Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-11-17
a chance acquaintance was not to BIZ DE-

a chance acquaintance was not To be de-
spised.
| H handed her his card She looked
at the name, raised her brows slightly,
dropped the card into her ha dbag, and
then. locking squarely at him, said;
"My name Is Vincent"
1t as a delightful drive, and neither
OF them regretted the circumstance tha'
brought them together. They dined at
the same tabl' and finished up the
sights in the afternoon.
| He met her at the door as she was
about to enter the ball room in the even
ilg
She wore dress of black lace with a
slice veless cOrsage that displayed a pair
OF superb arms and smOo, h white n. ok.
He thought, as he stood there looking
past her into the ball room, that no
carving could be more classic than her
profile.
The ball room was full promenaders
and thew passed out on the veranda and
sat talking in the moonlight.
Occasionally they would return and
music permitted, until the crowd of
clock struck L.
81 really must go now" said Miss
Vincent rising. "There is l o'clock.
and must leave at s Good night"
(which way do you 60 tom ,rrow?'
asked Lawrence.
EAST. must be at home by the
20th"
"And where is homer"
She gave the name Of town about so
miles distant from the town where he lived
''l'll see you in the m rning," he said.
81 believe we leave this place on the
same train, so won't say good.by. And
now just one more dr. nce-the last"
Down the long gallery they fl 'ated
in the shadow anu out into the light his
clasp gradually tightening rs they went
her face az 4inst hi shoulder, and his
headb. Mt forward until his cheek touched
her hair
The music ceased SUI idenly, but the
arm about her waist did not relax. She
gave furtive, upward glance, then
dropped her eyes.
With swift movement of his left hand
he drew her arm up unit it encircled
his neck, leaned fl rward and kissed her.
She darted away like a swallow and he
caught last glimpse of her as she
turned corner of the stairway.
| When Lawrence came down to break
| fast ext morning it was nealry 8 o'clock
The early train had gone. So had Miss
| Vincent.
1t was summer again. The work Law
renee cOnteml lated year ago was
| finished. He had acted on the sugges-
ton of his critic; he had turn Pegasus
out to Craze and given his attention to
prose.
| The result was a NOVELETTE, story of
day called ''Eu Route" which he as
sured his frieuds was suggested by all
| incident of his western trip.
The book had b. en- published, and the
reviewers, to use his own phrase, had
let him down easy" and he was much
surprised to fluid hims If gently and
affably II. ated by the Dispatch.
The writer was not surprised to find
so Indifferent poet capable of produce
ing tale so pleasing and graceful, 50
full Of ft1ici,Ous description, so fresh
and unhackneyed,
1t was understood that the young man
was under q solemn promise never
again to attempt verse, and In cOnsidera-
ton of this assurance and the promise OF
succt IS held out by the latter work, it
was bur just that he public should ex-
| LiDguish its resentment and take the au-
| thor to fo'g,vil aid indulgent bosom.
There foil ,Wed u criticism in which
the claims of the book were seriously
| treated, and by the time Lawrence had
finished the perusal he was thinking that
| after all he might have been little too
! fierce in his resentment upon previous
occasion.
There arose within him a desire to
make amends in some way for his own
derision of this person, who, however,
hard upon him at first, was clearly with
out malice in the matter, and had, no
doubt, in each instance expressed an
honest conviction. He wrote note in
" ich he acknowledge the courtesy and
asked leave to call and thank the writer
IN person He had few copies hat had
been handsomely bound, intended as
souvenirs for his friends. He would be
most happy to present one as token Of
his appreciation.
.Nhe reply to his friendly overture was
written upon card, across the upper
left baud corner OF which was the day OF
the week in gilt lettering; on the oppo-
site corner was pen and ink sketch of
ST. George in the act of vaDquishing the
dragon. Below was written:
miss Damon will be at home to Mr..
Lawrence this evening at O'Clock. No.
7O5 West Broadway"
This sketch, despite the limited space
it occupied, was spirited and indicated Il
knowledge of her unf altering sobriquet.
AS he looked up at his own sketch upon
the wall he was con scious Of a strong
impulse to destroy it.
AIS O'clock that evening Lawrence,
bearing his peace offering In gilt and
morocco, rang Miss D.mon's bell. He
was ushered iutO the parlor and in few
minutes he heard rustling of drapely
beh nd him.
AS he arose he encountered slender
figure in toilet of black lace.
''Miss Vincent" he said exultiDgly, 81
have been looking for you every here.
have written you innumerable letters,
and have been four times to that horrid
hole Of town where you said you lived.
Why did you deceive me 80 cruel W.
"Why did l deceive you? Well, did
not think it would add anything to your
pleasure just then to know the truth"
A horrible presentiment seized him.
''rhen -then-yOur name isis not
Vincent?''
| ssVoc. lioo Vinoont DamOn