The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1904-01-30
BY S. Rhen Roman.


nlATHAT did you say" asked Nc
wv Person, pausing in the act Of
pouring settler water into his white
wine and looking sU]spiciously mt the
dainty, well-gowned handsome young
woman sitting ON tho other side of
the table, who n absorbed In peel
ing iced shrimp as If to the manner
born.
Antiquities shops" she said, lacon-
icallN looking up with laughing eyes
and a gay determination which had It's
effect,
What for2" Queried Mciferson. be
fore helping himself to the broiled
pompano, which presented an e]nticing
appearance.
They sat In the dining room of the
81. Charles, where If was cool and
pleasant. idling over their luncheon.
and they were evidently strangers and
people Of decided social importance, as
their air, look and manner indicated.
why. Dan, because must get a
lovely, dear old fashioned desk. Louis
XIV, style, you know, to match my
furniture. | want to put it In the cor
ner of my room. near the big bay win
dow, just underneath one of those
candclabra we got in Europe. Wen
take our drive, then drop into some
of those curip places I've heard 80
much about, where they sell beautiful
old things. Wen come back in plenty
time to dress for dinner. We are TO
dine at the Carringtons tonight, 0
know
Drop in. did you say" McFerson
retorted, smiling rueGully in answer to
the winsomc gayety of the face. which
10 him land to some others, too) was
the most beautiful on earth.
You evidently know nothing about
man-traps. Those antique shops. A
woman who once gets the antique
craze, my dear child, goes from bad to
worse, ana there is no limit 10 the
time she will spend in pursuit Of the
ideal In localities inhabited by rats and
spiders, Drop in, indeed; you'll be
there hours and hours,
"lll tell you what wen do. Don't
waste this firie day in shops. Wen
take n drive, and when we get back
home again III write for pictures and
photos and youll get any kind of desk
you want"
Indeed not. must see what fl
looks like. Why, Dan, how absurd YOU
are, III make u bargain with YOU.
Take me To that extraordinary place.
IT q real art museum, at the corner of
Royal, and | don't remember the other
street, and look at your watch. I
promise not to stay more than half an
hour, Honest" ,
IAN right! III drive o there if |
you'll add another promise that you {
won't so beyond $500"
why, of course not. ! don't expect q
TO spend ouo-tifth Of that"
Shows how much you know about 4
antique shops, McFerson remarked a
Then the discussion waved animated
and prolonged until It ended in a truce. )
MctNerson reached over for nm apri- Il
rot, while the waiter brought in the 4
small cups Of coffee. as il is made in G
Louisiana, an aromatic essence and a
nerve tonic. y
When they strulled off various Il
of admiration followed Alme o
McFersOn, captivated by n grace and ii
harm of manner, which, quite apart
rom, and in spite Of, her exceptional N
made her n prime Cayurito. even Sc
n that miniature ruthless world, a +
fashionable girls college. N
II was some hours later when a
going rapidly down Royal street. eN
irew up at a corner. ~
Here you are" McFerson said, get "
ing out, Now, remember your oath, 10
hour aud not over $500" 'e
Alme jumped out, and nodded gaily,
nd going in drew a breath of delight. N,
Why, Dan. this is magnificent. she ~
aid, looking around, and pausing be- ",
ore a console. whose workmanship ~
the patient art spirit Of the -.
ln1ue Cento period, while a tall clock W.
. HNi'' 4 htNlAl HN lIlS us 1 n,
endulum with a slow grace and equal g..
10 the hurry and scurry t.,
T the present bourgeois twentieth cen -,
iry, e.
There were chairs and bahuts of old or
oak, carved by the dexterous q,
ngers of earlier centuries, and vases n
iridescent Cubs ware, an art lost TO NJ
odern days. On,
There was a rare wealth Of curios FIN
I'd furniture, whose grace and finish an
AXE machine manufactures of the H.,
our appear commonplace and clumsy. shj
Alme SAT down with a sigh Of de- 4
sht on a Spanish sofa which had been liz,
ought from the Darlor of an ancient bee
invent in Mexico, the mother superior s
ing glad TO sell a thing SO black with the
% for good money, w%herewith to re- wo
lfnish the chapel, where mass had ha,