Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-09-29
THE IMPERIAL DRAGON

The combination of circumstances that
served to bring Miss Damon to l.
moneyless but determined was known to
nobody. All that anyone knew of her
was impaired by brief statement made
by the editor of the Dispatch to the eff
feet that on certain clustering afternoon
in January she had walked into the
Office and asked for employment. He
had declined her services with thanks,
but she came again and again, until one
day she found vacant desk, sat down at
it, and had been there ever since.
She wrote two or three caustic articles,
struck at one or two local atrocities, and
in little while made an enviable reputa-
ton for bitterness and cynicism. Her
name got out and after that everything
malicious and pungent that appeared in
the paper was unhesitatingly set down to
her credit.
She was not known outside of the of
fee, but the impressions that prevailed
concerning her were not fattering 1t
was generally agreed that she knew too
much to be young, was too cynical to be
agreeable, and there was theory current
among the papers readers that she had
been crossed in love and disappointed in
her literary aspirations. She did her
work in the daytime and was little more
than myth to the men who spent their
nights in journalistic harness. They
were frequently questioned about her,
and they generally answered all queries
by the broad but meaning statement that
she did not "run with the gang"
Soon after she began her mark in her
new sphere book Of verses appeared,
written by gentleman of l., George
Lawrence. Copies were sent to all the
papers, and one of these fell into the
hands of Miss Damon. She prefaced
her criticism with the remark that the
verses were not uniformly bad, but
ranged from bad to very bad, and then
mercilessly impaled the author to the
extent of three-quarters of column.
Lawrence had never forgiven her. He
referred to her ever afterward as "Thc
Dragon" and the 'Imperial Dragon"
The name seemed appropriate and it was
generally adopted. The criticised
versifer experienced some satisfaction at
having thus baptized ner with indignat. on.
but he by no meaRs considered himself
avenged, and at the mere mention of her
name his muscles grew rigid and every
artery throbbed with a wild desire for
vengeance. Being clever with pencil,
he made sketch of her which embodied
the popular impression that she was a
shrewish person of uncertain age. and it
was a source of endless amusement to
himself and friends. It must be con-
fessed that Miss Damon's was not the
only adverse criticism, and Lawrence was
good deal depressed, but not wholly
subdued. He did not intend to be snuffed
out in this summary fashion, however.
and though for long time he attempted
nothing in literary way, he was casting
about for fresh motive, resolved at no
distant date to make another effort.
"The Dragon" had recommended prose !;
he would try prose.
In the meantime summer had come
and Lawrence was to spend several
months with some friends in California.
When he returned he would go to work
in earnest.
1t was glorious day, bright and COOL,
though it was the middle Of July; the
sun was just rising over the eastern rim
of the cup-shaped valley; luminous
mist shading from pink to purple was
rolling away from Pixies Peak, and the
bits of sky showing between the serrated
ridges opposite were deeply blue.
Lawrence, on his way to California,
had stopped to spend q day at Manitou.
He had reached the springs the evening
before, and was finishing his breakfast
this bright morning in the great Sahara
of dinin9-room when the waiter came
in 20 announce the carriage he had or
dered for the day. For the last half hour
the gallery in front of the hotel had been
thronged with tourists ready to begin the
days sightseeing, and the double line Of
vehicles drawn up outside were being
loaded with all possible dispatch. AS
Lawrence emerged from the dining-room
the last wagon drove up to the door, and
lady was on the point of getting in
when the driver said
"Beg your pardon, ma'am, but this
carriage is for the gentleman"
''But l ordered carriage for this morn
ing"
''Your order was too late. They were
all engaged. This was the last one IN
the stables. can give you one to-mor-
row."
II shall not be here tomorrow"
maybe the gentlemans going TO
stay over a day or two and would just as
soon drive Tomorrow" suggested the
driver.
BY this time Lawrence had come up.
IF you can give me horse and saddle
IL will answer my purpose just as well, "
he said.
81 haven't got horse"
GAS leave tomorrow on the early
train, said Lawrence, 81 can not con-
veniently postpone my drive. But we
are probably going in the same direc-
ton, and l should be delighted to
accommodate you with seat in the We
hicle "