The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-25

western trip. The book had been duly pub
lished and the reviewers, to use his own er-
preston, had 'let him down easy.n Though
the general tone of criticism had been favora-
bic, he was much surprised to find himself
gently, and affably, and withal most en-.
couragingly handled by The Dispatch. The
writer was not surprised to find so Indifferent
a poet, capable of producing story so pleas
ing and graceful, so full of felieitous descrip-
lions, so fresh and unhackneyed 1t was un-
derstood that the young man was under a
solemn promise never again to attempt verse,
and, il consideration of this assurance and
the promise of ultimate success held out by
the latter work, it was but Just
that the public should extinguish its
resentment and take the author to
a forgiving and indulgent bosom. There
followed criticism in which the claims OF
the book were seriously treated, and by the
time Lawrence had finished the perusal he
was thinning that, after all, he might have
been a little too fierce in his resentment upon
previous occasion. There arose within him
desire to make amends in some way for his
open deriaion of this person, who, however
hard upon him at first, was clearly without
zach 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 pelIOn. He had few
copies that had been handsomely bound
intended as souvenirs for his friends. lie
would be most happy to present one as a
| token of his appreciation,
| The reply to this friendly overture was
| written upon q card, across the left-hand up
per corner of which vas the day of the week
| in Gilt lettering; on the opposite upper cor
ner was pen and-ink sketch Of st. George
in the act of vanquishing the dragon. Below
| was written:
Miss Damon will be at home to Mr.. Law
renee this evening at O'Clock. No. 705 West
| Broadway"
| The sketch desrite the limited space it oc-
cupied. was spiri I'd and indicated "A knoWl
| edge of her uniiattering sobriquet. As he
looked up at his own sketch upon the wall he
was conscious of a ileeting impulse To de
stroy it.
At O'Clock that evening Lawrence, bear.
| ing his pcace-offering coquettishly bound in
gilt and morocco, stood upon the steps of No
| T05 ringing the bell lie was ushered into tx
narlor, and in a few moments he heard rus
tie If lraplry behind him. When he arost
he encountered slender figure in toilet Of
black lace.
Miss Vincent he said exultantly, al hav,
been looking for you everywhere l haN'
| written Won innumerahe letters and
| have been three times to that miserable hol'
of town where you said you lived. Why
did you deceive me!"
"Why did | deceive you2 Well, l did no
think it would add anything to your pleasure
lust then to know the whole truth.
A horrible presentiment seized him.
"Then-t hen-yOur name-it is not V ncent
"Yes; Alice Nincent-Damon
"You knew me, of courseN he faltered.
Yes
Don't You think You have taken rathe
a mean advantage of mef
mo; | think the truth rould have spoie,
n very pleasant day"
In the conversation that followed the pur
pose of the visit was well-nigh' forgotten, an'
tho "souveni played a very inconspicuou
part in the evenings diversion.
A week or two later, as Lawrence was sit
ting in his room, his friend HarIszsR came in
took a seat on the opposite side of ~ table
and after looking at his host for sorle tim
With a most lugubrious expression, said:
"Old man, is this true that | hear abou
you!"
What do you hear."
'sThat You have actually caught til
Dragon"
Lawrence laughed,
"What does it all meang" persisted harFi
>.n
1t means that al last 1 am about to tax
nv revenge. / intend to marry h.s."
Lawrence made this announcement wit
dramatic integrity, and Harrison, who ha
risen, drop7ca fmply into chair. After
pause be pointed to the sketch on the wa
| and resumed:
Il say, Lawreue~, does she look like that
Lawrence reversed photograph that Wa
standing on the mantlepiece with its face
the wall, and, holding it before Harrison
said:
"sShe looks like that, and she is the horoir
of my story-~H H." in Chicago Tribnna