Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-12-02
THE DRAGON.


Paul Dunbar
THE DRAGON.
The combination of circumstances that
ssrved to bring Miss Damon to IL money
less, but determined, was known to nobody.
All that any one knew of her was inn
| parted by brief statement made by the
editor OF The Dispatch to the effect that on
! certain clustering afternoon in January
i she had walked into the Office and asked
for employment.
Hehad 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 articles,
struck at one or two local atrocities, and
in little while made an enviable reputa-
ton for bitterness and cynicism. Her name
got OUT and after that everything that ap-
peared in the paper was unhesitatingly set
down to her credit.
She was not known outside of the office,
but the impressions that prevailed concern
ing her were not fattering.
1t was generally agreed that she knew
too much to be young, was too cynical to
be agreeable, and there was theory cur
rent among the papers readers that she
had been crossed in love and disappointed
in her literary aspirations
She did her work in the daytime, and
was little more than myth to the men
who spent their nights in journalistic har-
ness. They were frequently questioned
about her, and they generally answered all
queries 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 book of verses appeared,
written by a gentleman of Ii, 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 re.
mark that the verses were not uniformly
bad, but ranged from bad to very bad; and
then mercilessly impaled the author to the
| extent of three quarters of a column.
Lawrence had never forgiven her. He
referred to her ever afterward as "the
dragon" and the Imperial dragon" The
criticised versifer experienced some salts
faction 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 a pencil, he made a
sketch Of her which embodied the popular
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
mt tn ha fp0 nIJf n
summary fashion, however, and though
for time he attempted nothing in a liter
airy way, he was casting about for fresh
motive, resolved at 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 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 ordered for the day.
For the last half hour the gallery in
tourists, ready to begin the days sight
seeing, and the double line of vehicles
drawn up outside were being loaded with
all possible dispatch.
AS Lawrence emerged from the dining
room the last wagon drove up to the door,
and a lady was on the point of getting in.
when the driver said:
beg your pardon, ma'am, but this car
riage is for the gentleman.
'But ordered carriage for this morn
ing"
"Your order was too late. They were
Ill engaged This was the last one in the
stables. can give you one tol borrow"
II shall not be here tomorrow"
MAYBE the gentleman's going 10 stay
over day or two and would just as soon
drive tomorrow" suggested the driver
By this time Lawrence had come up.
eff YOU can give me horse and saddle it
| will answer my purpose just as WELL" he
| said.
81 haven't got horse"
Gas | leave tomorrow on the early
train" said Lawrence, Il cannot conven
iently postpone my drive. But we. are
probably going in the same direction, and
should be delighted to accommodate you
| with a seat in the vehicle"
There was nothing else to be done. She
accepted with thanks.
Lawrence handed her into the carriage
and thought, as their eyes met, that sht
was not an unpronlising companion He
| was a gregarious animal. He hated be
| ing alone, especially in crowd, and a
| chance acquaintance was not to be de
| spised.
| He handed her his card. She looked a
| the name, raised her brows slightly
dropped the card into her handbag. al
| then looking squarely at him, said:
my name is Vincent"
| It was a delightful drive, and neither
regretted the circumstances that brought
them together. They dined at the SANE
table and finished up the sights in thu,
afternoon.
| He met her at the door as she was a5ou
to enter the ballroom in the evening.
She wore a dress CT black lace, with /,
sleeveless corsage that displayed a pair OF
superb arms and smooth, white neck.
| He thought, as he stood there looking past
| her into the ballroom, that no carving
| could be more classic than her profile
The ballroom was full of promenaders.
|
talking in the moonlight.
Occasionally they would return and be
guile the intervals, waltzing when the
music permitted until the crowd @!
| dancers began to thin and the parlor clock
struck l.
II really must go now" said Miss Vim
| cent rising. '"There is o'clock. and must
leave at s. Good night"
(Which way do you go tomorrow" asked
Lawrence.
''East. l must be at home by the Goth. :
| ''And where is homer"
| 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
Il believe we leave this place on the 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 as they went, her
Roo 81 io c,,,t