The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-07
THE EVENING Story
AN Idiot ana a Princess.
(By Celia Myrover Robingou

woodruff knocked on the door
sharply three times, but received no
| response. He could hear the scratch
or Lydia's pen, so he waited patiently
TOT 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 undated zeal. Wood
rum stood looking at her smilingly for
| some moments, and then said again
gravely: Good morning, Lydia"
| Lydia laid down her pen and looked
W with Indignation written in every
line of her face. Freddy" she said,
With severity, why don't you stay at
nome sometimes? I shouldn't think
your own mother would know you II
she should meet you on the street
| ruff, reproachfully, seating himself
and leaning back comfortably as
though he came to stay.
I'm very busy" said Lydia, pick
ing up her pen. IF you are going 10
stay do be still, you're shaking the
table"
Lydia" said Woodruff. critically.
you aren't a bit good looking when
you frown."
Lydia rose and faced Woodruff with
flesh ON her cheeks.
FREDDY" she said, "I told you dis
tinctly yesterday that l should not De
at home this morning."
But you are said woodruff.
I'm not at home to you or any
one"
.'Wen, honestly, I did not intend to
come; started out with the determin-
alton of going to the club. 1 was GER
tainly headed in that direction, but the
next thing 1 knew, here 1 was at your
door, so I thought I'd come in and
rest
idiot" was Lydia's rude reply.
ST know have sort Of formed the
habit of idiocy since have known you,
and it is hard to break.
eff you are tired" said Lydia. you
may stay in here and rest. 1 will take
my work into the sitting room. Make
yourself thoroughly comfortable. l
will see that you are not disturbed.
and you can get good rest"
But don't go now, I want to tell
you
Now, Freddy. you're not"
mo, I'm not going to propose to
told me yesterday If ever proposed
again you would accept me-"
80 L did, said Lydia, gravely.
well, then, what is it?''
TITS a plot, a fine plot for a story
Aren't you out of ideas?"
mo Indignantly, AMI If were I
wouldn't deprive you of yours"
"Oh. well, 1 don't mind furnishing
you with a few when your stock is low
always give of your little, generous
ly, to those who have none, say l."
Lydia put her hand on the knob and
opened the door with determination.
ooh, pleased" 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 draw
her hand away with little jerk.
eff were a man." she said, staring
at the ceiling. I'D be. man..
tering around and getting in the way
Of people who have some object in
life. I wouldn't"
''If I were woman" said Wood
elniab1e and gentle and considerable of
other peoples feelings, especially If I
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 it down in
short hand"
That's a dear girl
FURRY up"
"Well, it's about a man and girl, |
you know
"a man and a girl" scribbling, |
starts Off splendidly, Freddy; SO orig
inal"
1.-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 it. But the man was not
very much of fellow. He was not a
confirmed reprobate; he had never
and he was counted honest and
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
fcrbears had left him we'll off in
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 be-
cause 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 a good fellow, and women had al |
ways smiled on him-or his money |
Perhaps that was the reason at three |
his heart was only a little |
battered and was still in his own pos
session. 1t was then that he met a |
girl
1.-THE girl?" interpolated Lydia
Eyes, 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
to do great deeds for, like some knight |
Grant of old for his ladye faire. But |
this man, living in this prosaic TWEEN |
tieth century, could find no way to |
prove himself-but If there had been |
anything; any task she would have set, |
he would gladly have given the best |
that was in him to win from her a |
word of ommendation-he did not |
dare at first, to hope for her love. AS |
he came to know her better he began |
to see how wide gulf stretched be- |
tween them; he began to realize how |
he must strive to be worthy even to |
be called her friend. He tried to shake |