The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1906-09-06
The Girl and
the Davenport
By FANNIE HEAsIiP LEA



lu the twilight of secondhand
shpp on Royal street Van Holden saw
her trst She came toward him down
; an aisle Of shadow between old ma,
hcgany sideboar,ls and dusty armolres
and laid her gray giovcd hand upon
one end OF quaint davenport on
whose other end reposcd the hand OF
Van Holden.
This davenport" she said 10 the
shopkceper ''is the one you reserved
for me, is II notY'
Pardon me-" said Van Holden firm.
iy-the davenport was genuine mahog.
any and OF a good shape-"l have Just
bought H."
The shopkecper. little creole with
volublc eyes aud fierce mustache,
looked from one 20 the other.
Mails oui." he murmured politely.
~ Is valr good davenport
You promised yesterday afternoon
she said with Icy dignity, ito reserve
II for me | must have II. wish II
upholstered In the green rep you show.
ed me, and ! want II by Thursday
morning"
Pardon me- Van Holden began
again.
She ignored his existence aud drew a
card from her case 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 sald7"
Van Holden's sense Of humor, as
sisted by the pleasing picture of pale
hair and gray eyes In cool pale fncc
against Il background OF cobwebbed
walls. began TO rise.
Il was to have had It for fifty" he
suggested plalntively.
Il will give you eighty for IT," she
said 10 the shopkeeper. And her face
was notIceably less pale.
1T ees valr good davenport" said
the shopkeeper, twisting his fierce
mustache. Il pay hun'erd dollar To- It,
but take eighty. Vas, | take eighty"
"Oh, you dof" said Van Holden sar-
castically. "What about the fifty I'm
giving your ! suppose you take that
too? Now, see here. my man" He
fingers.
III you have paid for H." said the
lady iclly, II shall Of course not take
It. had not understood
pray do not consider me In the
matter" said Van Holden, with equal
promptness. II shall not take 1t now"
He thrust the check into his vest pock
ct as the shopkeeper's dirty fingers
closed clawlike over the lady's card.
"Upholstcr In green rep? varnishf
Me, lose $50, yes-but-you take it.
I keep my word"
mo" said the lady; II shall not take
It. My card" She slipped II back IN
to the case. II do not care for the
davenport" She walked to the door,
holding her skirts away from con-
tamination, and turned into the hot,
narrow street, a slender figure In
gray gown and gray hat with pale
roses on the wide brim.
Van Holden lit cigarette In the In
terval OF regarding the shopkecper with
q piercing interest 'Overreached
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 bis heels, and humorous
emile twltched the corners OF his mouth.
'That was dirty trick Of yours. And.
by the way, you needn't send up that
chair locked at. ! don't care to deal
with you In future"
Mr. Montague shrugged his shoulders
and lifted up his eyes. Van Holden
turned OH his heel and walked ieIsurely
down the street. his annoyance lost In
a sense Of amusement.
"'Dose Yankees" he echoed to him. |
self Then bis 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 coIoring, rather. Hell
10, Borden. Anything doIngf Come
over and have lunch at the Cosmopol. |
tan"
"1hats where I'm going now" said
Borden. You are just the man want
I'm taking the girls to lunch to-
dny. 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 to go over
to some blamed store and meet those
girIs. You 20 on and engage table;
that's a good fellow. Order the lunch,
II you want 10. yor do II better than
] do anyhow. shan't he long"
lie darted OF. like a distracted
water bug In linen clothes and n pana
ma. and Van Holden set forth upon
his quest OF a table. lie found one In |
a cool corner OF the dining room and
some time IN the ordering of
q luncheon that should couIblpe deli
cncy and good deal OF Ice.
When the waiter Ind left him. he
fell to drumming on the table and
of ihe davenport girl. M he
called her to himself Cool" he
"and self possessed--and, Lord.
what face pfrttIer perhaps. for a
touch Of co'or."
Vaguely lac remembered something
about 'thr beauty OF blush 10 him
who has caused IL" aud smiled 10
think that be had made her blush for
anger
"Iieigii-iio." h. sighed entirely With
out reason, aud on the moment Ber.
den's voice was IN bis ears. Wake
up. boy Look as II you were seeiag
ghosts. doesn't be. MolIyf sIiss Ne
tslough Mr.. Van Holden Did yoD
order lunch. old chap"
Il did" said Van Holden steadily.
III ought TO l,c here In a moment
AIRS Borden. ST here: then the Hight
wont be In your eyes"
He changed seats with her deftty ,