The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-20
Eoening Story
The Blue Tea Pot.
BY JESSE DOUGLAS

Il would be willing" said Polly, to
go out on the road and drag some one
in"
Polly stood in the very center of the
room and looked about her.
The room deserved no such despair
ing glance. Long, low. with sunshine
sitting in thru swiss curtains, it
held ten painted tables with squares
of snowy linen, blue teapot on
each inviting table. Flowers on the
mantel. polished candelabra, a rustic
wood box, a great dish of rose-cheeked
apples with a blue printed card that
said Take one"-it carried out the
best tradition of the tea room.
This was its opening day. the hour
was and Polly had not had one Gus
toner.
ITS back to school for yours in the
fall, Miss Parker" Polly addressed
cheese sandwiches under one arm and
a pile of cinnamon toast under the
other.
why don't you ask that hungry
looking young man next door to come
in and help you clear up?" Miss Luz
einda Parker asked from the doorway
Eat up, you mean, Auntie?' Polly
asked.
Miss Lucinda nodded.
YEARLY Polly wendell her way
across the road to the white house
with the blue blinds. She heard the
click-click of a typewriter as she APP
would you Polly began tim
i'Would I? I'd do anything on earth
that would let me leave my hero in the
third act the young man supple
mented. Never, never" he said, en-
phaticalIy, write serials for any one.
It's the worst, life without excep-
but not" interrupted Polly with
assurance. ''as bad as keeping a tea
room!"
why" the young man said seri-
ously, 'I thought you said you loved
it; that it was the only thing you
wanted to dor
quiet scorn. His bright gray eyes. his
lean cheeks, his clever mouth-noth-
ing escaped her careful scrutiny.
THAT was last night" Polly said
slowly. 'I only want you" she ex-
planned, ito eat up ten lettuce and
mayonnaise sandwiches, ten pimento,
ten walnut and cream cheese, fifteen
nut bread and a homemade cake"
st think I'm equal to the task the
young man said with twinkling eyes.
IF you had lived for the last three
weeks on canned salmon, canned tuna
fish, canned sardines and canned cher
ries, you would, too"
you sound like a grocer's cata-
logue.'' Polly offered.
That's just what I am. You
But they had entered the little tea
room, outside of which the sign of
1.-The Blue Teapot painted by Polly's
unaccustomed hand, tipped unsteadily
in the breeze.
DO I sit at each of the tables in
turn rather like progressive dinner
of my college days Or" he laughed
up at Polly but he saw with dismay
that her lip was Quivering and one
tear had splashed on her white little
cheek.
poor kid! It's pretty tough for
her" he thought Is she made dash
for the kitchen. Didn't think it meant
so much to her. this tea room bust
ness
But he gave a shout of delight when
she came back with a heaped plate of
cake.
TT 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 in
stead of cooking for an unapprecia-
tive bunch Of
Polly giggled.
why don't you marry me them"
she asked on the end of her gurgle.
He looked up and met her eyes, gray |
fire and gray mist meeting; he saw
the blush that slowly mounted to the
brown tendri1s of her hair, the smile /
that slowly died on her lips.
81 didn't mean it, of counsel" Polly /
said angrily.
Conversation died.
The young man ate on thoughtfully, |
thru nut bread ant cream cheese and |
angel cake he made increasing pro- /
gress. When two forsaken sandwiches !
and some crumbs of icing were all |
that remained he leaned back in his I
chair and calIc :, "Pollyi"
my name" said Polly. appearing |
from the kitchen. sis Miss Parker,
except to my friends.
sfT don't care he one of those - he (
smiled. "but L should like to be your
husband"
How can your Polly said. 81 don't
think it's anything to joke about"
I'm not joking" the young man
cried, sprfnging to his feet, 81 should