The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1913-01-30
HIS BLESSED DANCED
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

back OF the shop He had been hunt
ing a secondhand copy OF "Vieux
Paris" and here on top OF the dusty
calf folios lay the fragile. fra
grant volume.
1t was fragrant. He lifted it eau
tiously to his face. The soft hand
fooled. fawn leather was odorous with
some indeanable scent that stole along
the nerves and stirred old dreams.
Creston half closed his eyes and
thought OF wide desert reaches and q
little purple silhouette Of moving
canels splashed up against the golden
sky.
He. stood 4 moment, orushink Il
irresolutely in his hand. rolling the
ve!vety 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"
Now 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?
"ErTucker. you might put this in
with the rest" Creston remarked quits
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 Resetti selec
TONS"
Not for SALE" returned Tucker.
1.-The book does not belong to me-"
Creston looked at the inner blank
leaf. 1t bore name, Wanda
Philips" 1t 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 cid Munich studies. And each
time he held it, he would look at the
name and turn the pages over with
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. 1T stays there until she
dOes.''
Il would be willing to return it ID
her II you know where she lives?'
Tucker considered the request
gtroking his white beard thoughtfully
Suddenly the old fellow tilted his
head to one side and chuckled.
rShe left In tiff, Mr.. Creston
She had been dropping In here of and
on for a year, picking up one hook
after another. One day 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 I 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 its caste environment. Ores
ton occupied a very comfortable bach
elor suite on its south side, The 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. splendeI
girl with a mass of wind blown red
dish hair, and an eager, ivory white
face 1t was his Blessed Damozel with
fur toaue. 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.
INF. Tucker was certain you had
been iii, or You would have come fol
f."
HE sent you with itr He liked
the little ring Of challenge in the tone
OF this. Il thought / had lost it 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
Is q very rare little book. wanted
to copy one or two bits from it II
might. I would return it SOON"
She held it out to him quickly.
IF you are friend of Mr. fuckers
/ don't mind"
Il am friend" said Creston. grave
~, land more, / am your neighbor.
i've just over in Gramercy park."
You might mail II" she suggested
II don't want to mail IT,
Tucker hardly seemed to notice
either of them the next day. He sal
buried behind a newly discovered
treasure while they talked.
THE book is up In my den, Tucker
and 80 is she. We were married yes
terday." a