The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-07-15
HIS BLESSED DAMOzEL
q, lola FOR 7EsTER.

ing secondhand copy of "Vieux
Paris" and here on top OF the dusty
calf-bound folios lay the fragile. fra
| grant volume.
It was fragrant. He lifted 1t eau
tiously to his face. The soft hand
fooled, fawn leather was odorous with
some indefinable scent that stole along
the nerves and stirred old dreams
Creston half closed his eyes and
thought of wide desert reaches and a
little purple silhouette of moving
camels splashed up against the golden
| sky.
He stood a moment, crushing II
irresolutely in his hand, rolling the
velvety leather, feeling the exQuisite
texture Of the paper, running his eyes
over the old familiar lines,
THE Blessed Damozel leaned out,
From the gold bar Of heaven"
How under the light Of Manhattan's
sky had Rosettis ethereal lady Of the
deep blue found her way on those
huge dusty architectural tones in
fuckers bookshop?
"ErTucker, you might put this In
with the rest" Creston remarked quite
casually. when he had finished his
selections.
Old Tucker glanced sidelong from
the book he was enjoying.
That one. Mr.. Creston?" he asked,
sitting up suddenly.
This little book Of Rosetti selec.
tions."
Not for SALE" returned Tucker
THE book does not belong to me-"
Creston looked at the inner blank
leaf. 1t bore a name. Wanda
Philips" 1t sang in his brain as he
went out.
Every time he came bac': to the
shop he found the little book IA Its
place on top Of Nuremberg c.chings
and old Munich studies. And each
time he held It, he would look az the
name and turn the pages over with
a curious thrill Of expectancy.
How long will you walt for her to
come back?" he asked one day.
Tucker glanced up sharply as II
someone had broken lock On a very
private drawer In his life.
"She may come any day" he told
him gruffly. 1T stays there until she
does"
81 would be willing to return 1t to
her II you know where she lives?'
Tucker considered the request
stroking his white beard thoughtfully
Suddenly the old fellow tilted his
head to one side and chuckled
she left In a tiff, Mr.. erosion.
She had been dropping In here off and
on for year, picking up one look
after another. One day / found that
volume of Rosetti and 1t seemed 10 be.
long to her The day she left il. she
came to sell me back two CT three
books, and ! would not take them
you've wasted time w ting for her
to come back. Tell me where she
lives, all | will take the book back
Let me Ike the book with ms cow
Take IT," said Tucker, slowly.
Crestcu went down Lexington ave,
nue. straight towards his own home
square. But II is a curious square.
One short block makes ell the differ
ence In its caste environment. Cres'
ton occupied very comfortaD'5 bach
elor suite on its south side. III" old
studio building was east OF laird
avenue.
He was bending over the narrow
line Of name plates at Tie press
buttons when he caught the scent
and turned. She was slipping her key
into the lock of the door, a spleader
girl with a mass OF wind blown red
dish hair, and an eager. ivory white
face It was his Blessed Damozs( with
New York SNOW fakes en- her little
fur toque, and even In the narrow
marble vestibule he knew thai faint
fragrance that had chung abou: the
little book He drew II from his coat
pocket and held 1t out to hor.
"Oh, where did you get it:" Just
the least emphasis on the pronoun
Mr.. Tucker was certain you had
been ILL., or you would have come for
It,"
He sent you with it?' lie liked
the little ring OF challenge in the tone
of this. "i though. Ead lost It some
where else"
II tried tC bu" It from the old man
but he would not sell OF course" he
stumbled on recklessly. You see II
Is a very rare little book. ] vented
to copy one or two bits from it If |
might. would return Il sn'".
She held It OFT to him 44l-A;y.
IF you are a friend OF Sir. fuckers,
I don't mind"
II am friend" said Creston, grave.
ly, and more. am your neighbor !
live just over In G-ameroy park"
You might mai. it," she suggested
Il don't want 70 mail Il"
Tucker hardly seemed to notice
either Of them the next day. He sat
buried behind a newly discovered
treasure while they talked.
THE book ia up in my den, Tacker
and so is she We were mar led yes
terday,"