The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-30
By A, HOWARD,

Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press.1
Grimesby had an idea for comic
opera, so he sent for Harry Wilson
and explained II to him.
Now Billson," it being part OF
Grimesby's exquisite sense of humor
to tamper with other peoples names,
Il want you to write a love song for
the piece, one OF those haunting maio-
dies 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, l love only thee, You are the
queen of my heart, Tee dee, tee dee,
tee dee'-you know what l mean
Harry left the Office In very bad
humor and his mood did not improve
for many days. He had done some
very poor stuff. of course. but moth
ing SO abominable as You Are the
Queen of Me Heart, Tee Dee, Tee
Dee" Grimesby was a chump, with
no respect for art, and how on earth
was he to write a great love poem
when the woman in the next room
had a 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
very satisfactory. He felt that his
reputation depended on this song, so
after valnly trying TO persuade the
muse TO come and dwell with him In
Harlem, he betook himself to a lonely
farmhouse, whore he determined TO
compose a song that would live for
ever 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
/ n s. Cd nj
no mosquitoes. The scenery, as well,
was perfect; soft, green meadows
dotted with Jersey cows, and beauti-
full 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 chewing up two aeW-a8d very
indigestible pencils, he decided that
he could not write convincing love
song until he could find some one to
love.
He was about to explain To the far
mer's 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
tho scenery is better over here. We
promised you quiet sir. and so Il
We'll send her word not to come"
mot at ALL returned Harry. joy
fully, and he determined that II the
new girl were as honely 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 sauntering
leisurely in for his midday meal when
he saw her. She came out of the
!, 1,1- tiI fnr iIsa yrt
and walked straight towards him. AS
she came he noticed that she was very
young and very pretty. with large
blue eyes and hair like spun gold.
Poetry began TO buzz through Harry's
brain, and he almost emitted whoop
OF joy.
In the garden they met and al
though they We're strangers they
clasped 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 II there were fried chicken for
dinner. Loves messenger sent to
me in the wilderness.
Her answer was perfect. I am
Isobel," she told him. raising her
wonderful, dreamy eyes to his face,
Il came to find rest and quiet here.
dared not hope to find love also"
When he pondered on her answer
that night. and on the whole meeting
IS well, Harry decided that there was
only one reasonable explanation, the
girl had fallen in love with him at
first sight. And considering that Har-
ry had a profile like Dante that was
not SO very reasonable. either.
She was such child. however. such
a dreamy, sentimental child. that 1t
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 1t to any
other woman, and at night he pound
ed out the best love song 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
tho man but now that hta