New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1886-03-17
of her as she turned the

last glimpse Of her as she turned the
stairway.
When Lawrence came down to break
fast the next morning twas nearly
| 8 o'clock. The early train had gone
So had Miss Vincent.
1t was summer again. The work
| Lawrence had contemplated year ago
was finished. He had acted upon the
suggestion of his critic, he had turned
Pegasus out to Craze and given his at
tention to prose. The result was a
novelette, story of a day-called EN-
Route" which privately assured his
friends was suggested by an incident
| OF his Western trip. The book had
been duly published and thereviewers,
to use his own expression, had silet
him down easy" Though the general
tone OF criticism had been favorable,
he was much surprised to find himself
gently, and affably, and withal most
encouragingly handled by the Dis
patch. The writer was not prepared
to find so Indifferent a poet, capable
OF producing a story so pleasing and
graceful, 20 full of felicitous descrip-
tions, SO fresh and unhackneyed.
1t was understood that the
young man was under solemn
promise never again to attempt
verse; and, in consideration of
this assurance and the promise OF
ultimate success held out by the latter
work, it was just that the public
should extinguish it's resentment and
take the author to forgiving and in
dulgent bosom. Therefollowed a crit
icism in which the claims of the book
were seriously treated, and by the
time Lawrence had finished the perus-
al he was thinking that, after all, he
might have been a little too fierce in
his resentment upon a previous oc-
casion. There arose within HIM de-
sire to make amends in some way for
his open derision of this person, who,
however hard upon him at first, was
clearly without malice in the matter,
and had no doubt in each instance
expressed an honest conviction. He
wrote a note in which he acknowledged
the courtesy, and asked leave to call
and thank the writer in person. He
had a few copies that had been hand
somely bound, intended as souvenirs
| for his friends. He would be most
happy to present one as a token of
his appreciation, etc.
The reply to this friendly overture
was written upon a card, across the
| left-hand upper corner of which was
the day OF the week in gilt lettering;
on the opposite corner was pen-and-
ink-sletch of ST. George in the act OF
vanquishing the dragon. Below was
written:
Miss Damon will be at home to Mr..
Lawrence this evening at O'Clock.
No. 7O5 West Broadway.
The sketch, despite the limited space
it occupied, was spirited and indicat-
ed a knowledge OF her unfattering So
briquet. AS he looked up at his own
sketch upon the wall he was conscious
OF q fleeting impulse to destroy it,
At 8 O'Clock that evening Lawrence,
bearing his peace Offering coquettishly
bound in gilt and morocco, stood up
on the steps of No 7O5 ringing the bell.
He was ushered into the parlor, and
in a few moments he heard rustic OF
drapery behind him. When he arose
he encountered a slender figure in a
toilet of black lace.
"Miss Vincent" he said exultantly.
II have been looking for you every
where. | have written you innumera-
| BILE letters, and | have been three
times to that miserable hole of a town
where you said you lived. Why did
you deceive me?"
''Why did | deceive your" Well, l
did not think it would add anything
to your pleasure just then to know the
whole truth"
Then a horrible presentiment seized
him.
"Then your name-it is not Vim
cent?"
eyes; Alice Vincent-Damon.'
"You knew me, of course?"
eyes"
| "Don't you think you have taken
rather mean advantage of me?'
| "No; think the truth would have
spoiled a very pleasant day."
In the conversation that followed
the purpose of the visit was well-nigh
forgotten, and the souvenir" played
a very inconspicuous part in the
evenings diversion.
| A week or two later, as Lawrence
was sitting in his room, his friend Har-
rison came in, took a seat on the OPP
posite side of the table, and, after
looking at his host forsome time with
most lugubrious expression, said:
| cold man, is this true that l hear
about you?"
"What do you hear?"
.'That youhavecaught the Dragon"
! Lawrence laughed.
What does it all mean?" persisted
| Harrison.
II means 5nat at last am about to
| take my revenge. intend to marry
her"
4 Lawrence made this announcement
with dramatic intensity, and Har-
rison, who had risen, dropped Imply
into chair. After pause he point
ed to the sketch on the wall and re-
sumed:
| +;