The Somerset reporter., 1907-09-12
An Idiot and
A Princess.
BY
Cello MYro1er RobinSon.

S--ti+.%.s.**|tf..a++* A+++&4++444+.
Woodruff knocked on the door sharp
ly three times, but received no re-
spouse. He could hear the scratch of
Lydia's pen, SO he waited patiently
for some minutes and then knocked
again. The pen scratched on at fear
full rate, so without more ado Wood
ruff opened the door and walked In.
Good morning, LYDIA" he said gen
tally.
Lydia merely nodded and continued
her writing with undated zeal.
Woodruff stood looking at her smiling
ly for some moments and then said
again gravely, Good morning, Lydia"
Lydia laid down her pen and looked
up with Indignation written In every
line of her face. Freddy" she said
with severity, why don't you stay at
home sometimes? l shouldn't think
! your own mother would know you II
she should meet you on the street"
Don't be rude, LYDIA" said Wood.
ruff reproachfuly. seating himself and
leaning back comfortably as though
NE CdIue u stay.
I'm very busy" said Lydia, picking
up her pen. 'Tf you are going to stay
do be still. You're shaking the table
Lydia" said Woodruff critically,
you areN't bit good looking when
you frown."
Lydia rose and faced Woodruff with
her head thrown back and an angry
flush on her cheeks.
FREDDY" she said, ~ told you dis
tinctly yesterday that | should not be
at home this morning"
But you are" said Woodruff.
I'm not home to you or any one"
We'll, honestly, l did not intend to
come. l started out with the deter
mination of going to the club | was
certainly headed in that direction but
the next thing | knew-here I was at
your door. So | thought I'd come In
and rest"
"Idiotw was Lydia's rude reply
II know. | have sort of formed the
habit of idiocy since I have known
you, and 1t Is hard to break"
"If you are tired" said Lydia, you
may stay in here and rest. will take
my work into the sitting room. Make
yourself thoroughly comfortable will
see that you are not disturbed, and
you can get good rest"
But don't so now. l want to tell
your
Now, Freddie, you're not
mo, I'm not going to propose to you,
on my honor. You know you told me
yesterday if ever proposed again you
would accept me-"
$50 I did, said Lydia gravely.
well. then, what is it?"
"It's-it's a plot, a fine plot for a
story. Aren't you out of ideasr
NO." Indignantly, land If l were l
wouldn't deprive you of yours"
"Oh, well, | don't mind furnishing
you with a few when your stock Is
low. Always give of your little gen
erously to those who have none, say l."
Lydia put her hand on the knob and
opened the door with determination.
"Oh, please" Freddy was holding
the knob and her hand and looking
down at her entreatlngly. Just give
me fifteen minutes. You won't miss
it."
Lydia released the knob and drew
her hand away with little jerk.
"If l We're a man." she said, staring
at the ceiling, "Fd be a man. l
wouldn't spend my time aimlessy fritz
tering around and getting In the way
of people who have some object in
life. I wouldn't
"If l were woman" said Woodruff,
staring at the carpet 81 would be ami
able and gentle and considerate OF 9th
er peoples feelings, especially II had
broken their hearts several times, and
I wouldn't be rude enough
Lydia sat down at the table In des-
peration.
What is your plot Freddy Give 1t
to me, and will take 1t down In short
hand"
That's dear girl"
Hurry up"
well, it's about a man and a girl,
you know"
"a man and a girl" scribbling.
STARTS of splendidly, Freddy-so orig
inal."
line man was aWIully III love Will
the girl, you know, and all that"
Eyes? This is really quite out OF
the ordinary"
Eyes, isn't 1t? But the man was not
very much of fellow. He was not
confirmed reprobate. He had never
swindled any one. He was not liar,
and he was counted honest and
stra obff orwar amop0 man Rut ha
had never accomplished anything In
the world, for the simple reason that
he was an indolent fellow who had
never had the whip Of necessity to
urge him to endeavor of any kind. His
forbears had left him well of In world
ly goods. His mother. his only living
relative, spent the greater part Of her
4irz,o In, aacictu ha rtIx from n