The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-06-05
HIS BLESSED DAMOZEL
b. IzoLA FORESTER.

1t was fragrant. He lifted It 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 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
Soouohy, Whch he udu uulsueu MS
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"
Not for SALE" returned Tucker.
THE book does not belong to me-"
Creston looked at the inner blank
leaf. 1t bore name, Wanda
Philips" It sang in his brain as he
went out.
shop he found the little book IA its
place on top of Nuremberg e:chings
and old Munich studies. And each
time he held It, he would look at the
name and turn the pages over with
a 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 a very
private drawer in his life.
she may come any day." he told
him gruffiy. 1T stays there until she
does
II would be willing to return it 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.
ssChn lnf In Mr.
She had been dropping in here off and
on for a year, picking up one look
after another. One day ! found that
volume of Rosetti and II seemed 10 be-
long to her. The day she left Il, she
came to sell me back two or three
books, and l would not take them"
You've wasted time W ting FOR her
to come back. Tell me where she
lives, ami will take the book back.
Let me lake the book with ms COW"
Take It," said Tucker, slowly.
Creston went down Lexington ave-
square. But 1t is a curious square.
One short block makes all the differ
ence In Its caste environment Cres-
ton occupied a very comfortable bach
elor suite on its south side. Thc old
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 spleader
girl with a mass OF wind blown red
dish hair, and an eager, ivory white
face. 1t was his Blessed Damozsl with
New York snow flakes 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 for
It,"
"He sent you with it?" lie liked
the little ring of challenge in the tone
of this. II thought had lost 1t some
where else"
Il tried to buy 1t from the old man,
but he would not sell Of course he
stumbled on recklessly. You see it
Is very rare little book. wanted
to copy one or two bits from It II |
might. ! would return 1t so";.
She held It out to him quickly.
III you are friend of Mr. fuckers,
don't mind"
81 am a friend" said Crsston, 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 newly discovered
treasure while they talked
THE book is up in my den, Tucker,
and so is she. We were married yes.
.