The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-08
TIE EVENING STORY
The en- and the pavenpOrt.

her first. She came toward him down
an aisle of shadow. between old ma
hogany side boards and dusty armoires,
ana iald her gray-gloved hand upon one
end of a quaint davenport on who
osher end reposed the hand of Van
This davenport" she said to the
shop keeper, is the one you reserved
for Ine-5s it not %
Pardon me-" said Van Holden firm
ly-the davenport was genuine ma
nogany and Of good shape have
just bought it
The snopkeeper. little creole with
voluble eyes and a fierce mOustache,
Locked s.sss l.. from one to the other;
It is vair good davenport
You promised yesterday afternoon
she said with icy dignity, Ito reserve
II Tor me. must have it. wish It
upholstered in the green rep you showed
me, and l want 1t by Thursday morn
Pardon meg-van Holden began
She ignored his existence and drew
a card from her case of snakeskin.
Here is my address, she said,
scrlpbllng something thereon, and {
will give you q check on delivery OF
the davenport. Eighty dollars think
you said ~
Van Holden's sense of humor, as
sisted by the pleasing picture of pale
hair and gray eyes, in a cool pale face.
walls, began to rise.
Il was to have had it for $50" he
suggested plaintively.
4 win give you $50 for it, she said
TO the shop-keepers and her face was
not1ceabIy less pale.
1t ees wair good davenport" said
the shop-keeper, twisting his fierce
it-but I take S0-yas-I take So
sOh, you do said Van Holden sar-
castleally- What about the 50 I'm
giving you'll suppose you take that
too? Now, see here. my man. He
s1nootl1ed out the check between his
fingers.
If you have paid for it," said the
lady, ieily, I shall of course, not take
1t. J. had not understood
Pray do not consider me in the mat
| ter, said Van Holden with equal
promptness. Il shall not take It now
He thrust the check into his vest pock-
ct, as the shop-keeper's dirty fingers
closed claw-liize over the lady's card.
Upholster in green rep? Varnish
Me, | lose twenty dollar, yes-but-
you take i'll keep my word
No., said the lady. 81 shall not
back into the case. ST do not care for
the davenport She walked to the
door, holding her skirts away from
contamination, and turned into the
not, narrow street, a slender figure in
q gray gown, and a gray hat with pale
roses on the wide brim
Van Holden lit a cigarette in the in
terval of regarding the shop keeper
with piercing interest. "Over-
reached yourself that time, Mr. Mon
tague.' he remarked pleasantly.
Dose dam Yankees" said Mr..
! Montague, morosely.
II dare say said Van Holden. He
walked to the front of the shop the
Creole a his heels, and a humorous
smile twitching the corners of his
/ a trio AZ
yours. And, by the way, you needn't
send uP that chair I looked at. 7
don't care TO deal with you in future"
Mr.. Montague shrugged his shoul-
turned on his heel and walked leis-
urely down the street, his annoyance
lost in a sense of amusement
Dose dam Yankees, he echoed
to himself; then his meditation took
4 the form of manifest approval. tsShe
would have been q picture on that
davenport, after it was done in green;
with her coloring-lack of coIoring,
rather=Eello, BerdenI Anything do
ing! Come over and have lunch at
/ the Cosmopolitan"
That's where I'm going now" said
Borden. you are just the man I
want--I.u m taking the girls to lunch
today; Fiollie has a girl visiting her,
you know You'll just round out the
party and make US happy foursome.
what about that deal you made in
cotton yesterday p
They sauntered down the street,
deep in discussion, until Borden
to go over to some blamed store and
meet those girls. You go on and en-
gage a table, that's a good fellow.
/ Order the lunch, II you want tOs you
do it better than I do anyway.
shan't be long"
He darted on, like a distracted wa
ter-bug in linen clothes and Panama,
and Van Holden set forth upon his
quest of a table. He found one in =
cool corner of the dining room, and
consumed some time in the ordering or
a luncheon that should combine deli-
cacy and good deal Of ice.
When the waiter had left him, he
fell to drumming. on the table ana
thinking of the Davenport Girl, as he
called her to himself. Cool" he
unused, land ssessed-and Lord,
what facet Prettier, perhaps, for a
touch of color"
vaguely he remembered something
about 1.-The beauty of a blush to him
who has caused ii" and smiled to
think that he made her blush for
:sF4eigh-ho," he sighed. entirely
without reason and on the moment
Berden's voice was in his ears. ''Wake
UP. boyi Look as If you were seeing
ghosts: doesn't he. Molly? Miss ne
CoIlough, Mr.. Van Holden. Did you
order lunch. old chap? ?"
ST did" said Van Holden steadily.
tit ought to be here in moment
Mrs. Borden, sit here, then the light
won't be in your eyes
He changed seats with her deftlSs
ana faced across the white table-cloth,
accusing gray eyes under a wide
brimmed gray hat with pale roses.
There was q hint of color in the face.
SAY Van" cried the irrepressible
Borden, you ought to hear Miss No
Col1ough's story Of the way she was
done by an antique dealer today
promised to hold a desk or something
for her"
"Don't tell on me- pleaded Miss Nc
Co1lough nervously. please. Mr.. Ber-