Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1906-08-21
The Girl and
the Davenport
BY FANNIE HEAsLIP LEA
1905. By E. G. PARCELS


chop on Royal street Van Holden saw
her first. She came toward him down
IN aisle of shadow between old ma
hosany sideboards and dusty armoires
and laid her gray gloyed hand upon
one end Of quaint davenport on
whose other end reposed the hand of
Van Holden.
This davenport" she said to the
shopkeeper, lis the one you reserved
for me, is it notY'
Pardon me- said Van Holden firm
ly-the davenport was genuine mahog-
any and of good shape-'I have just
bought it."
The shopkeeper, little creole with
voluble eyes and fierce mustache,
looked from one to the other.
"Mais oui,' he murmured politely.
1T is vair good davenport
You promised yesterday afternoon"
she said with Icy dignity, ito reserve
1t for me. / must have it, wish it
upholstered In the green rep you show
ed me, and / want 1T by Thursday
morning."
Pardon meo-- Van Holden began
again.
She ignored his existence and drew
card from her case of snakeskin.
Here is my address," she said,
scribbling something thereon. land
will give you check on delivery Of
the davenport Eighty dollars I think
you said?"
Van Holden's sense of humor, as
sisted by the pleasing picture of pale
hair aud gray eyes in a cool pale face
against background of cobwebbed
walls, began to rise.
Il was to have had it for fifty" he
suggested plaintiveiy.
Il will give you eighty for it." she
said to the shopkeeper. And her face
was noticeably less pale.
1T ees yair good davenport" said
the shopkeeper. twisting his fierce
mustache Il pay hun'erd dollar fo' 1t.
but 1 take eighty. Vas, take eighty"
ooh, you do?v said Van Holden sar-
casticaily. what about the fifty I'm
giving you? / suppose you take that
too? Now, see here, my man. He
smoothed out the check between his
fingers.
IF you have paid for it." said the
lady Jelly, 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 it now
He thrust the check into his vest peck
ct as the shopkeeper's dirty fingers
| closed clawlike over the lady's card.
"Upholster in green rep? yarnish?
Me, lose $20 but take it.
! keep my word"
no." said the lady; II shall not take
| it. My card" She slipped it back in
| to the case. Il do not care for the
davenport" She walked TO the door,
holdisg her skirts away from con-
tamination, and turned into the hot,
narrow street, a slender figure in a
gray gown and gray hat with pale
roses on the wide brim.
Van Holden lit cigarette in the In
terval of regarding the shopkeeper with
| piercing interest. 4Overreached
yourself that time, Mr.. Montague" he
remarked pleasantly.
Dose Yankees" said Mr.. Montague
morosely.
II dare say" said Van Holden. He
walked to the front of the shop, the
creole at his heels, and a humorous
| smile twitched the corners of his mouth.
THAT was dirty trick of yours And,
by the way, you needn't send up that
chair | looked at. don't care to deal
with you In future"
Mr.. Montague shrugged bis shoulders
and lifted up his eyes. Van Holden
turned on his heel and walked leisurely
! down the street. his annoyance lost In
sense Of amusement.
"sDose Yankees he echoed to him
self. Then his meditation took the
form Of manifest approval. "She would
have been a picture on that davenport
after 1t was done in green, with her
coloring-lack Of coloring. rather. Hell
10, Berdenl Anything doing? Come
over and have lunch at the Cosmopoli-
tam"
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-whai
about that deal you made In cotton
yesterday"
They sauntered down the street, deer
in discussion, until Borden stopped
suddenly. "Jove. I've got to go over
to some blamed store and meet those
girls. You go on and engage table
that's good fellow. Order the lunch
II you want to: you do 1t better thar
do anyhow. / shan't be long"
He darted of, like q distracted
water bug in linen clothes and paha
ma, and Van Holden set forth upOr
|. his quest of table He found one ir
cool corner of the dining room AND
consumed some time in the ordering o.
luncheon that should combine deli
: cacy and good deal of Ice.
When the waiter had left him, b.
fell to drumming on the table ant
: thinking of the davenport girl, as b
called her to himself. Cool" b
unused, "and self possessed-and Lord
what face prettier, perhaps, for
touch of color"
Vaguely he remembered something
: about '4the beauty Of blush to hin
o who has caused 1t" and smiled 4
!. think that he had made her blush 70