The Meeker herald., 1913-02-08
The Girl and
The Davenport
And the Sequel to Her At
tempt to Buy 1t.
BY FANNIE HeAsL,P LEA.

= IN the twilight of a secondhand
:, shop CD Royal street Van Holden saw
:, her first. She came toward him down
i. an aisle of shadow between old ma
u hogany sIdeboards and dusty armOires
> and laid her gray gIoved hand upon
: one end of quaint davenport on
t whose other end reposed the hand OF
Van Holden.
"This davenport she said to the
. shopkeeper. "is the one sou reserved
!. for me. In 1t not!'
"I'ardon me-" said Van Holden firm
iy-the davenport was genuine mahOg-
any and of good shape-"l have Just
, bought It."
The shopkeeper. little creole with
voluble eyes and. a fierce mustnche.
looked from one to the other.
"NInis oul." he murmured politely
"it Ii 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 yon show
ed me. and want 1t by Thursday
morning"
"pardop me- Van Holden began
agnin.
4 She ignored his existence and drew q
card from ner case of snakeskIn.
Here ia my address," she said.
scrlbbllng something thereon, and
Twill give sou cheek on delivery Of
! the davenport Eighty dollars think
yon said?"
Van Holden's sense of humor. as
sisted by the pleasing picture of paie
. hnir and gray eyes In cool. pale face
agai.,st background of cObwebbed
walls. began to rise.
II was to have had 1t for tfty." be
, srggested plnintlveiy.
Il will give you eighty for It." she
. snid to the shopkeeper. And her face
: was noticenbiy less pale.
1T ees vair good davenport" said
! the siiopkeeper. twisting his fierce
.. mns.ache. II pay hun'erd dollar fn' it.
but take eighty. Vas. take eighty"
''Oh. yon dot" said Van Holden sar.
castically. What about the fifty I'm
giving you? I suppose yon take that
tool Now, zee here. my man." He
snioothed ont the check between his
fingers
3 "lf ron have paid for IT." snid the
lady iciiy. II shall. Of course. not take
. It had not nnderstood"-
l. .pray do NOT consider me in the
}, natter" said Van Holden. with equal
r rroDptnes.. II shall not take II now
Is He thrust the check into his vest peck.
4 ct as tue shnpkeeper's dirty fingers
Is closed cIawlike over the lady's card
D. -uphoister In green rep? Narnish:
Me. 1 lose SO. YES but-you take 1t :
y ! keep my word"
e NO" said the lady: II shall not cake
1t II My card" She slipped 1t buck In
IL tn the case II do not cnre for the
t. davenport" She walked to the door
n holding her skirts away from con
l. tnminatiOn. and turned into the hot
narrow street. n slender figure In s
~ xruy gown and gray hat with. pale
10 roses on the Wide brim.
le Van Holden lit cigarette In the In
10 terval of regnr,iin. the shopkeeier witt
p a piercing interest '.Overrenchei your
10 self that time. Mr.. Montague" he re
Ie marked pleasantly.
ia "D.,se Yankees" said Mr. Montague
n morosely.
i
walked to the front OF the shop. Ill,
creole Mt his heels. and buuluro,l!
in smile twltched the corners Of his mouth
. "That was IT dirty trick OF yours. And
N by the way. you needn't send M tina
N chair I looked at don't care to dea
With you In future"
N MFR. Montague shrugged his shoulder
4, and lifted up his eyes. Van Holder
n turned on his heel and walked eisurell
down the street. his annoyance lost II
sense of amusement
!. .Ilose Yankees. he echoed to him
self Then his meditation look tn,
form of manifest approval "she woult
hare been picture on that davenpor
after it WIS done in green. with be-
4 cOioring- lack of colorinc. rather. Hell
! 10. Borden. Anything doing? CONF
Z over aud have lunch at the Cosmopoli
tan"
z '.'rhat's where I'm going now" sait
! Rerden You are just the man
Z want I'm taking the girls to lunch to
= day. Molly has n girl visiting her. 20,
Z know Yon'li Just round out the part,
I and make us happy foursome. Oh
Z come on. And see here. Van-wha
4 about thni deai you made in cottoi
I yesterday
Z They onuntered down the street deeI
! In discussion. until Borden stopped
4 suddenly. "love. I've got to go owe
< to some blamed store and meet thos,
4 Girls. You go on and engage table
= that's good fellow. Order the lunch
Z you want to- You do 1t better thai
: do anyhow ! shan't lie longr
Z He darted OF like distracted waite
! hug In linen clothes and panama
Z and vnn Holden set forth upon hi
! quest OF n table He found one in I