The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-07-06
CHAPTER 1.
AN URGENT SUMMONS.

said Mr.. Royce. and handed the papers
back to me. 'rll be mighty glad when
We get that off our hands"
So. knew. would the whole force or
the office, for the case had been an
unusually irritating one, tangling itself
up In the most unexpected ways, until,
with petitions and counter-petitions
and answers and demurrers and what
not, we were all heartily tired of IT.
/ slipped the papers into an envelope
and shot them into a pigeon-hole with
a sigh Of relief
II think that'Il end It," 1 said Il
don't see how there can be any further
delay"
mo-" agreed our junior, neither do
I. Are the papers In the Griffin case
ready?"
mot yet doubt IL they will be
ready before this afternoon"
Well. they can wait" he said. and
glanced at his watch. Il want to catch
the ten-ten for Elizabeth"
For Elizabeth" 2
Yes. I know it's mighty awkward
time for me to leave, but It's an en-
gagement I've got to keep. You've
heard me speak OF Burr Curtiss?"
Yes" l said; Il seem to remember
the name"
He's been one of my best friends
for the past 10 years. I met him first
at Yale, and a liking sprang up be-
tween us, which grew stronger as time
went on. played a sort of second I'D
die to him, then, FOR he was president
Of the class a.. h,s senior year and
was voted the most popular man In It,
He came to New York. as soon as he
was graduated. and got place on the
construction staff of the Pennsylvania
road. He was assigned to one Of the
western divisions and didn't see any
thing of him for two or three years,
but finally he was recalled, and we used
to hobnob at the University club. Since
my marriage, he comes around TO
smoke a pipe with me occasionally and
talk over old times. He's a social fell
low, likes companionship, and, my wife
says. Is just the man to make a wom-
an happy. so when he wrote me note,
two months ago. announcing his en-
gagement, we. were naturally curious
concerning the woman In the case
for his ideals were high-too high, l
always told him."
Mr.. Royce paused and sat for mo-
ment smiling out the window at the
grey wall of the building opposite.
II remember 1t was one evening last
winter" he went on at last, "that Cur
tiss happened In and, as we sat smok-
ing together. our talk somehow turned
to women. 1t was then learned what
an idealist he was. The woman to win
course; witty, knowing the world. and
yet unsoiled by 1t, capable of original
thought of being her husbands intel
lectual companion-so much for the
mental side. Physically--well, physi-
cally he wanted Venus de Milo or
Helen Of Troy. nothing less. I laughed
at him. I pointed out that beautiful
women are seldom intellectual. But he
was obdurate. He protested that he
would capitulate on no other terms. I
retorted that, In that case, he would
probably remain bachelor"
But" / remarked, 1T seems to me
that this friend of yours Is trfle ego
tistical. What has he to offer in ex-
change for such perfection?"
WELL" said Mr.. Royce, slowly, ut
would be a good bargain on both sides.
Given such a woman, Icould fancy her
longing for such a man as Curtiss, just
as he would long for her. I've told you
something OF his mental calipre-physi-
cally, he's the handsomest man / ever
saw. And it seems to me he gets
handsomer every year. In our college
days, he was rather too stout, too girl
ish looking, but hard work and contact
with the world have rubbed all that
away George!" he added. "the chill
dren of such pair would be fit for
Olympus,"
"And did he find her?' asked, cur
ious for the rest OF the story.
after / got his note" said my COM
panion, II hunted him up at his apart
ments as soon as I could. He let me
In himself got out his cigars, and sat
down opposite me fairly beaming.
looked him over--I had never before
seen a man who seemed so supremacy
happy.
$50 1 asked at last, you've found
her.?
he n.
" The woman you were looking for?
1.-THE very woman
THAT impossible ideal"
IAN ideal, yes; but not impossible
since she exists In the flesh and have
found her.
well you're lucky dog I said
Tell me about her.
Libbey story. She was everything. 1t
seemed, that could be desired in a
woman.
land beautiful? asked him.
For reply he brought out a photo
graph from his desk. I tell you, Les
ter. 1t fairly took my breath away.
felt as though were looking at mas
terpiece-say Andrea del Sarto's Ma
donna. And would as soon have
thought OF marrying the one as the
other. 1t was like snatching a star
down out OF heaven.
Curtis was leaning bacw in his chair
watching me. and he smiled as 1 looked
up.
"'Well?' he asked.
II went over and shook hands with
him-I couldn't find words to tell him
what l felt.
"But where has she been?' I de-
manded. How does It happen she was
left for YOU?
"'She's been abroad for FIVE or six
years he explained.
That's no answer 1 said. Why
isn't she queen, then; or a duchess,
at least?'
"'She's had chances enough. dare
say and he smiled at my enthusiasm
L agree with you that she's worthy to
wear a crown: but then, you see, she
has ideals, too. Perhaps none of the
kings she met measured up to Them
"'And you did?'
"'She's good enough to think so'
II had been idling over the photo
graph, and my eyes happened to fall
upon some lines written across the
back didn't know them, then, but
I've looked them up, since:-
my days were sunless and my
nights were mconless. Parched the
pleasant April heritage and the lark's
hearts outbreak tuneless, If you loved
me not!'
n tell you. Lester" and there was a
little break in our juniors voice, Il
was overwhelmed. You know. love