ALL IN A TEA ROOM.

Otago Witness, Issue 2626, 13 July 1904, Page 74

ALL IN A TEA ROOM.

By -The Box."

(For the Witness.)

It was the week of the great cycling carnival ot Middletcn. Country visitors were flocking to the town, and stall -holders were anticipating a brisk trade. The greatest novelty of the carnivai 1 was a play entitled "Cloud and Sunshine, 1 ' writted by a citizen of MidcUetor>. Being fairly long, the committee thought it would prove a creale'i* attracti >n if drawn out for three viighls— the length of the carnival— an.d would allow time for other items. The Town Hall on Wednesday, the opening night, was* as gay as a carnival should ho". (ii' v ls in pretty costume* flitted about, making the pockets of their gentlemen friends' much lighter. It "was useless to put foith the pi* a. of Inn-ing no money, you weie just laughed at, and before you knew where you were had put a shilling :n for come ldfrle, or had bought an article you did not even know the name of. But this is not getting on with my story. Amongst a group of laughing girls Avas one who seemed to ba the eau«e of all the tun, a meriy-faced girl about 20. You wovUl not call her pietty, yet die attracted more attention than many a prettier girl. Yes, Peggy Southern always looked a little laayr'and was a general favourite. It was she who was to be the hero'ne of the pUiy, and lh t time was rapidly drawing near when she must run to get leady.

Just then her cousin. Jack Thomas came up and huiried her oft" to get -a tup oi tea betoie d:e«sing for her p.u + . He selected a table in a quiet coin=i, divide-1 from the iv^t by a i-crcui.

- Wait :i 11111111 c. T^ggv , lie -aid -' evcrvbody seems to bo so jolly bu«y that pi b« w<utie.ss niy^elt." and off he went. 1 eggv sat watching the people. She could catch 'limp-es of some ot her friend* through the Sn.enc;y that \\u<. twined round the pos-t-s <Tt <he iii .ooin Si.ddtnb she -.Lirted as -he ho nd a vrell-kncnw) voice on the othet Mdc ot the fcrtvn " Oh. I think w^-'ll *ii licie."' A lady's voice an-.-weied. "yes. this will do nice)}." So, tl oiitrl't Pca^v, Tom How aid i» having te.' with" some lady. Sht felt a tiny little b,t ie 11011-. +or sh° thought ho 'Tnight haviuikuu li.i. JSlie d:d not know that he had

just, come, it bring impossibl" for him to airive soonei— :hat his ii'-'H/ thought had been of her when lie tnteie-J the building, looking in vain for h<n- lace, and at lasb for something to do he had taken his a unt into tea.

Th»v were talk'nu ; Peggy did not want to listen to prvate comcisation, but she did nob know- what to do when she heant her own name mentioned. Tom Howaid vas taring. "Peggy is not such a bad htt.e &(,rt in some ways ; but she's terribly conceited, and a dreadiul little flu*." Peo-Ty rive a stifled little cry. YUieu her cousin came with the tea Le was s 0 busy ananging the things that for a minute he did not notice anything wrong " Pe-rcv " he solemnly said, 1 wouldn t bo a waiter for worlds! Talk about a 11 Then, looking up-" Why, P«ggy, °ld air!, what's wiong? You look like a little -host. Vu you f<_el ill, or is it stage fright, eh?" ... " Yes. that must be it," she saad. with a wan little., mile, and I've a bit o£ f headache, too; but this cup of tea wnl soon chase it away." And she forced herself to talk and laugh, «o thai Jack should not see how bad .she felt. The tea finished, with a hurried good-bye to her cousin she went by a side door to the dressing room. One or two of the gills were there already. "Where have you been, Peggy?" they asked. " Having tea with Jack," was her reply. "We haven't much time to get ready, have we?" she at'ded. "No. Do jou feel frightened?' asked another; "you look pietty white." pp € agy was hurrying with her costume, thinking it was as 'well the play suited her present mood so well, and she replied, "Never felt as if I could act my part so well before." With a grim little smile she put on tne finishing touches, aaid thought how well it all fitted in now. lorn Howard was th© hero, the two were lovers, and it started with a lover's quarrel. For two nights the play went on in that strain ; on the third it was reconciliation, and Peggy did not know how she would act that. The bell rang, and Peggy hurried oil". When it was> all over, people voted it a great success, and one girl friend laughingly said, "You really looked a& if you. meant it, Peggy." She did not answer, but as scon as possible hurried away. She had managed very successfully 'to avoid Tom Howard, although he had" done his level best to have a private word with her. Jack took her home when she told Mm she felt tired. Next morning Tom Howaid called at Peggy's home to a«k how she was, Jack having told him the night before that she felt ill, and had gone ./home early. He thought that would bo the reason of her coldness towards him. The maid who came to the door informed him that M-ss Peggywas much better ; but was engaged just now. He was glad she was better, but went away feeling a little bit disappointed, for he had half hoped the maid would ask him in. Still, it perhaps was just as well tor his patients, for he had a good big round to-day. And Avlth a sigh he jumped on his bicycle and wys off. Peggy, looking fro'ii the window, Avas also heaving a big sigu, from a different reason, however. " I never thought Tom would be such a hypocrite ;" then she shrugged her shoulders. "Oh, well, I musn't let them see mat anything has gone wrong." That might Peggy thought the play would never end. It was with great difficulty she avoided a tete-a-tete with her lover, and all the time^she had to appear as if she were enjoying herself. At last she could stand it no longer, and said to Jack, "Do take me home." "Why don't you let Tom Howard?" he asked ; "he'll be getting ijuite jealous of me."

"Oh, Jack! No; if you don't take me home, I'll go by myself — I won't have Mr Howard."

Jack whistled softly, and thought to himself. "Something wicng"; but out loud he said. '"All right, Peggy ; are you ready?" "Yes,"' she answered. And when Tom came round, determined to make her have tea with him, she was gone.

Next morning he again called at Peggy's home, and this time the m-iid, tliinking theae was a lover's quariel between them, paid to herself they should have a chance to mike it up, for she didn't like seeing Miss Peggy looking so white. In answer to Tom's question if her young mistress were at home, she said. "Yes, Mr Howard. She told me if yon called I was to tell you she was out ; but if you go intc the garden you will find her." Tom with a hurried ' Jt'tiank you,"' disappeared round the corner of the house. Opening a little gate, he caught a glimpse of Pesgy through the tret*. He hum. cl towards " her. When she heard footsteps she turned, but theie was no way of eseavte. " \\*hv. Pegu'v, little iiirlie. what have I done to oflenrfyour He -.iw she had been ciying ; but she. huniedlv chitd her eyes, and, rooking hwii saaight in the face, said, "Mr Howard, I suppose I slnll have to tell you now."' and she related to him what she had he.nd in the lea 100 m, adding, "1 think that was quite sufficient .reason not to want to .speak to yr>u again."' For a moment Tom looked mystified, then he gave su<_h a deai, linging laugh that Peggy jumped. ■'Why, you silly little gill, do you th nk I meant you ai he 11 I said that? Why, Peggy. \\\ have been a biute if 1 had "' "Who did you mean, then?'' she ticked. "Why. my enu«in Peggy, of eouw\ who is a. conceited lit'^e thing. Will you iorJ give me for my blunder. Peggy, darling?"' "Yes. and will you forgive me for thinkino you would say such things about m-e, Tom?" Ho theie was iv conciliation. That night the people said Peggy was wondeiiul : that the pail couldn't have been acted bettt-r. and the -aine uhl fiiencl said, "You looked as jt \ mi meant thdt more. Pegg} ."' I "'And so I did," she answeied.