The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-31
CONVERTING CUPID
INTO MONEY! ETTER
How Two Writers of Love Songs
and Stories Worked Up
Heart Thr0bS.
BY A. HOWARD.

Grimesby had an idea for a comic
opera, SO he sent for Harry Wilson
and explained 1t to him.
Nov Billson." It being part OF
Grimesby's exquisite sense Of humor
to tamper with other peoples names,
Il want you to write 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 1t. Life with
out you is so sad, 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 a very bad
humor, and his mood did not improve
for many days. He had done some
very poor stuff. Of course. but nothing
30 abominable as You Are the Queen
of My Heart. Tee Dee, Tee Dee
Grimesby was chump, with no re-
spect for art, and how on earth was
he to write 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 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
betook himself to lonely farmhouse,
where he determined to compose a
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 we're quiet people who ask
ed 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
ised Won quiet, sir, and so If there's
any objection on your part We'll send
her word not to come"
Not 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 net 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 shabby old farmhouse like prin-
cess, and walked straight towards
him. AS he 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 were strangers they
clasped hands like the best of friends.
Neither spoke they stood looking
lrto oooh otbaro avaS. Tho momop Z
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. 81 am
Isobel," she told him, raising her
wonderful, dreamy eyes to his face
81 came to find rest and quiet here.
I dared not hope to find love also"
When he pondered on her answer
that night, and on the whole meeting
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 Har-
ry had a profile like Dante. that was
not so very reasonable, either.
She was such a child, however
such a dreamy, sentimental child
that II was evident that love at first
sight was her trouble, and Harry
thanked the fortune that had sent hel
to him. All day he wandered through
the woods and fields with her. max
ing love as he had never made 1t tc
any other woman, and at night he
rounded out the best love song that
he had ever written.
Not until the song was finished die
Harry allow himself to realize wha
he had done The artist In him hat
drowned the man, but now that hi!
great work was finished he admitted
with shame that he had been mos
unpardonable cad. For Isobel had re
turned his love, in fact. II there cal
be any fault In what is faultless, herr
lay in too great responsiveness. Sh'
had frankly and Immediately owne'
her undying affection for him; sh'
would talk OF nothing else but love
and when he spoke of other thing
her beautiful. adoring gaze brough
him back to that absorbing topic.
Harry knew that he must get bacl
to New York Grimesby and the Har
lem goats were calling, vet how coul'
he tell the adorable child that thei
great romance had been only sun
mer Irritation. or still worse. that b