Smyrna times., 1933-02-01
WEEKLY STORY
AROUND TABLE
Reading to While Away Time
Under the Evening Lamp
When Days Work is Done
INTERESTING READING
MISS LAVINIA'S GOBLETS"
BY II. Louis Baybold

"THERE lie goes aSainl" whis-
pered Julia Bradley to her sis
ter Martha, as she peeked through
the tightly drawn lace curtains Of
their little-used parlOr. Third time
this week. Now, what do you make
of it?"
Come out Of this ice box" com
planned Martie fretfully, "and I'll
tell you. There's nothing more to
see now he's gone in"
The two shawled old ladies, both
such victims of rheumatism that
watching their neighbors and Cos
siping over them was the only so
cial activity left them. limped out
to the more cheerful sitting room.
Il think" said Martha, 'that
'Vinia has given up expecting Ben
Cooper will get over his ten-year
crouch and is setting her cap at
this here old fellow from the city.
Seems he's terrible well-to-do."
"Well-" said Julia emphatically,
as she settled down to her knit
ting. Il don't blame 'Vinia, but
what a city man can see in an old
maid like that with his money and
smart looks, he could get most any
one in his own town, for all his
age-that's what gets me-"
did anyone ever really KNOW"
queried Martha, Just what it was
between the two of them that
broke up the match and kept 'em
not speaking to each other for 60
ing on ten years this spring?"
"Well, they say" said Julia, sit
was something to do with those
goblets of her grandmother's that
'Vinia sets such store by. She had
the even dozen, until Ben up and
broke one. They quarreled over
it and one thing led to another
silly young things they were then
-and-well, you know as much as
/ do"
1t was really unfortunate that the
cold had driven the two old women
from their post at the window
quite SO soon. Hardly had they
scuttled out to the stove than Ben
Cooper walked slowly down the
street, paused a moment at Miss La
vinia's clematis-hung gate, then CON
tinued on his way
rs It possible" Ben was think
ing, that am going to see the
only woman | ever cared a hoot for,
walked off with by an old duffer
\ from town? He's called there now
half a dozen times.
A few minutes later, the Bradley
sisters were rewarded for repeated
trips into the parlor by seeing the
courtly figure of Mr.. Thomas Wen
dell emerge from their neighbor's 5
house across the street They would
have given much to have heard
what he said as he lifted his hat
to 'vinia who stood in the doorway.
Il can count on your answer
Wednesday without fail? thank
you"
That evening. well after dark,
when Julia and her sister were
peaceably knitting together, Ben
Cooper made his way to Lavinia's,
They knew nothing of his visit. La
yinia herself, when she saw his once
familiar figure at her door, drew
back her hand. still white and slen.
der, against her throat. why,
Ben" she breathed.
"It's me, 'Vinia," he said hoarsely
T-I-er-that is, just had to see
you. May ! come inT'
Tell me, Lavinia," he demanded
sternly. ''is it true that you are go
ing to marry that old fossil from
the city?"
Lavinia gave an amused, throaty
chuckle. II don't know what bust,
ness it is Of yours" she said, but
I'm perfectly willing to tell you he's
coming for an answer Wednesday
"wednesday" repeated Ben help
lessly. "Wednesday" Then, with
one single stride, he came over tC
her and picked her up in his two
strong arms. when he coInes," he
said aarshly, you tell him you're
going to be married on Thursday tC
me. What fools we have been
Lavinial What years we have
wasted - his voice broke and he
pressed his head against Lavinia's
hair, as Lavinia's arms crept slow
ly up around his neck.
Wednesday. Mr.. Thomas Wendell
came for his answer. nor did 1t ap
parently dispIease him.
"Ive dreaded to sell them, Mr.
Thomas, for they were my mothers
and her mothers before her. There
were the twelve Of them, but my
fiance accidentally broke one o.
them. I'm sorry to have kept yor
dangling for a price, but at last, see
ing I'm going to be married, CUES:
can use the money for my trous
seau."
''Is that so?" said Mr.. Thoma:
Wendell politely. "My congratula
tions. and I'm grateful to get the
goblets."