Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-09-22
The Girl and
the Davenport
BY FANNIE HEASLIP LEA
Copyright, 1903. by f. {. PARCELS


hogany sideboards and dusty armoircs
aud laid her gray gloved hand upon
pnc end OF quaint davenport Oh
whose other end reposed the hand of
Van Holden.
This davenport. she said to the
shopkccpcr. lis the one you reserved
for me. Is IL not
Pardon me" said Van Holden firm
ly the davenport was genuine mahog
any aud ri good shape have just
bought it,
The shopkeeper, IA little creole with
voluhlc eyes and II fierce mustache
Booked from one to the other
MATS oui" he murmured politely
III is vair good davenport
You promised yesterday afternoon"
she said with icy dignity, to reserve
il for me. must have H. wish II
upholstered In the green rep you show
ed me. and want II 10y Thursday
morning"
Pardon me" Van Holden began
again.
She ignored his existence and drew .
card from her ease Of snakeskin.
Here is my address, she said,
scribbling something thereon. and /
will give you check on delivery OF
the davenport Eighty dollars | think
you saidF"
Van Holden's sense Of humor. as
sisted by the pleasing picture OF pale
hair and gray eyes In Il cool pale face
against background Of cobwebbed
walls. began 10 rise
Il was TO have had IL for fifty" he
suggested plaintively.
Il Will give you eighty for II" she
said 10 the shopkeeper. And her face
was noticeably less pale.
1T ccS yair good davenport" said
the shopkeeper. twisting his fierce
mustache Il pay hun erd dollar 10 II.
but take eighty Vas. take eighty"
"Oh. YOU dof" said Van Holden Sar
casticaly What about the iifiy I'm
giving you: | suppose you take that
too Now. see here my man" lie
smoothed ont the check between his
fingers.
lady lciy. Il shall OF course not take
It. had not understood
pray do not consider me in the
matter" said Van Holden, with equal
promptness Il shall not take IL now. "
He thrust the check into his vest peck
ct as the shopkeeper's dirty fingers
closed clawllke over the lady's card
til,
Me | lose $40. yes-butyo you take it.
keep my word"
No" said the lady; Il shall not take
II. My card" She slipped II back In
10 the case. Il do not care for the
davenport" She walked To the door
holding her skirts away from con
Elimination. and turned into the hot
narrow street slender figure In a
gray gown and a gray hat with pale
roses on the wide brlm
Van Holden III a cigarette in the in
teryal Of regarding the shopkeeper with
piercing interest. "Overrcache'i
yourself that time. Mr.. Montague" he
remarked pleasantly.
Dose Yankees" said Mr. Montague
morosely
81 dare say" said Van Holden. lie
walked 10 the front OF the shop the
creole AT his heels. and humorous
smile twitched the corners Of his mouth.
THAT was dirty trick OF yours And.
by the way you needn't send up that
with you in future"
Mr. Montague shrugged his shoulders
and lifted up his eyes. Van Holden
turned on his heel and walked leisurely
down the street. his annoyance lost !
sense Of amusement.
Dose Yankees. he echoed 70 him.
self Then his meditation took the
form Of manifest approval. she would
have been a picture on that davenport
after Il was done In green. with her
coloring lack of coloring. rather. Hell
10. Borden, Anything doing? Come
over and have lunch nj the cosmopoli-
tan"
That's where I'm going now" said
Borden. You are just the man ! want.
I'm taking the girls to lunch TO
day. Molly has girl visiting her you
know You'll Just round out the party
and make us happy foursome. Oh.
come ON. And see here. Van what
about that deal you made In cotton
yesterday"
They sauntered down the street deep
In discussion. until Borden stopped
suddenly "Jove. I've got 70 20 over
TO some blamed store aud meet those
girls. You 70 on and engage a table:
that's good fellow. Order the lunch
II you want TO. YOU do It better than
| do anyhow | shan't he long
He darted of. like a distracted
water bug IN linen clothes and pana
ma. and Van Holden set forth upon
his quest OF II table. He found one in
u cool corner 81 the dining room and
consumed some time IN the ordering OF
luncheon that should combine deli
cacy and good deal of Ice
When the waiter had left him. he
fell to drumming on the table and
thinking of the davenport girl. as he
called her To himself. Cool" h.
unused. "and self possessed and. Lord.