The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1927-03-05
The Hampton
Chairs
lCopyright.l
By JANE OSBORN

displayed his stock of antiques.
My aunt, Mrs. Jenkins, saw some
chairs In here yesterday Fred began.
Il don't know about such things but
she says they're worth your price
There was set of six--at hundred
dollars chair. / brought a carter
along to take them. I'll just make out
my check, Mr.. Samuels, if you'll see
that the carter gets the chairs into
the truck without doing them any
HARM
The carter was jusy carrying the
first of the chairs out of the shop and
Fred was beginning the signature Of
his check when very pretty. obvi-
ously excited young woman burst into
the little shop.
MIR. Samuels," said the girl, "rve
decided don't want to sell the chairs.
Here Is the six dollars that you said
they were worth. I'll take them back
in the station wagon with me-"
But what Is sold Is. Sold" said
Mr. Samuels suavely "That Is only
fair, and even If 1 would let you have
them back. it is too late. / have
already sold them to this gentleman
here"
"0h, but that is outrageous" said
the girl. at was only day before
yesterday. They were up in the attic
with lot Of other. old things and i
wanted to clear the place out. really
didn't notice the chairs at the time.
Now / have been reading a book on
old furniture, and realize that want
those chairs back again. Six dollars
for six chairs-that is outrageous !"
But you agreed TO the price day be-
fore yesterday" said Mr.. Samuels.
Fred fingered, listening He was
interested in part Because the discus
sion, so heated on one side, focused
around his own newly acquired chairs
Moreover, he was fascinated by the
high-spirited young girl.
But you could not expect me to
give up the chairs" Mr. Samuels
mildly protested. II have just this
morning sold the lot for six hundred
dollars. / have had them only two
days and have made five hundred and
ninety-four dollars"
IT'S outrageous" cried Violet 81
think there ought to be some law to
prevent such things" Then, suddenly
seeing and recognizing Fred, she APP
pealed to him. Don't you think 1t
is outrageous" But before he was
ready with his answer Mr.. Samuels
was ready with his self-defense.
Look here, Miss Hampton" he said.
"Your father sometimes invests in
stocks. Well. suppose he buys today
stock at fifty and a very little while
later 1t goes up to one hundred-does
he sell 1t back at fifty to the people
from whom he bought it?"
Violet Hampton looked a little dis
mayed at doesn't seem like the same
sort of thing to me-does 1t to you
Mr.. Sawyer"
I'm afraid il does" said Fred
Sawyer. You see, happen to know
that In Mr.. Samuel's business there
are many losses. Tastes and fashions
change in furniture-and he has many
thousands Of dollars worth Of things
on hand which he could not get rid
of at any price. Yesterday and today
he has made good proflt-but 1t only
makes up for some of his losses"
Outside the store Fred spoke again
to Violet He told her that II she
really wanted the chairs he would give
them to her. He valued them because
his aunt, who was an expert, told him
they were very rare-and he knew
they were beautiful. He had bought
a little old house on the mountainside
and wanted to have II furnished In
keeping with it's own antiquity.
"Oh, then you are thinking Of get
ting married?' asked Violet.
ION the contrary-that is, / hadn't
thought of it until you put the idea
In my head. II was going to be just
a sort Of bachelors den-but IL might
do for a honeymoon cottage just as
well. But seriously, / would like to
do something about the chairs"
''You might ask me over to tea or
something to see how they look In
their new surroundings" said Violet.
1t was a week later that Violet
went to have tea at Fred's little house
on the hillside with his aunt as chap
erone. Fred was motoring her home
down the hill after the party.
I'm really crazy about your little
house, she told him. you have SO
many wonderful pieces-and to think
that those chairs might have been
mine"
Fred hesitated for "a minute, won
dering whether he dared say the words
that were in his mind. Then, grow
ing brave, he said. They still might
be yours"
II don't see how" said Violet
"well, if we should get to be quite
friendly and should ask you to marry
me and you should be foolish enough
to accept-and-and- you see
what 1 mean"
Il don't suppose you meant that as
a proposal" said Violet. but really
do think we're very congenIal, don't
you"
Fred said he hadn't thought about
that-and then when they had reached
the level road and driving was not
difficult, Fred told Violet he loved her.
They drove along in contented silence
for a while and then Violet thought
again of the chairs.