The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-19
THE POLLING OF LYDIA Porter r By .
Porter Emerson Browne

by every one who knows that I am all right ana
on the level and have got bad habits and you
ought to lei You have broke her heart by buttns
in like you did, She don't do nothing all day but set
around and cry and feel that could commit muir
der with deal of pleasure. Please do some
thing al once. l mean II.
Yours
MATTHEW DoNNELLY
P. 81 wisht you man.
Lydia Love shifted indignantly.
Well. If there amt that sorehead again" ex-
claimed Lydia Il wonder il I'm going 10 keen on
getting those walls all the OF my life" and the
offending communication sngrily into the
waste-basket as has been its eight predecessors
This jobll have in the psychopathic ward IN
about week more" muttered the aggrieved Lydia:
and with venomous swing of one arm. the srbiter
Of ahaires du occur wrathfully swept from desk
into the waste-basket full half a hundred more
communications requesting Advice for Young Lovers
and drawing long black cigar from pocket smelt
Of it tentatively and then slowly inserted it beneath
the ragged fringe of his mustache he sat there
caressing aching head with an anectonate and
tender palm
Never agatn,' exclaimed Lydia Love fervently
Never again! This time swear of and swear of
for keeps. Gee! How my head aches"
Aunt Elvira with grin. lifted his gaze from hi,
mail The daily renunciations and remorse of LYDIA
Love were unfailing the hum OF the presses:
and yet they failed evoke tribute from
him OF the 'Woman's Page"
Nine hundred and sixty-seventh appearance of
Miss Lydia Love in her famous recitation Double
Crossing the Bar" he announced dramatically. u
say. Lydia"
He was interrupted by knock the door: and
a large. square young appeared before them.
My names Donney." he announced CURLY II
wan tub see Miss Lydia Love"
Aunt Elvra with debonair and Delsartic swoo,
of his pencil indicated the other occupant of the
There is Miss Love-" he said politely. And I
don't believe it will take you long see all you
want to-"
Donnelly started and stared; and then h. stared
again. Then he rubbed his eyes carefully and To-
cussed them painstakingly upon the indicated;
and great. surging JOY swirled through him be-
ginning at the ends OF his rushing turbuenty
to the roots of his hair and his clenched and
unclenched itchingly as he surveyed a surly grumpy
dissipation marked male face instead of the classic
female lineaments and high Grecan forehead that hs
had expected to see-and had expected to face with
such helplessness that only his great love and the
thoughts of his weeping Nellie had made it possible
for him to carry out the plan he had begun.
He turned to the man whose word in matters OF the
heart and hand had been his law.
Are you Lydia Love?" he demanded eagerly hon.-
fully, and perhaps bit fearfuy, for he dreaded lest
there might be mistake
Yes" grunted the other. VIVA dyer WANT"
An there ain other Lydia Love, is there Y'
queried the other anIiously.
Nav" the surly response. VIVA dyer want.
anyhow"
Donnelly didn't bother to make reply He couldn' t
wait All through the long days and longer nights
there had been swirlng in his tortured brain the
thought of Nee's suffering, and his own-the throb-
bling Of dashed hopes and the burning sting of fu-
ture blasted His cup of bitterness full. And he
empted it at turn.
Aunt Elvira and the copy-boy looked on with in
finite glee, and encouraged Donnelly with well-timed
advice and helpful comment. Lydia Love was not
popular with her readers and with them only
because they knew her through print and by her pic
ture which really that of stage favorte OF
twenty years ago.
And when, length. Donnelly grabbed Lydia by
coat-tail and dragged him from under his desk,
the boy-for he had heard Lydias assailant say
through the thick Of battle cry: Now you come
along wit me"-ran quickly to prevent any aid being
given Lydia by the presiding genius Of the elevator.
Thus it that there interference Dom
nelly dragged the arbter OF affairs of the heart out
into the elevator and thence to the street
Donnelly explained to the inquiring conductor of
the they boarded that he was ony takn' his
fren home, an he'd see he din make disturbance.
They alghted at East Twelfth street and with DON
nelly holding Lydia Love firmly by arm, they
progressed few doors eastward and then up the
cement steps and into the little hallway. And
nelly pushed the little button just above the letter
box.
IAere Was On uCOeT iuIi III the proceedings Doh-
nelly stood silently triumphant Lydia Love said
things that he could have printed.
rs that you, Nellie?" said Donnely, at length. to
the speaking-tube. Yes it's Say. listen. Come
down, will yuh? = What? No there's a
fren' o yourn down here Well not eggsact-
by frien' but someone you'd ought tub meet
No, can't come up He-I mean she-cant stay
long All right Don be long"
The ceremonial of Introduction quickly per-
formed; and Lydias and approval after all.
found not be essential to the question Of the
marriage ceremony. And. though il late the
arbiter afaires du soon left alone in the
hallway listen the retreating steps Of two
pairs Of feet the stairs.