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


alone, especially In a crowd, and d
chance acquaintance was not to be de-
spised. lie handed her his card. She
looked at the name, raised her brows
slightly, dropped the card into her hand
bag, and then, looking squarely at him,
said =
my name is Vincent"
He called her Miss Vincent at ven
ture. She did not correct him, and they
fell to discussing the points Of interest
on the way.
1t was delightful drive, and neither
regretted the circumstance that brought
them together. They dined at the same
table, finished up the sights In the after
noon, and, getting in rather late, took
supper tete-a-tete in a corner of the de-
serted dining room. - That evening the
rooms were cleared for ball He met
her at the door as she was about to enter
the ballroom.
She wore dress of black lace with a
sleeveless coisagc that displayed pair Of
superb arms and smooth. white neck.
The sharp contrast of her hair and dress
with the singularly fair complexion made
her look like black and white cameo and
he thought us he stood there looking past
him into the ballroom that no carving
could be more classic than her profile.
''Shall we go in therel" she asked. at
seems dreadfuhy warm and crowded"
"Then suppose we stay here"
81 believe it is much pleasanter here, :"
she answered.
The ballroom was full of promenaders
hAU N hn In nd
sat talking in the moonlight. Occasion
ally they would return and beguile the
intervals, waltzing when the music per-
mitted, until the crowd of dancers began
to thin and the parlor clock struck 1.
81 really must go now, " said Miss Vim.
cent, rising. "There is o'clock and
must leave ut 8"
(Which way do you go tomorrow"
asked Lawrence.
EAST. l must be home by the
GOTH"
She gave the name of village about
fifty miles distant from the town where
he lived.
''I'll see you in the morning." he said.
II believe we leave this place ON the
same train, so / won't say good-by. And
now, just one more dance-the last"
Down the long gallery they foated
into the shadow and out into the light,
his grasp gradually tightening as they
went, her face against his shoulder, and
his head bent forward until his check
touched her hair. The music ceased
suddenly, but the arm about her waist
did not relax. She gave a furtive up
ward glance, then dropped her eyes.
With 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 swallow, and he
caught last glimpse of her as she turned
a corner of the stairway.
When Lawrence came down to break
fast next morningit was nearly 0o'clock.
The early train had gone. SO had Miss
Vincent
1t was summer again. The work Law.
renee contemplated year ago was
finished. He had acted on the sugges-
ton of his critic; he had turned Pegasus
out to Craze and given his attention to
prose- The result was NOVELETTE, story
of day-calIcd "En Route" which he
assured his friends was suggested by an
incident of his western trip. The book
had been published, aud the reviewers,
to use his own phrase, had '1et him
down easy" and he was much surprised
TO find himself gently and affably treated
by the Dispatch. The writer was not
surprised to find so indifferent a poet
capable of producing a tale so pleasing
and graceful, so full of felicitous de-
scription, so fresh and unhackneyed. 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 sue
cess held out by the latter work, it was
but just that the public should extin-
guish its resentment aud take the author
to 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 thinking that,
after all, he might have been a little too
fierce in his resentment upon a previous
occasion. There arose within him de-
sire to make amends in some way for his
own derision of this person, who, how
ever hard upon him at first, was clearly
without malice in the matter, and had no
doubt in each instance expressed an hon
est conviction. He wrote a note in
which he acknowledged the courtesy and
asked leave TO call and thank the writer
in person. He had few copies that had
been handsomely bound, intended as
souvenirs for his friends. He would be
most happy to present one as token of
his appreciation.
The reply to his friendly overture was
written upon card across the upper left
Rand corner of which was the day of the
week in gilt lettering; on the opposite
corner was pen-and-ink sketch Of sc.
George in the act of vanquishing the
dragon. Below was written:
'sMiss Damon will be at home to Mr..
Lawrence this evening at 8 o'clock, 705
West Brosdway."
This sketch, despite the limited space
it occupied, was spirited, and indicated
a knowledge Of her unfatteting sobriquet.
As he hooked UP at his own sketch upon
the wall he was conscious of strong i'm
pulse to destroy it.
Ats O'Clock that evening Lawrence,
bearing his peace offering coquettishly
bound in gilt and morocco, rung Miss
Damon's bell. He was ushered into the
parlor, and int few moments heard a
rustling Of drapery behind him. AS he
arose he encountered a'slender figure in
a toilet of black lace.
''NIis Vincent" he said exulting, IL
have been looking for you everywhere.
have written you innumerable letters,