The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1913-06-27
HIS BLESSED DAMOZEL
BY lola FORESTER.

Creston discovered the little book
on the lower left hand shelf in the
back of the shop. He had been hunt
ing a 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 it eau
| tiously to his face. The soft hand
| fooled. fawn leather was odorous with
some indefnable 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
came1s splashed up against the golden
sky.
He stood a moment, crushing 1t
trresolutely 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 Rosetti's ethereal lady of the
deep blue found her way on those
| huge dusty architectural tones in
fuckers bookshop?
"Er-Tucker, 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'
TONS"
mot for sale," returned Tucker.
1.-THE book does not belong to me-
Creston looked at the inner blank
leaf It bore a name, Wanda
Philips" It sang in his brain as he
went out.
Every time he came back to the
shop he found the little book in its
place on top of Nuremberg etchings
and old Munich studies, And each
time he held it, he would look at the
name and turn the pages over with
q curious thrill of expectancy.
How long will you wait for her to
come back?" he asked one day.
Tucker glanced up sharply as II
someone had broken lock on very
private drawer in his life
"She may come any day." he told
him gruffy. ut stays there until she
does"
Il would be willing to return it to
her If you know where she livesP
Tucker considered the request
stroking his white beard thoughtfully
Suddenly the old fellow tilted his
head to one side and chuckled.
"She left in tiff, Mr.. Creston
She had been dropping in here off and
on for a year, picking up one book
after another One day I found that
volume of Rosetti and it seemed to be
long to her. The day she left 1t, she
came to sell me back two or three
books, and l would not take them. "
you've wasted time waiting for hel
to come back. Tell me where she
| lives, and / will take the book back
Let me take the book with me now
Take It," said Tucker, slowly.
Creston went down Lexington ave
| nue. straight towards his own home
| square. But it is curious square
| One short block makes all the differ
| ence In it's caste environment. Ores
| ton occupied very comfortable bach
| eAor suite on its south side. The ole
studio building was east Of Third
| avenue.
He was bending over the narrow
| line of name plates at the press
| buttons when he caught the scent
and turned. She was slipping her key
| into the lock of the door, a splendel
| girl with q mass Of wind blown red
dish hair, and an eager, ivory white
| face. 1t was his Blessed Damozel with
| New York snow fakes on her little
| fur toque, and even in the narrow
| marble vestibule he knew that faint
fragrance that had chung about the
little book. He drew 1t from his coat
! pocket and held it out to her.
"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 fol
| It,"
HE sent you with it?" He liked
| the little ring Of challenge in the tone
OF this. II thought had lost 1t some
where else"
II tried to buy it from the old man
but he would not sell Of course" he
stumbled on recklessly. you see II
lis a very rare little book. l wanted
to copy one or two bits from 1t If
| might. / would return it 'soon.''
She held It out to him quickly.
IF you are friend Of Mr.. fuckers
I don't mind"
II am friend said Creston, grave
| ly, "and more, am your neighbor.
| live just over in Gramercy park"
| You might mail it," she suggested
II don't want to mail it,"
Tucker hardly seemed to notice
| either of them the next day. He sat
| buried behind a newly discovered
treasure while they talked.
"The book is up in my den, Tucker.
and SO is she. We were married yes.
terday."