Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-04
CHAPTER K.
"The Curiosity Shop"

CHAPTER K.
"The Curiosity Shop"
Concha. the handsome, swarthy daugh-
ter of Juan Dominguez. dealer In antique
dades. sat erect in an ancient state chair,
experimenting her parent as he examined
and priced a number of delicate fans.
formerly the shields and weapons of dark
eyed and bewitching donas. 1t was evil
dent that the connoisseur was keenly in
terested in his task; the age. workman
ship and degree of each dainty article
was carefully noted: and as he laid them
separately on the counter his expression
indicated not merely the complacency Of
one who had made a capital bargaln-it
also bore testimony to affection and re-
spect. His daughter, however. was sor-
didly curious as to the condition and
probable market value of boarded
collection which had been purchased by
her father for a mere bagatelle.
DomingueZ. an experienced judge, who
loved his antiguedades for their own
sake, and imported the dangerous ele-
ment of sentiment into his business, was
a little shriveled man. in whose face.
worn by illhealth. famed the eyes of the
romancist and enthusiast. Concha, on
the contrary a hard-headed. practical
young woman. secretly despised her
fathers historical treasures. was pro-
foundly ignorant of their lore and would
have poked the fire with Excalibur itself!
Nevertheless a capable and persistent
saleswoman, who spoke French f1uently,
English intelligibly. and kept the books
and the keys. as well as all the trades
kttle secrets.
Padre mio.' she exclaimed, suddenly
extending a protesting finger. two hun
dred francs for that is a foolish .price-is
it not on chickens skin? Ask six hum
dred. The Russian princess Will give
more-she is crazy about old fans. See,
1~,<n loco hn &c
looking for the necklace!' and Concha
laughed derisively she glanced at
DomingueZ and quoted: THE fool makes
up his mind when the market is over"
Yes it was certainly the face Of Hester
Forde which was visible between the fans
and chains exhibited in the window. In
spired by a desire to purchase what
might become an heirloom and resolved
to possess the long-coveted necklace, Hes
ter had arrived at her destination In
state of unusual excitement and eXalta-
ton. Before entering the shop she
paused to cast a glance at her choice,
but strange to say, the ornament was no
longer displayed on it's accustomed square
of black cotton velvet. 1t had been re-
moved-and why? With a half-def1ned
fear she turned the handle of the door
and stood in the presence of Domlnguez
and his daughter.
Good day, senorita,'' said the former,
doffing his skull cap. while Concha rose
and abdicated her chair.
"Where is the necklace?" asked Hester,
breathleSSly. turning to point to It's
empty place.
II am sorry. If the senorita is sorry"
replied Dominguez. with a bow. but the
necklace is sold. A customer bought 1t
this morning"
Bought what was in her mind already
her own property. Miss Forde stood
transfxed. staring at the Spaniard with
expression of grave 1ncredulty linen
she slowly subsidized into the old cordovan
chair and struggled to conceal the mag
nitude of her disappointment
But she said at last, lit has been IN
the window for weeks-I always intended
to have i'll came to buy it now
Truly it has been in the window for
long time. senorita. and behold in one
as we say. When my daughter is mar
ried. sons-in-law are plentiful:
And is it really gomez
ooh yes" put in Concha. ut was
beautiful piece of work-a rare bargain.
The senorita should not have waited
when one waits too long things go by
THAT is true" assented the English
girl. Il put off the purchase, and now L
have lost the necklace"
She actually felt as if fate had deprived
her of a treasured possession. Gazing at
the ornament day after day. she had ne
come deeply attached to what. after all.
was the property of Juan Dominique.
Her eyes wandered vaguely round the
shop in quest of some article to replace
her loss. They rested in turn on pieces
of armor. on ancient tapestry, on painted
doors torn from a deSDOiled monastery,
figures of the Holy Family. inlaid cab
inets and embroidered priests robes. dim
with the age of centuries.
Where did you collect all these
things" she asked at last.
.'Senorita. I go into Spain Dominguez
answered. confidentially. leaning over the
counter as he impaired the information.
Yes every three or six months-not TO
e tl,ar
places. 1 search where others come not,
in neighborhoOds where noble families
are sorely in need of money. They are
proud still: sometimes they nave scarcely
enough food. and yet their jewels are
worth-Santos Dios! when L mink or
them my head swms!"
II must confess / respect people for not
parting with their treasures declared
the disappointed customer.
True agreed DomingueZ: Il know
one great house miserable now that
they live only on bread and soup; never
theless, every evening at > o'clock their
gates are thrown open. and they drive
forth as always in a splendid carriage
with horses and servants. God knows
what it costs them! Sometimes the pinch
is so terrible that these grandees are
forced to sell-even a little. Behold that
silver and ebony cabinet-it belonged to
Charles Quint, who gave it to a queen;
now it has come to Dominguez.
You have not much jewelry-only pic
lures and cabinets and large things.
mo, Jewels are dangerous to carry, for
even the gendarmes are of flesh and
blood. All. senorita, you should have
bought the necklace"
"Of course / should she answered,
with a touch of Impotence. Il shall al
ways, always regret il, especially you
have no other" and she looked at him
interrogatively.
In answer to this question he shook his
head but Concha. who had been listen
ing to this dialogue with folded arms and
an air of sullen disapproval eel padre was
so romantic and wasted his days in TALK.
now approached and said something in
low voice in her own tongue. Hester
caught the words: Madrid" and "Ameri-
cano." as Dominguez shuffied out from
behind the counter. and followed his
daughter into a dark little room beyond
the shop. For nearly ten minutes Hester
Forde remained alone, in sole charge of
all the antguedades, while from the in
ner apartment, came voices raised in
argument and expostulation.
We'll, 1 cannot sit here all the after
noon.' she said to herself. as she rose
from a feurteenth-century chair; lat least
I have had a lesson-I must learn to