St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1893-01-07
THE IMPERIAL DRAGON

The combination of circumstances tina
served to bring Miss Damon to L.
moneyless but determined was known t.
nobody. Ali that anyone knew of hel
was impaired by a brief statement made
BY the editor of the Dispatch to the eff
feet that On 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 a vacant desk, sat down at
1t, 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
malicious and pungent that appeared in
the paper was unhesitatingly set down to
her credit.
She was not known outside Of the Of
fee, but the impressions that prevailed
concerning her were not fattering. 1t
was generally agreed that she knew too
much to be young, was too cynical to be
d
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 harness. They
were frequently questioned about her,
and they generally answered all queries
by the broad but meaning statement 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 4, 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 remark 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 name seemed appropriate and it was
generally adopted. The criticised
versifer experienced some satisfaction at
having thus baptized ner 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 throbbcd with wild desire for
vengeance. Being clever with pencil,
he made a sketch of her which embodied
the popular impression that she was
shrewish person of uncertain age, and it
was a source of endless amusement to
himself and friends. It must be con-
fessed that Miss Damon's was not the
on y adverse criticism, and Lawrence was
a good deal depressed, but not wholly
subdued. He did not intend to be snuffed
out in this summary fashion, however,
and though for a long time he attempted
nothing in literary way, he was casting
about for fresh motive, resolved at no
distant date to make another effort, |
''The Dragon" had recommended prose:
be 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.
1t twas aglorious day, bright and cool,
;hough it was the middle Of July; the
sun was just rising over the eastern rim
If the cup-shaped valley; luminous
mist shading from pink to purple was
'olllng away from Pixies Peak, and the
oits of sky showing between the serrated
idges opposite were deeply blue.
Lawrence, on his way to California,
lad stopped to spend day at Manitou.
lie had reached the springs the evening
before, and was finishing his breakfast
his bright morning in the great Sahara
If diningroom when the waiter came
n to announce the carriage he had Or
Tered for the day. For the last half hour
he gallery in front of the hotel had been
hronged with tourists ready to begin the
lays sightseeing, and the double line of
ehicles drawn up outside were being
oaded with all possible dispatch. As
lawrence emerged from the dining-room
he last wagon drove up to the door, and
lady was on the point of getting in
Vhen the driver said:
BEG your pardon, ma'am, but this
arriage is for the gentleman.
But I ordered carriage for this morn
1g."
"Your order was too late. They were
IL engaged. This was the last one in
ae stables. can give you one to-mor- (
,w."
II shall not be here tomorrow.
''Maybe the gentleman's going to
5ay over day or two and would Just as
Don drive Tomorrow" suggested the
river. Il
By this time Lawrence had come up.
IF you can give me horse and saddle &
will answer my purpose just as well,n
e said. I
II haven't got horse"
Gas I leave tomorrow on the early i
ain" said Lawrence, II can not con-
eniently postpone m y drive. But we
re probably going in the same direc- S
on, and I should be delighted to c
accommodate you with seat In the ve- {
icls." X