The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1904-01-13
5 Old Miss Hortense. !
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8 By S. Rhett Roman.
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ISlSOu, pduSlllS Ill lQ0 ACT OF
pouring settler water into his white
wine and looking suspiciously at the
dainty, well-gowned handsome young
woman sitting on the other side of
the table, who was absorbed in peel
ing iced shrimp as if to the manner
born.
Antiquities shops?" she said, lacon-
ically, looking up with laughing eyes
and gay determination which had it's
effect.
What for?" queried McFerson, be-
fore helping himself to the broiled
pompano, which presented an enticing
appearance.
They sat in the dining room of the
st. Charles, where it was cool and
pleasant, jdling over their luncheon,
and they were evidently strangepDeand
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. 1 want to put. it in the cor
ner of my room, near the big bay win
dow, just underneath one of those
candelabra we got in Europe. Well
take our drive, then drop into some
of those curio places I've heard so
much about, where they sell beautiful
old things. Well come back in plenty
time to dress for dinner We are to
dine at the Carringtons tonight, you
know
drop in, did you say?" McFerson
Tetorted, smiling ruefully in answer to
the winsome gayety of the face, which
TO him (and 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, and there is no limit to 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.
"I'll tell you what We'll do. Don't
waste this fine day in shops. Well
take a drive, and when we get back
home again I'll write for pictures and
photos and you'll get any kind of desk
you want"
Indeed not l must see what it
looks like. Why, Dan, how absurd you
are. I'll make a bargain with you.
Take me to that extraordinary place,
it's real art museum, at the corner Of
Royal, and l don't remember the other
or OF r
promise not to stay more than half an
hour. Honest"
"All right! I'll drive you there if
you'll add another promise that you
won't go beyond $780,"
"Why of course not don't expect
to spend one-fifth of that"
"Shows how much you know about
antique shops,' McFerson remarked.
Then the discussion waxed animated
and prolonged until it ended in a truce
McFerson reached over for an april
cot, while the waiter brought in the
small cups of coffee, as it is made in
Louisiana, an aromatic essence and q
nerve tonic.
1t was some hours later when a
coupe, going rapidly down Royal street,
drew up at q corner
"Here you are" McFerson said, get
ting out. "Now, remember your oath,
one-half hour and not over $500"
Alme jumped out, and nodded gaily,
and going in drew breath oil delight.
"Why, Dan, this is magnificent" she
said, looking around, and pausing be-
fore a console, whose workmanship
bespoke the patient art spirit of the
Cirque Cento period, while a tall clock
of ancient Florentine design swung its
pendulum with slow grace and equal
indifference to the hurry and scurry
of the present bourgeois twentieth CEN
fury.
There were chairs and bahuts of old
Flemish oak, carved by the deXterous
fingers of earlier centuries, and vases
OF iridescent Cubs ware, an art lost to
modern days.
There was a rare wealth of curios
and furniture, whose grace and finish
make machine manufactures of the
hour appear commonplace and clumsy