The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-05-31
THYRA'S BARGAIN.


a massive bunch of violets. II suppose |
these suit your costume
s'Thanks." she said, graciously. I'm |
glad you spare me Parmas; they are out |
of date. Tram because want to see
life
s'You won't see much life in London,
NJ said I; 'low life chiefly
THAT'S what I mean cried Thyra
ITO be consistent one must see London,
NJ from a tram. Consistency IS the
only thing left worth living for
In the tram a stout eharWornan VITA
two porter bottles OOZing out OF a uSh
basket pressed uncomfortaoly close
Thyra, with a sweep Of silken skirts,
moved to the opposite side.
There's more roon,' she explained
sweetly.
I glanced at her as she confronted me.
smartIy shod, gloved, gowned, ana
thanked Fate she had taken pity on me.
I quite blessed Hal for getting himself
run over in the Holloway Road, and
immuring himself with a broken arm IN
the Great Northern hospital My duty
visit was quite bearable since Ihyra
had volunteered to come and help cheer
the invalid-and his visitori How in
congruous her wild-rose face looked IN
the sullen- colored tram.
I'm glad. I came in a tram she
chartered.
Pm not I grumbled. st cant think
what possessed you"
L wanted a new experience. It's
most amusing; but I shan't do it often
Presently we passed an old curiosity
shop, and my attention was rivetted for
a moment My one and only vice is
Sevres, and I am prouder of my eollec-
tion than most men are of their horses.
In the dirty window, beside an aggreS-
siVe china Dalmatian dog, / spied
| vase, and I wondered if bargains could
! he struck even in the Holloway Road.
| With keen interest turned to look
| again. My hat collided sharply with
! Ihyra'S feathers
I beg your pardon I exclaimed.
Bpt What funny blotting paper
dOgl" was all her comment
The tram stopped with a jerk.
Here is the Mays Head, madam
allow me-" and the smiling conductor
had swung my dainty little lady off
We saw Hal, we commiserated him.
We found him, I distinctly remember,
in No. Z, Pay Ward" with a lynx
eyed Sister watching his tale of Wis
itOrs. and refusing to admit more than
two at a time. Thyra and 1 sat on
bench outside. amid whiffs of chloro
form, and then Mr.. and Mrs Trelawney
came out, greeted US cordially, and we
went in.
Let's walk said she. as we left. and
L assented cheerfully, remembering the
vase.
He was northumberland old man,
with restless fingers. and the most in
cOngruously Wistful eyes one ever saw.
Ihyra hdgeted about at the other end
u the S440D dLlOuB Some Aulu uIEpCLS
and assegais, while I worked diplomat
ioally up to the subject Of the vase.
How much2" he said, slowly, taking
it carefully from the window. How
nuch2"
I trembled with eagerness as saw
his skinny fingers close round the ex-
Quisite thing. It was perfect; I felt
the desire of possession flooding me,
and I coughed nervously.
How much2 It's a good piece of
work Didn't I know that?) I
couldn't sell it under 970.n
Seventy pounds!" I said. artfully; |
other like it,"
"A pair2 No. said the old curiosity
dealer, putting the vase back
Thyra sauntered up, and I deter |
mined to say no more now. I would |
come next day and try to get the vase |
for ESQ. Half the joy Of collecting lies |
in the bargaining, with its alternating |
hopes, fears and tremors. I did not feel |
inclined TO forego that part of the pro- |
gramme.
I'm not going to walk another step.
neither are you'll said, when we got |
outside the shop, signalling a hanson |
meanwhile The man did not see, and |
ThyTa touched my arm
While you are telegraphing to that |
man I want to ask the price of the |
blOtting paper dog; it's so funny"
achieved the hanson. Presently /
Thyra trotted out with a pink face and |
shining eyes.
W mere 5 LIE cog SAID
Hes to be sent" she answered.
We drove home, well content with |
each other and all the world. When I \
left her at her door I had few Russian |
violets in ny coat.
There was a boom in Kaffirs that /
week, and I never had a moment in |
which to remember Thyra or china or /
the Holloway Road was reminded of !
them all forcibly four or five days later /
by seeing the fellow of my vase exhibit |
ed in a window in Pail Mall It was |
marked &200. I went in hurriedly and |
bought it.
personally superintendent the packing !
of my purchase. If one could only !
get hold of the other, the pair would |
be priceless to a collector"
My mouth Watered. I took a hanson |
and drove straight away to the Hollo- |
way Road. How I missed Thyra for |
insisting on going in the tram. She was |
a dear little girl. 7 would shower her |
with Car viOlets in future.
The hanson stopped; I jumped out |
The wrinkled visage was there, and the |
wistful eyes sought mine in mild pro-
test at such haste.
Il will take that vase, the Sevres. - |
1 began, spreading out my check book. |
There was a pause.
How much viii you give me for it?''
I tapped my fountain pen thought
fully on the counter. The spirit of bar
ter was not dead.
Sixty pounds I said at last
7 sold it last week for $40. and the
lady gave me 85 for the dog
The somber eyes looked triumphant
~ uD to mine.
I went out.
Perhaps Thyra would sell me the vase
or stay-I might propose to her
marry her-marry the yase-rnarry
anything. I must have the pair.
I drove straight to Fuller's, in Re.
gent street. I knew where to find her
at the tea hour.
She beamed.
DO have some teal was just wish
ing I had some one to talk to. OH by
the way, don't ever call yourself a
judge Of china again. sold that piece
of old Sevres you would not look at to
Gordon, of Pail Mall. for e170 the very
next day.
I hate mercenary women.