The Portland daily press., 1877-05-21

| hair covered furniture showed like mourning
shapes. The mahogany table was empty !:
| each chair stood with its back vigorously set
against the wainscot, which was painted a
pale green. What an abode for Bertha
Gordon shivered at the idea. He had leisure
to shiver more than once before the clapping
of distant door and shuf1ing footstep on
the stairs announced an approach, and
thin, pallid, elderly man entered, wrapped in
a lowered dressing-gown of an antique pat
tern, and holding Gordon's card between his
fingers.
"On a scientific subject, 1 believer" he
said, in dry voice.
eyes" answered Gordon; scientific as
applied to hygiene. I learn that YOU are
testing an experiment which of late has been
the subject of some study with me-that of
the beneficial result of the SUMS rays filtered
through glass of a dark blue tint on the
frame OF the human animal. The theory is
so recent that opportunities for critical OBJ
servation upon it are rare, and have ven
tured to intrude upon leisure which know
is valuab!e"-a bow here, and another from
Mr.. Lang-"a leisure which, without some
valid reason, it would be objectionable to in
terrupt" another bow-''to ask that YOU will
communicate to me such minutia as the
time given to the experiment has permitted
you to form. Do you find the result of the
blue glass what it is claimed to be?'
Take seat, SIR" said Mr.. Lang, waving
his thin hand with gratiied flush. ''The
intrusion upon my time is of less conse-
quence, as it will be qualification to discuss
the theory in question with an inquirer like
minded with myself. 1t is rare in this viii
lage to find any sympathy in scientific mat
tiers. l am happy to say that the result of
my trial of blue glass confirms the statement
as to its value. The subject-a young per-
son in my own family-has made rather
marked improvement during the thirteen
appreciable degree in flesh and color, and
though that is of less momentum what IS
termed spirits, cheerfulness; her appetite
has likewise augmented. l regard the dis
covery as valuable to high degree, and am
preparing digest of observations, to be pub.
lished al later period. Meanwhile I shall
test its application to the growth of human
hair Gone of the claims made for it) by the
insertion of a blue sky.light over my study
table,"
"Admrablep chimed in Gordon. "Noth-
ing could be more interesting Can the glass
be applied to an ordinary window, or must
there be special apparatus 2"
mot at all. An ordinary window answers
the purpose perfectly. 1t is an affair of half
an hour to make the change"
"Ordinary putty?" went on Gordon anx-
iously.
Certainly; the putty of every day"-wav-
ing hand impressively. "You can see the
pane in question, if you choose; but there is
nothing to distinguish it except the color"
81 should like to examine it," said Cor
don.
So it came to pass that Bertha, sitting du-
teously in her wonted place, with her won
drous veil of shining hair falling about her,
was transfixed by the apparition of her lover
led into the room by her uncle, who mani
tested to this new acquaintance a warmth
which she had never seen in him before.
''This is the pane" he said: "color dark.
as you see; an oblong, two ten by one eight.
set in the ordinary way, in an ordinary frame
and not interfering with the use of the win
dow. The sash opens and shuts as usual.n
II see that it does," with glance at Ber-
tina.
"OhW went on Mr.. Lang, "and here is NV
subject. 1t is her hour for the reception of
the blue ray. You observe that she has a
healthy color enough now. Entirely the re-
suit OF blue glass, Sir. She was pallid to
remarkable degree when she began"
There was certainly no lack of color to
complain of in the flushed dimpling cheeks
which were trying so hard to restrain SMILE
fortunately Mr.. Lang was too much occu-
pied to observe this unseemly levty. He
busted himself with the blue pane. Gordon
preserved an air OF profound scientific inter-
est. Presently he took his leave, with per-
mission to return for farther light on the the
ory.
In this inch-giving, ell-yielding world, the
first step is truly the one which wins. 1t
proved so in this case. Gordon Gray was
not forced to take his bride through the win
dow. She came to him through the door
some months later, in broad daylight, with
her uncle's consent, given with certain in
advertence as from a mind occupied with
higher themes, but still consent, Whether
it would have been SO easily accorded had
not the opportune and engrossing discovery
of the telephone occurred just then, we need
not inquire. Bertha has bossomed like
rose in the full radiance of married happi-
ness. She needs no blue glass now; but for
old times's sake, Gordon has had one little
pane inserted in that window of her bou.
DOR where she is wont to sit and watch for
his homecoming at sunset. Bertha pro-
posed instead an emblematical design, with
the legend, 'Love laughs at medicine" but
Gordon was firm, and there 10 this day shines
the plain blue pane TO witness to the truth of
this story.