Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-02
2,
forward until his cheek touched her hair.

forward until his cheek touched her hair.
4 The music ceased suddenly, but the arm
| about her waist did not relax. She gave a
| furtive, upward glance, then dropped her
| eyes.
| With a swift movement of his left hand
he drew her arm up until it encircled his
| neck, leaned forward and kissed her. She
! darted away like Il swallow, and he caught
| a last glimpse OF her as she turned a corner
| of the stairway
When Lawrence came down to breakfast
next morning it was nearly O'clock The
early train had gone. So had Miss Vincent.
1t was summer again, The work Law
renee contemplated year ago was fin.
ished. He had acted on the suggestion of
his critic; he had turned Pegasus out to
Craze and given his attention to prose.
The result was Il NOVELETTE, story of a
day-called, "En Route. which he assured
his friends was suggested by an incident of
his western trip
The book had been published. and the re-
viewers, to use his own phrase, had "let
him down easy" and he was much sur
prised to find himself gently and affably
treated by The Dispatch.
The writer was not surprised to find SO
Indifferent poet capable Of producing a
tale SO pleasing and graceful. SO full Of
felicitous description. so fresh and unhack
neyed
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 success
held out by the latter work. it was but just
that the public should extinguish its re
a. |, e.,
ing and indulgent bosom.
There followed a criticism in which the
claims of the book were seriously treated,
perusal he was thinking that after all he
might have been little too fierce in his re-
sentiment upon previous occasion.
There arose within him desire to make
amends in some way for his own derision
of this person, who, however, hard upon
him at first, was clearly without malice in
the matter, and had no doubt in each in
stance expressed an honest conviction.
He wrote a note in which he acknowi
edged the courtesy. and asked leave to call
and thank the writer in person. He had a
few copies that had been handsomely
bound, intended as souvenirs for his friends.
He would be most happy to present one as
q token of his appreciation.
The reply to his friendly overture was
written upon a card, across she upper left
hand corner of which was the day of the
week in gilt lettering; on the opposite cor
ner was a pen and ink sketch of St. George
in the act of vanquishing the dragon. Be
low was written:
Miss Damon will be at home to Mr.
Lawrence this evening at o'clock. 705
West Broadway"
This sketch, despite the limited space it
occupied, was spirited, and indicated
knowledge Of her unhattering sobriquet.
AS he looked up at his own sketch upon
the wall he was conscious of strong inn
pulse to destroy it.
At 8 o'clock that evening Lawrence.
bearing his peace offering in gilt and mo-
rocco. rang Miss Damon's bell He was
ushered into the parlor and in few mo-
ments he heard a rustling of drapery behind
him.
AS he arose he encountered a slender
figure in toilet of black lace
miss Vincent" he said exultingly. Il
have been looking for you everywhere.
have written you innumerabie letters, and
have been four times to that llorrid hole
OF town where you said you lived. Why
did you deceive me so cruelly?"
'Why did deceive you? Well. did
not think it would add anything to your
pleasure just then to know the truth"
A horrible presentment seized him.
'Then-then-your name-is not Vim
cent?"
Yes; Alice Vincent Damon
you know me of course?" he faltered
Eyes"
Don't you think you have taken rather
a mean advantage of me?"
"No; l think the truth would have
spoiled very pleasant day.
A week or two later, as Lawrence was
sitting in his room, his friend Harrison
came in took a seat on the opposite side of
the table, and, after gazing at his host for
some time with a most lugubrious express
sion, said:
"Old man, is this all true that l hear
about you?"
What do you hear?"
"That you have actually caught the
dragon"
Lawrence laughed.
"What does it mean?" persisted Harri-
son.
"It means that at last am about to take
my revenge. | intend to marry her."
Lawrence made this announcement with
dramatic intensity, and Harrison, who had
arisen, dropped Imply into chair
After pause he pointed to the sketch on
the wall and asked pathetically:
II say. Lawrence. does she look like
that?"
Lawrence reversed photograph that
was standing on the mantelpiece with its
face to the wall, and holding it before
Harrison said:
''She looks like that, ard she is the hero
inc of my story. "-Wayerley Magazine.