The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-06-18
THE IMPERIAL DRAGON.

nobody. All that any one knew OF her was
impaired by brief statement made by the
editor Of The Dispatch to the effect thas
on a certain clustering afternoon in Janu-
arv she had walked into the office and
asked for employment He had declined
her services with thanks. but she came
again aud again, until one day she found
vacant desk. sat down ut il, and had been
there ever since.
She wrote two or three caustic articles.
struck al one OF two local atrocities, ana IN
q little while made an unenyable Teputa-
tion for bitterness and cynicism. Her name
cot out. and after that everything malicious
and pupgent that appeared IN the paper
was unEesitatingly set down TO her credit.
She was not known outside Of the Office,
Int the inlpres sions that prevailed concern
ing her were not flattering. Ii was gen
prallv agreed that she knew too much to be
Young. was too cynical to be agreeable, and
there was q theory current among the
papers readers that she had been crossed
In love and disappointed in her literary
aspirations She did her work IN tue day
time. and was little more than myth 10 the
men who spent their nights 10 J9urnahsllc
harness. They were frequently questioned
about her, aud they generaiIy answered an
ment that she did not run with the gang.
Soon after she began her mark IN her new
Sphere a book of verses appeared, written
by a gentleman of L., George Lawrence,
Copies were sent 10 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 uniformly PAD, Dut
ranged from bad 10 very bad, and then mer-
cileSsly imp8led the author 10 the extent OF
three-QuaTteTs Of a column
Lawrence had never forgiven her. BE
referred to her ever afteTWaTd as 1.-THE
d-aq0D'' and ''the imperial dragon The
name seemed appropriate and u was GeneT-
ally adopted. 'Ihs criticized yersIher eX-
peTenced some satisfaction at having thus
baptized her with indignation, but he by no
means considered himself avenged, ana
at the mere mention Of her name DIS mus
clps grew rigid and every artery thTc bbed
with 6 wild desire for vengeance. Being
clever with pencil he made sketch OF
her which embodied the popular impression
that she was a shTewish person Of uncer-
tain age, and Il was a source Of endless
amusement 10 himself and friends. II
must be confessed that Miss Dam0n's was
not the only adverse criticism. and Law
renee was a good deal depressed, but not
wholly subdued. He did not intend 10 be
sBuffed out in this summary fashion, how
ever. and though for time be attempted
nothing in q literary way, ne was casting
about for fresh motive, resolved al DO dis
tant 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 re-
turned he would 60 10 work In earnest.
Il was a glorious day, bright and cool,
though it vas the middle Of July; the sun
was just rising over the eastern rim Of the
cnp-shaped valley; luminous mist shaG'
ing from pink 10 purple, was Toiilng away
from Pike's Peak, and the bits Of sky show
ing between the seTTated ridges opposite
we're deeply blue.
Lawrence, on his way to California, had
stopped to spend aday at Manit0u. lie had
reached the springs the evening before, and
was finishing his breakfast this bright morn
ing in the great Sahara Of a dining-room.
Wnen the waiter came in TO announce the
carriage he had ordered for the day. For
the last half hour the gallery 10 front OF the
hotel had been thIOnEed with tourists ready
70 begin the days sightseeing, and tile
double line Of vehicles drawn up outside
we're being loaded with all possible dispatch.
AS Lawrence emerged from the dlDing-rOom
the last wagon drove up TO the door and
lady was on the point Of getting in when the
driver said:
BEG your pardon. ma'am, but this car
rage is for the gentlemen"
But I ordered a carriage for this morn
ing"
Your order was too late. They were
all engaged. This was the last one in the
stables. I can give you one tomorrow"
4 shall not be here Tomorrow"
Maybe the gentleman is going to stay
over q day or two and would just as soon
drive tomorrow" suggested the driver.
By this time Lawrence had come up.
"lf you can give me a horse and saddle
it will answer my purpose just as WELL" he
said.
4 havu't got a horse"
"As l leave tomorrow on the early
train" said Lawrence, Il cannot convent
emily postpone my drive But we are prob
ably going in the same direction, and |
should be delighted 10 accommodate you
with 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 she was not an unpTOmising
companion. He was gTegarous animal
lie hated being alone, especially in a crowd
and chance acquaintance was not to be
despised he handed her his card. She
looked at tie name, raised her brows slight
y, dropped the card into her handbag, and
then, looking sQuarely at him, said:
My name is Vincent"
be called her Miss Vincent at a ventura.
She did not correct him. aud they fell to
discussing the points Of interest on the way.
II was delightful drive, aud neither
regretted the circumstance that brought
them together They dined at the same
table, finished I'D the sights in the after
noon, and getting In rather late, took sup
per tete-a-tete IN corner Of the deserted
dinlng-rOOm. That evening the rooms we're
cleared for ball. He met her at the door
as she was about TO enter the ballroom
She wore a dress Of black lace with a
sleeveless cOrssge that displayed pair of
superb arms and a smooth white neck. The
sharp contrast OF her hair and dress with
the s:ngulaTiy fair complexion made her
look Ike a black and white cameo and he
thought IS she stood there looking past him
mo the ballroom that DO carving could be
classic than her profile.
Shall we 60 in there?" she asked. 'It
seems dTeadfuily warm and crowded"
Then suppose we stay here"
1 believe It Is much pleasanter here"
she answered. ~
The ballroom was full Of promanadars
They passed out on the yeranda and sat
talking In the moonlight. Occasionally
they would return and beguile thu intervals
Waiting when the music permitted. untii
the crowd OF dancers began to thin and The
parlOr clock struck one.
Il really must 90 now" said Miss yin
cent, rising. There is l O'clock. and
leave at S. Goodnight"
w hlch way do you 90 tomorrow p
East. must be home by the TWEEN
And where is home?'
She gave the name Of the village sbout X
miles distant from the town where he lived
III see you in the morning" he said
Il believe we leave this place on the sam.
train, 30 l won't say Eood-bY. And now
just one more dance-the LAST
Down the long gallery thew Aosted IN,
the shadow and out into the light. his ciasr
gradually tightening rs they went. her fac,
against his shoulder and his head bent for
ward until his cheek touched her hair. IN,
music ceased seq suddenly, but the arm abou
her waist did not relax. She gave \ furtiva
upward glance, then dropped her ewes
Win swift movement Of his left hand h,
drew Der arm up until it encircled his necI
leaned forward and kissed her. She dsTtef
away Ike swallow, and he caught a las
stairway NA VI eH'