Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-11-07
An Idiot and
A Princess.
BY
Celia MyroOer RobinIon.
Copyrighted, 1907, by c. II. Sutciile.

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? ! shouldn't think
your own mother would know you il
she should meet you on the street"
Don't be rude, Lydia" said Wood
ruff reproachfully seating himself and
leaning back comfortably as though
he came to stay
I'm very busy" said Lydia, picking
up her pen. IF 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, II told you dis
tinctly yesterday that l should not be
at home this morning"
But you are" said Woodruff.
I'm not home to you or any one"
well, honestly, did not intend TO
come. | started out with the deter
mination of going to the club. l was
certainly headed In that direction, but
the next thing | knew-here / was at
your door. So | thought I'd come In
and rest"
"Idiot!' was Lydia's rude reply.
II know. have sort of formed the
habit Of idiocy since I have known
you, and II is hard to break"
''If you are tired" said Lydia, you
may stay in here and rest. l will take
my work into the sitting room. Make
yourself thoroughly comfortable. will
see that you are not disturbed, and
you can get a good rest"
But don't go now. want to tell
you
"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 did" said Lydia gravey.
"Well, then, what is itY'
''Its-it's a plot, fine plot for
story. Aren't you out of ideas?'
NO" Indignantly, "and If were l
wouldn't deprive you of yours"
"Oh, well, l don't mind furnishing
you with 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.
ooh, pleasev' Freddy was holding
the knob and her hand and looking
down at her entreatingly. Just give
me fifteen minutes. You won't miss
It."
Lydia released the knob and drew
her hand away with little jerk.
"If were man." she said, staring
at the ceiling, ''I'd be man.
wouldn't spend my time aimlessly frit-
tering around and getting in the way
of people who have some object in
life. wouldn't''-
IF were a woman" said Woodruff,
staring at the carpet, II would be ami
able and gentle and considerate of 9TH
err peoples feelings, especially If 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 it
to me. and | will take 1t down in short
hand"
That's dear girl"
"Hurry up"
"Well, it's about man and a girl,
you know"
"a man and girl" scribbiing.
Starts off splendldly, Freddy-so orig
inal"
''The man was awfully in love with
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 a
Sohhi AHcd icpfODdtt. ne uuu NEVER
swindled any one. He was not a liar,
and he was counted honest and
straightforward among men. But he
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
" goods. His mother. his only living
relative. spent the greater part of her
time In society. and he, partly from a
sense Of duty and partly because he
hadn't anything else to do. went about
with her. His winters he spent mostly
IN New York and his summers on his
yacht. Men called him good fellow,
and women had always smiled on him
-or his money. Perhaps that was the
reason at three and thirty his heart
was only little battered and was still
In his own possession. lt was then
that he met q girrs-
"The girly" interrupted Lydia.
@Yes the girl. She was different
from the women he had known. She
was not 90 beautiful perhaps a. some,
but to him she was the most beautiful
woman In the wide worlds woman to
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