The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-11-30
They passed out on the veranda and sat

music permitted, until tho crowd Of
dancers began to thin and the parlor clock
struck l.
IL really must go now" said Miss Vim
cent rising. There is o'clock. and must
leave ut 8. Good night"
(which way do you go tomorrow" asked
Lawrence.
East. must he at home by the Goth"
"And where is homer"
She gave the name of n village about
fifty miles distant from the town whcro he
lived
''I'll see you in the morning." he said
II believe we leave this place on tho same
train, SO won't say goodby And now
just one more dance-the last"
Down the long gallery they foated into
the shadow and out into the light. his clasp
gradually tightening us they went, her
face against his shoulder and his head bent
forward until his cheek touched her hair.
The music ceased suddenly, but the arm
about her waist did not relax. She gave a
furtive. upward glance. then dropped her
eyes.
With swift movement of his left hand
he drew her arm up until it encirccd his
neck, leaned forward and kissed her She
darted away like Il swallow, and he caught
n last glimpse of her as she turned 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 II NOVELETTE, story of n
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 alTnbly
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 lust
that the public shoud extinguish it's re-
sentiment and take ne author to forgiv-
inS and indu.gcnt bosom.
There followed IL criticism in which the
claims cf the book were seriously treated
and blythe time Lawrence had finished the
pcrusal he was thinking that after all he
might have been little too fierce in his re-
scntmcn, upon previous occasion.
There arose within him desire to make
amends III some way for his own derison
of this person, who, however, hard upon
him ut first, was clearly without malice in
the matter, and had no doubt i'll each in.
stance expressed an honest conviction
% in, xx.l,i D.
edged the courtesy and asked leave to call
and thank the writer in person. He had Il
few copies that had been handsomely
bound, intended as souvenirs for his friends.
He would be most happy to present one us
token of his appreciation
The reply to his friendly overture WIS
written upon n card, across the upper left
hand corner of which was the day of the
week in gilt lettering; on the opposite cor
ner was pen and ink sketch of st. George
in the act of vanquishing the dragon. BE
low was written:
Miss Damon will be ut home to Mr.
Lawrence this evening at s o'clock I0s
West Broadway"
This sketch, despite the limited space i,
occupied, was spirited, and indicated q
knowledge of her unflattering sobriquet
AS he looked up ut his own sketch upon
the wall he was conscious of a strong i'm.
pulse to destroy it.
AT 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 slender
figure in toilet of black lace.
Miss Vincent" he said exultingly. 81
have been looking for you everywhere
have written you nnumerable letters. and
have been four times to that horrid hole
of town where you said you lived. Why
did you deceive ME so cruelly?"
"Why did l deceive your 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 course2" he faltered
YES"
Don't you think you have taken rather
mean advantage of me?"
mo; l think the truth would have
spoiled very pleasant day"
a week or two later, rs Lawrence was
sitting in his room, his friend Harrison
came in, took n seat OH the opposite side oil
viz '"DiSi etii'i, oilCt SdZiuo Rb Ills nOSL lOI
some time with most lugubrious expires
sion, said:
odd man, is this all true that hear
about you?'
What do you hear?"
THAT you have actually caught the
dragon"
Lawrence laughed.
what does it mcan?" persisted Harri
son.
ut means that ut 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 hepointed to the sketch on