The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-29
TEE EVENING STORY
Co1nmerciaIizing Cupid.
(By A. Howard.)


] opera, so he sent for Harry Wilson
and explained it to him.
| Now Billson," it being part OF
| Grimesby's exquisite sense of humor to
temper with other peoples Names
want you to write a love song for the
| piece, one of those haunting melodies
| of yours with the sentiment piled on
| in slabs. It's to run all through the
| play, so you want to do your very best
| work on it, Life without you is so SAD,
| 1 love only thee, You are the queen
of my heart, Tee dee, tee dee, tee dee
you know what 1 mean.
Harry left the Office in very bad
| humor, and his mood did not improve
for many days. He had done some
verp poor stuff, of course, but nothing
! so abominable as "You Are the Queen
| of Me Heart. Tee Dee, Tee Dee
GrimeSby was a chump, With no re-
spect for art, and how on earth was
he to write a great love poem when
the woman in the next room had
collicky baby and the man across the
hall lived on garlic? He knew that
Grimesby was referring to his last
work, which had not been evry salts
factory He felt that his reputation
depended on this song, so after vainly
trying to persuade the muse to come
and dwell with him in Harlem, he be-
took himself to a lonely farmhouse,
where he determined to compose
song that would live forever in the
hearts and pianolas of the people.
Peace, perfect peace, he found at
the farmhouse. The old couple who
lived there were quiet people who
asked no questions, and there were no
mosquitoes. The scenery, as well. was
perfect; soft, green meadows dotted
with Jersey cows, and beautiful woods
with running streams. Yet somehow
the great song would not come, and
Jersey cows from week to week began
to get on Harry's nerves. After chew
ing up two new and very indigestible
pencils, he decided that he could not
write a convincing love song until he
could find someone to love.
He was about to explain to the
farmers wife that duty called him
back to town, when she let slip the
remark that checked him.
There's a lady coming over from |
the next farmhouse tomorrow to stay |
with us a while. She's heard that the |
scenery is better over here. We PROM
Used you quiet, sir. and so If there's |
any objection on your part well send |
her word not to come"
mot at ALL returned Harry, joy |
fully, and he determined that if the |
new girl were as homely as brown |
bread he would fall in love with her. |
Ugly or not she had to be the queen
of his heart. tee dee.
The next day he was saunterins
leisurely in for his midday meal when
he saw her. She came out of the shah
by old farmhouse like a princess, and
walked straight towards him. AS she
came he noticed that she was very
young and very pretty with large ~-ue
eyes and hair like spun gold. Poetry
began to buzz through Harrys brain,
and he almost emitted a whoop of
joy.
In the garden they met. and al
though they were strangers they clasp
ed hands like the best of friends.
Neither spoke; they stood looking into
each others eyes; the moment was
too deep for words. 1t was one OF
those big scenes which come only
once in a lifetime. Unfortunately the
dinner bell broke in upon their rap
ture.
You are loves messenger" breath
ed Harry tensely, wondering all the
while if there were fried chicken for
dinner Loves messenger sent to ME
Her answer was perfect. 81 am Iso-
bell she told him, raising her wonder
full, dreamy, eyes to his face, Il came
to find rest and quiet here. 1 dared
not hope to find love also"
When he pondered on her answer
that night, and on the whole meet
ing as well, Harry decided that there
was only one reasonable explanation,
the girl had fallen in love with him
at first sight And considering that
Harry had a profile like Dante that
was not so very reasonable, either.
She was such a child, however, such
a dreamy, sentimental child, that it
was evident that love at first sight ]
was her trouble, and Harry thanked
the fortune that had sent her to him.
All day he wandered through the woods
and fields with her, making love as
he had never made it to any other
woman, and at night he pounded out
the best love song that he had ever
written.
Not until the song was finished did !
Harry allow himself to realize what
he had done. The artist in him had :
drowned the man, but now that his !
great work was finished he admitted !
with shame that he had been q most !.
objectionable cad. For Isobel had re- 3
turned his love, in fact, if there can .
be any fault in what is faultless, hers .
lay in too great responsiveness. She Z
had frankly and Immediately owned :
her undying affection for him; she !
would talk of nothing else but love, +
and when he spoke of other things her
beautiful, adoring gaze brought him
back to that absorbing topic.
Harry knew that he must get back
to New York. Grimesby and the Har-
lem goats were calling, yet how could II
he tell the adorable child that their
great romance had been only a sum II
mer Irritation, or still worse, that he :
had used her hearts blood to write a n
poem with He decided to leave with
out explanation. q
leave this paradise. Tomorrow I must >,
tear myself from you and go back to $,
New York
They stood side by side in the woods
and he laid his hand over hers for 4
comfort.
Isobel was silent, evidently stunned =
by the news. Then she spoke in a n
broken voice. Then this is our last | =
meeting, our last hour together" She Fl
leaned against his shoulder.
zone kiss begged Harry, before
CO." 1t was not what he had meant NC
to say and he felt more of a cad than p
ever.