The Press., 1904-09-21

germ and carries it carefully to his
laboratory. But sportive soph lets
1t loose among the 'co-eds.' with the
disastrous result that every one begins
promiscuously to fall in love with ev-
cry one else. OF course the heroine gets
inoculated and falls In love with the
hero"
"And the professor himself becomes
enamored of the laundress." she put
in laughingly.
Just SOL was working on his 80
liloquy prior to the advent OF the love
lorn youth when you came In"
"And of course began at the end, as
usualr'
"Y-yes. But the rest will come to
me- Here's the last verse anyhow:
"I have found the germ of health,
The germ of melancholia and paresis.
But my reputation's lost
If can't, at any cost,
Describe the germ of love in my great
thesis.
Flows thatT' a.
Great
She smiled encouragement with ap-
preciative eyes and lips. but the light
died from her face as he swung back
to the desk. waving the paper hilari-
ously above his head. She bit back
sigh between her teeth and. laying
the bundle of mail beside him. turned
away. -.
Don't CO." Royce was bending over
his papers and did not look up.
Wont it disturb you If l remainY
mo; it will help me; it always does.
think you are my inspiration"
The blood flashed to her face SO sud-
denly that she was thankful he did
not look up and see 1t. She sank into a
big leather chair before the open fire
and took up magazine. Speed,
Royce's fox terrier, got up from the
rug, stretched himself lazily and jump
ed upon her lap. The young man lift
ed his head and looked across at her
sideways.
what a picture you make" he said
meditatively.
The girl gave an uncOncerned shrug
to hide the suffocating beating Of her
heart I'm her throat. 1t was terrible
to her. the suggestion Of domesticity
I'm their attitude. and to think 1t meant
nothing to him beyond the fact that In
the coy setting OF the ''den" she made
an artistic picture.
Royce was deep In his work again.
scarcely conscious OF the, fact, when
she rose and left the room In answer
to ring at the bell and the maids
knock. He heard the soft pitpat Of
her feet as she ran upstairs a few min
utes later and then the clash OF the
front door. - -., -
Having finished the professors So
iloquy he rose and strobe into the
drawing room just in time to see Lucy
being helped into a high dogcart by q
fair faced individual In immaculate
light overcoat and dogskin gloves The
horses paved the air when the diminu-
tive tiger left their heads and sprang
into his place. Royce had q glimpse
Of Lucy's bright face as 1t was lifted
to her companions. How entirely In
her element she looked! He turned
away from the window, his foot trip
ping in a rug. which he kicked savage
ly back into place. "Confound those
things that are always catching In peo-
pies feet" Well. here was another day
wasted. That stuff he had written was
rot. He strobe back into his room and
tearing the sheets In two flung them
into the waste paper basket. Then he
threw himself YEARLY into the chail
which the girl he called cousin. because
he had known her all his life, though
the tie between them was remote. had
so lately occupied. t1H
How pretty she had looked sitting
there I'm the fire light! What could she
see in that empty headed numskuil
that she should care to go driving with
him? Was she. after all, one of the
girls to whom well weighted pocket
book atoned for any mental lack?
He recalled the evening before when
after a hard days work he had wander
sat playing sweet. Elusive little mel
ody of Chaminade's. Again the feel
ing Of supreme content In being thus
alone with her. with no words between
them but the soft. tender chords. came
over him. Suppose this tailOr's block
of n man should carry her OF to a
home of his own Suppose she should
through the rooms. his mind In q whiri
Of fear
He met the girl In the hall when she
returned. her face bright ana glowing
from her drive. 80
"well. how goes IL" she asked cheer
lily. s.
How goes whatY' His eyes were
fixed gioomily on her face. He grudg-
ed the fact that another man had been
able to look at her for the past hour
unrestrained.
why. the professor and his germ
quest, OF course Il
''Oh. it's in the waste paper basket
the only fitting place for It,"
She glanced up. surprised at the bit
terness OF his tone. and. moving swift
ly away from him into the ''den." stood
bending over his desk.
Royce followed and, laying his hands
firmly on her shoulders, turned her
about until she faced him.
Look here" he demanded, what's
the use OF my making an imaginary
professor look for a thing which I've
found myself. or. rather. which has
found meT 10
She stared at him In open eyed be-
wilderment, backing slightly from what
she saw I'm his face. -. -
"And how am ] going to stand 1t
II that empty headed cad that you went
driving with this afternoon gets what