The Washington herald., 1907-08-19
AN IDIOT AND A PRINCESS
By CELIA MYROVER ROBINSON.

By CELIA MYRO
Woodruff knocked on the door sharply
three times, but received no response. 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 a fearful rate. so, without more
ado Woodruff opened the door and
walked in.
Good morning, LYDIA he said
genially.
Lydia merely nodded and continued her
writing with unabated zeal Woodruff
stood looking at her smillngly for some
moments, an then said again gravely:
Coed morning, Lydia"
Lydia laid down her pen and looked up
with Indignation written in every line OF
her face. Freddy" she said. with severi-
-, why don't you stay AT home some.
times? I shouldn't think your mother
would know you II she should meet you
on the street"
Don't be rude. Lydia, said Woodruff,
reproachfuIly, seating himself and leaning
back comfortably as though he came 10
stay.
I'm very busy" said Lydia, picking up
her pen. II you are going to stay. do be
still. you're shaking the table"
Lydia" said Woodruff, critically,
you aren't biz good looking when you
frown."
Lydia rose and. faced Woodruff with her
head thrown back and an angry flush on
her checks
Freddy" she said I told you dis
tinctly yesterday that I should not be at
home this morning"
But you are said Woodruff.
I'm not at home to you or any one"
Well honestly. I did not intend to
come; 1 started out with the determina-
ton Of going to the club. was certainly
headed in that direction. but the next
thing knew, here I was az your door, so
I thought Ia come in and rest"
Idiot was Lydias rude reply.
L know-I have sort Of formed the
habit Of idioCy since have known you.
and it Is hard to break"
If you are tired" said Lydia, you
may stay IN here and rest. I will take
ray work into the sitting Make
yourself thoroughly comfortable. I viii
see that you are not disturbed, and you
can get q good rest"
But don't 80 now, want to tell
you--"
Now. Freddy, you're not
No. I'm not going to propose to you
on my honor. You know you told me
yesterday if I ever proposed again you
would accept me-
SO I did. said Lydia, gravely. well.
then. what is it?'
"It's-iJs a plot, a fine plot for a story.
Aren't you out of ideas ?"
NO C.ndignantly), and Il I were ]
wouldn't deprive You Of yours"
"Oh, well. I don't mind furnishing you
with a few when your stock is low
always give Of your little. generously, to
those who have none. say T..
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 al
her. entreatiagly. Just give me fifteen
minutes, YOU won't miss 1t"
Lydia released the knob and drew her
hand away with a little jerk.
If I were a man" she said. staring
At The ceiling. I'd be man. I would
not spend my time aimlessly frittering
around and getting in the way of people
who have some object in life. I
wOIldu't-"
II I were a woman" said Woodruff.
staring at the carpet Il would be anlia-
ble and gentle. and considerate Of other
peoples feelings, especially if I had brol<-
en- their hearts several times. and
gs-p-rfTn't no --frGr enough
Lydia sat down at the table in despera-
ton
What is your plot, Freddy? Give it
TO me- and I will take it 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 splend.d'y, Freddy; so original"
The man was awfully in love with the
s.rl. You know. and ali that?"
Yes? This is really quite out of the
ordls airy.
Yes. isn't it. But the man was not
very much of a fellow. He was not a
confirmed reprobate; he had never swim
died any one; he was not a liar. and he
was counted honest and straightforward
among mcn- But he had never accom-
pi,shed anything in the world, for the
simple reason that he was an iadolent
fellow, who had never had the whip Of
necessity tok ksrge him TO endeavor OF any
kind His f6rbears had left him well off
IN worldly goods; his mother. his only
living relative. spent the greater part &C
her time in society, AID 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 hts summers on his yacht.
Men called him good fellow. and women
had always smiled on hlm-or his money.
Perhaps that was the reason at three
and thirty his heart was only a little bat
tered and was still in his own possession.
Il was then that he met a girl"
"The grip" inteTpolated Lydia.
YES, the girl She was different from
the women he had known; she was not
so beautiful perhaps as some. but TO him
she was the most beautiful woman in the
wide world: a woman 20 do great deeds
for, like some knight-errant of old for his
lsdye faire. But this man, living in this
prosaic twentieth century. could find no
way TO prove himself-but if there had
fs1l IL