The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-07-06
P /.
AN URGENT

1lUI SceIIlS 10 De I'LL TlSnl, ASSCeT,
said Mr.. Royce, and handed the papers
back to me. TIL be mighty glad when
we get that off our hands"
So, I knew, would he whole force of
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 answer and demurrers and what
not, we were all heartily tired of 1t.
I slipped the papers into an envelope
and shot them into a p~igeon-hole with
a sigh of relief.
81 think that'l end it, / said Il
don't see how there can be any further
delay
NO" agreed our Junior, neither do
L Are the papers in the Griffin case
ready?"
Not yet: + doubt If they will be
ready before this afternoon"
We'll, they a wait he said. and
The ten-ten for Elizabeth"
For Elizabeth?"
Yes. I know it's a 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 2"
Yes" I said; II seem to remember
the name
Hes 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. I played a sort of second fd-
die to him, then, for he was president
of the class in his senior year n
was voted the most popular man in it.
He came to New York, as soon as he
was graduated, and got a place on the
construction staff of the Pennsylvania
road. He was assigned to one of the
western divisions, and l didn't see any
thing of him for two OF three years,
hIf finally he WAS recalled and wa 11Sai
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; &C when he wrote me a note,
two months ago, announcing his en-
gxsement, we were naturally curious
concerning the woman in the case
for his ideals were high-too high, I
always told him."
Mr.. Royce paused and sat for a mo-
ment smiling out the window at the
grey wall Of the building opposite.
Il remember 1t was II 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 1t was hen 1 learned VIVA:
his heart must be accomplished, of
course; witty, knowing the world, and
yet unsoiled by it, capable of original
thought, OF being her husbands INTEL
lectual companion-so much for the
mental side. Physically-well, physi-
cally he wanted a Venus de Milo or
Helen Of Troy, nothing less. l laughed
at him. 1 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, tn hat case, he would
nrnha h0p , jD a J.,oLn10rs
But" I remarked, lit seems to me
that this friend of yours is a trife ego
t~istical. What has he to offer in ex-
change for such perfection?"
Well" said Mr.. Royce, slowly, st
would DO a good bargain on both sides.
Given such a woman, 1 could fancy her
longing for such a man as Curtiss. just
as he would long for her. I've told you
something of his mental calibre-physi-
cal1y, he's the handsomest man l ever
saw. And it seems to me he gets
h~andso1ner every year. In our college
days, he was rather too stout, too girl
ish-looking, but hard wor and contact
with the world have rubbed all that
away. George!" he added. the chill
dren Of such a pair would be fit for
O%lympus!"
And did he find herr" I asked, cur
tous for the rest Of the story.
After I 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. 1
looked him oyer-I had never before
happy;
her?'
Yes he said; yes
The woman you We're looking for?'
The very woman
THAT impossible ideal?'
IAN ideal, yes; but not impossible,
ince she exists in the flesh and 1 have
found her.
""well. you're a lucky dog I said.
Tell me about her.
so he told me-quite a Laura Jean
Libbey story. She was everything, 1t
seemed, that could be desired in a
woman
And beautiful7' I asked him.
For reply, he brought out a photo
graph from his desk. I tell you, Les
ter, it fairly took my breath away. I
felt as though I were looking at a mas
terpiece-say Andrea del Sarto's Ma
donna And I would as soon have
thought Of marrying the one as the
other. It was like snatching a star
down out of heaven.
Curtis was leaning back In his chair
watching me, n he smiled as l looked
up.
""Well?' he asked.
Il went over n shook hands with
hinl-I couldn't find words to tell him
what I felt.
But where has she been?' I de-
manded. How does it happen she was
left for your
She's been abroad for five or six
years. he explained.
That no answer 1 said. why
Isn't she q queen, then; or a duchess,
at lenst?'
"'She's had chances enough. I dare
say and he smiled at my enthusiasm.
I agree with you that she's worthy to
wear a crown; but then. you see, she
a ideals, too. Perhaps zone of the
kings she met measured up to Them
"And you did?'
shes good enough to think So
Il had been idling over the photo
graph, and my eyes happened to fall
upon some lines written across the
back-I didn't know them, then. but
I've looked them up, since
My days We're sunless and nv
nights were moonless. Parched the
pleasant April heritage and the lark's
hearts outbreak tuneless, If you loved