Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1906-10-04
The Girl and
the Davenport
By FANNIE HEASLIP LEA
Copyright, 1905, by E. c. PARCELS

~ the twilight Of q secondhand
shop on Royal st:ect Van Holden saw
her first. She came toward him down
an aisle of shadow between old ma
hocany sideboards ana dusty armoires
and laid her gray glovel hand upon
one end OF a quaint davenport on
whose other end reposcd the hand of
Van Holden.
This davenport" she said to the
shopkeeper. lis the one you reserved
for me. is it not|'
Pardon me-" said Van Holden firm
Iy-the davenport was genuine mahog-
any and of good shape-"I have just
bought it,
The shopkeeper. Il little creole with
voluble eyes and fierce mustache,
looked from one to the other
"Mais oul." he murmured politely,
'it is vair good daveapo't'-
You promised Yesterday afternoon
she said with icy dignity, ITO reserve
II for me- | must have ii. | wish 1t
upholstered in the green rep you show
ed me. and I want it by Thursday
morning"
Pardon me- Van Holden began
again.
She ignored his existence and drew a
card from her case of snakeskin.
Here is my address," she said,
scrbbling something thereon. and l
will give you Il check on delivery of
the davenport. Eighty dollars | think
you saldT'
Van Holden's sense of humor. as
sisted by the pleasing picture of pale
hair and gray eyes III cool pale face
against background of cobwebbed
walls, began to rise.
Il was to have had it for fifty" hes
suggested plaintiVcly.
II Will give you eighty for it," she
said to the shopkeeper. And her face
was noticeably less pale
1T ees vair good davenport" said
the shopkeeper, twisting his fierce
mustache. Il pay hun'erd dollar TO it.
but take eighty. Vas, | take eighty"
"Oh. you do:" said Van Holden sar-
castcally. What about the fifty I'm
giving you? l 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 icily. II shall Of course not take
it, l had not understood
Pray do not consider me in the
matter" said Van Holden, with equal
promptness. II shall not take it now"
He thrust the check into his vest peck
ct as the shopkceper's dirty fingers
closed clawlke over the ladys card.
"Upholster in green rep? Varnish?
Me, lose $40. yes-but-you take -
l keep my word"
NO" said the lady; Il shall not take
it. My card" She slipped 1t back in
to the case. IL do not care for the
davenport" She walked TO the door,
holding her skirts away from con-
tamlnation, and turned into the hot,
narrow street. n slender figure in a
gray gown and a gray hat with pale
roses on the wide brm.
Van Holden lit n cigarette in the in
terval Of regarding the shopkeeper with
piercing interest "Overreached
yourself that time, Mr. Montague" he
remarked pleasantly.
Dose Yankees" said MI Montague
morosely.
Il dare say" said Van Holden. He
walked 10 the front of the shop. the
creole 1T his leels. and Il humorous
smile twltched 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 his 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.
Dose Yankees" he echoed to him
self. Then his meditation took the
form of manifest approval. "She would
have been picture on that davenport
after ii was done in green. with her
coloring-lack of coloring rather. Hell
10, Borden, Anything doing? Come
over and have lunch ut the Cosmopou-
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 ont the party
and make us happy foursome. oh.
come on. And see here. yan-what
about that deal you made in cotton
yesterday"
Ihey sauntered down the street, deep
In discussion, until Borden stoned
suddenly ''love, I've got to 90 over
to some blamed store and meet those
girls. You 20 on ana engage table;
that's a good fellow Order the lunch.
II you want 10; you do 1t better than
! DO anyhow. | shant be long"
He darted or like distracted
water hug in linen clothes and a pana-
ma, ami Van holden set forth unon
his quest Of Il table lie found one in
cool corner of the dining room and
consumed some time in the ordering Of
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 and
Of the davenport girl. as he
called her to himself. Cool he
luuSpJ 'spr1 sole