" twoiforsaken sandwiches and some
crumbs Of icing were all that re-
manned he LEANED back In his
chair and called, "Polly!"
My Name said Polly, appear
ing from the kitchen, us Miss
Parker, except to my friends"
II don't care 10 be one OF
those" he smiled, but should
like to be your husband"
Il How can YOU" Polly said, az
don't think it's anything TO joke
about"
II Tim not 1oklng," the young
man ctied, sprlnging to his feet, Il
should never have dared to ask
you II the tea room had succeeded,
but now that it's failed"
I've only known you a month
They both turned. A man en-
tered the room. pushing back his
cap and smiling apologetlcally.
'sAiy wife and the children and the
nurse and the chauffeur would
like some tea" he explained.
Sandwiches and plenty OF cake
and milk for the children"
"0h, but" Polly walled. al
haven't a thing except this and
this, !" and she pointed to the two
struggling sandwiches and a
crprnb OF angel cake"
II thought this was tea room. /"
he said, testify, "but see my
mistake and he GIared angrIly at
Young Tarrant.
H Polly collapsed on a chair as he
turned and John Tarrant saw the
q1iyerine Of her shoulders and
heard her suppressed sobs.
siThere, darling, there" he beg
seq, re doesn't make and differ
ence alter an; you'll never have to
Be iusulted by rude old codger
H. ~ Id.