The Western news., 1904-06-29
His
Ase,akeni1a6
BY n. Louise Cuu,,ni,,s
Eop"right, 1901, bU r. c. .Mc(1ure

Lucy Grierson knocked ut the door
OF her Cousin Roycc's den" holding
bun llc Of letters ana papers which
she h ID just taken from the maid.
IN answer to a deep toned. muflled
''olnr in.' she entered the snug bach
elor room, with its rows of bookshelyes
ana stood for moment contemplating
tn" Sleek, dark head and square shoul-
derS lending over the desk.
He tHrew an impatient glance over
one shoulder at the interrlption. but
swung around with clearing face when
he saw who it was
Say Luce" he said eagerly. .'how's
this for an idea? The hero is des
perat"ly in love with the heroine, who
cares nothing for him. In his despair
he remembers the old college profess
or who always helped him out Of his
dllelnmas and forthwith goes to him
for advice The professor. who is an
lnd"iati&1ble microbe hunter and has
been for years trying to discover the
germ of love, thinks with glee that in
this unusually bad case is his chance.
After much research he finds the love
germ and carries it carefully to his
laboratory. But a sportive soph lets
it loose among the 'co-eds.' Win the
disastrous result that every one begins
promiScuously to fall IN love with ev-
cry one else. OF course the heroine gets
hero
"And the professor himself becomes
enamored of the laundress.' she put
in laughingly.
Just SO. | was working on his So
liloquy prior to the advent of the love
lorn youth when you came in"
"And of course began at the end. as
usual"
"Yyes, But the rest will come to
me. Here's the last verse anyhow:
Il 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
"I1owS that?'
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 60" Royce was bending over
his papers and did not look up
Wont it disturb you if l relnain?"
'No; it will help me: it always does
! think you are my inspiration"
The blood flashed to her face 50 sud
denly that she was thankful he did
not look up and see it. She sank into
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
What a picture you maker he said |
The girl gave an unconcerned shrug
to hide the suffocating beating of her |
heart in her throat. 1t was terrible |
to her, the suggestion Of domesticity
in their attitude. and to think 1t meant |
nothing to him beyond the fact that in
the cozy 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
lloquy he rose and strobe into the I
drawing room just in time to see Lucy
being helped into high dogcart by |
fair faced individual in immaculate
light overcoat and dogskin gloves The F
horses paved the air when the diminu-
tive tiger left their heads and sprang
into his place. Royce had glimpse
of Lucy's bright face as it was lifted
to her companions. How entirely in |
her clement she looked. He turned I
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 wearily into the chair
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
How pretty she had looked sitting
there in the fire light. What could she
soc in that emnty headed numSlull l