The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-12-01

THE IMPERIAL DRAGON
The combination of circumstances
that served to bring Miss Damon to
L. moneyless but determined was
known to nobody. All that any one
knew OF her was impaired bv brief
statement made by the editor of the
DiSpatci to the effect that on a 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 ar
tir'es. struck ut one or two local atroci-
ties, and in little while made IN en-
Yiable reputation for bitterness and
cyniciSm. Her name got ont. and
after that everything that appeared in
the paper was unhgsitatingly set down
to her credit
she was not known outside Of the Of
tc but the Impressions that prevailed
concerning her were not tiattcrinu. It
was generally agreed that she knew
too much 70 be young, was too cyn-
ical 10 be agreeable. and there was g
theory current among the paper's
readers that she had been crossed in
love and disappointed in her literary
aspirations. She did her work in the
daytime md was little more than q
myth - the men who spent their
nights in journalistic harness. They
were frequently questioned about her,
and they generally answered all que
rics By the broad but meaning state
ment that she did not run with the
gang"
Soon after she began her mark in
her new sphere a book of verses ap-
peared, 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 prefaccl her criticism with the
remark that the verses were not uni
formIy bad. but ranged from bad to
very bad. and then mercilcsslv i'm
paled tse authorize the extent Of three
quarters Of a column.
Lawrence had never forgiven her.
He referred 60 her ever afterward rs
The Dragon and the "Imperial Dra-
gon.' The name seemed appropriate,
and it was generally adopted. The
criticised Vcrsiiier experienced some
satisfaction al having thus baptized
her with indignation, bat he by nc
means considered himself avenged,
ana a the mere mention.of her name
his muscles grew rigid. and every ar
terry tArobbeJ with wild desire for
vengeance. Being clever with a pen
ell be made q sketch Of her which en-
bodied the popular impression that she
was a ShreWiSh pct-aI uf uncertain
age, and il was q source uf endless
amusement to himself and friends. 1t
must be confessed chat Miss DamOn's
was not the only adverse criticism,
and Lawrence was good deal de-
pressed but not wholly subdued. He
did not intend to be snuffed out in this
summary fashion, however, and
though for time he attempted moth
ing in literary way, he was CASTING
about for Il fresh motive. resolved ut
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 friends i'll 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 east
ern rim of the cup-shaped valley, a
luminous mist shading from pink to
purple was rolling away from Pixies
Peak, md the bits of sky showing be
tween the scrratcd ridges opposite
were deeply blue
Lawrence, on his way to California,
had stopped 20 spend Il day at Mani
tou. He had reached the spring. the
evening before, and was finishing his
breakfast this bright morning in the
great Sahara in a dining-room when
the waiter came in to announce the
carriage he had ordered for the day.
For the last half hour the gallery IN
front Of the hotel had been thronget
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 laSI wagon uEoNe up 10 lHe
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 | ordered a 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
Tomorrow
i shall not be here tomorrow"
Maybe the gentleman's going to
stay over day or two. and would just
a. soon drive tomorrow, suggested
the driver.
By this time Lawrence had come up.
If you can give me 4 horse and
saddle it will answer my purpose just
as WELL, he said
81 haven't got horse"
"AS leave tomorrow on the early
train" said Lawrence. 4 can not con
veniently postpone my drive. But we
are probably going in the same direc-
ton, and l should be delighted % ac-
commodate you with seat in the
~ahiala