Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1892-11-17
HE MARRIED HIS CRITIC.
Fro n Waverly Magazine.]

uI that served to bring Miss Damon
to l. money less but deter
mined was known to nobody. All
that any one knew OF her was
impaired by brief statement
made bv the editor of the Dispatch to
the effect that on a certain
clustering afternoon in January she had
walked in'O the Office and asked for
employment.
He had declined her services with
thanks, but she came again and again,
until one day she found a vacant desk,
sat down at it and had been there ever
since.
She wrote two or three caustic arti-
Giles, struck at one or two local atroci-
ties and in little while made an envia-
BILE reputation for bitterness and cyni-
cism. Her name got out, and after that
everything that appeared in the paper
was unhesitatingly set down to her
credit.
She was not known outside of the
office, but the impressions that prevailed
concerning her " ere not flattering.
1t was generally agreed that she knew
too much to be young, was too cynical
to be agreeable, there was theory cur.
rent among the papers readers that she
had been crossed in love and disappoint-
ed in her literary aspirations.
She did her work in the aytime, and
was little more than myth to the men
who spent their nights in journalistic
harness. They were frequently ques-
toned about her, and they generally
answered all queries by the broad but
meaning statement that she did not s'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 uni
formly bad, but ranged from bad to very
bad, and then mercilessly impaled the
author to the extent Of three quarters of
q column.
Lawrence had never forgiven her. He
referred to her ever afterward AS ''Tne
Dragon" and the "Imperial d 'agon.'
The criticised versifier experienced some
satisfaction at having thus baptized her
with Indignation, but he by no means
considered himself avenged, and at the
mere mention of her name his muscles
grew rigid and every artery throbbed
with wild desire for vengeance.
Being clever with the pencil he made
sketch of her which embodied the pop
ular impression that she was shrewish
person of uncertain age, and it was
source of endless amusement to himself
and friends.
Lawrence was good deal depressed,
but he did not intend to be snuffed out
in this summary fashion, however, and
though for time he attempted nothing
in literary way, he was casting about
for fresh motive, resolved at no dis
tant date to make another effort. !.
1.-THE Dragon had recommended
prose he would try prose.
In the mean time 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.
Lawrence, on his way to California
had stopped to spend day at Manitou.
He had reached the springs the evening
before, and was finishing his breakfast
this bright morning in the great Sahara
of dining room when the waiter came
in to announce the carriage he had Or
dered for the day.
For the last half hour the gallery in
front of the hotel had been throDged
with tourists, ready to begin the days
Sightseeing, and the double line OF We
hicles drawn up outside we're being load
ed with all possible dispatch
AS Lawrence emerged from the dining
room the last wagon drove up to the
door, and q lady was on the point OF
getting in when the driver said:
"Beg Jour pardon, ma'am, but this
carriage is for the gentleman"
"But I ordered carriage for this
morning"
"Your order was too late. They were
all engaged. This was the last one in
the stables. can give you one to-moI'
row."
81 shall not be here tomorrow"
"Maybe the gentleman's 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
s.ff you can give me horse and sad
die it will answer just as well" he said
81 haven't got a horse"
GAS | leave tomorrow on the early
train, said Lawrence, "f cannot con
yeniently postpone my drive. But W.
are probably goirg in the same direction
and [ should be delighted to accommo
date YOU with seat in the vehicle"
There was nothing else to be done
She accept ed with thanks.
Lawrence handed her into the carriage
and thought as their eyes met, that gu
was not an uBpromising companion. IL
WAS gregarious animal. He hate'
being alone, especially in a crowd, ant