The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-05-30

draws back her pretty head, and, looking
at her companion, says, How much
Bella is like her sister Teresa-that is,
when Teresa was only sixteenp
ssIs she?" asks Mr.. Fishback.
"Why, don't you rememberw says
the lady.
81 do not" replies Mr.. Fishback, with
emphasis.
Miss Laura makes two Interrogation
points of her silken eyebrows, opens her
mouth to speak, thinks better of it,
closes her red lips firmly, and turns to
the window again as the Follow-follow
follow-me-ers stop playing and gather
in group, with their eyes fixed upon a
small aerial car, gayly decorated with
flags, which is gently swaying between
heaven and earth, as it slowly descends
toward the lawn In a few moments it
touches the ground, and a handsome
young fellow leaps out, and is greeted
with many EXPLANATIONS of pleasure and
surprise.
Beardsley. $50 soon returned from
LondonY Why, he only started few
days ago."
eyes; flying ship american Eagle
fastest of the Air Line. heard of her
arrival Just after breakfast this morn
ing, when it was shouted by the tele-
phone at the station below"
''Thirtv miles awayp
"Ohl that's nothing. We expect to
be able to hear news from hundred
miles away before many years are past"
"May not be in the immediate vicin-
ity when that news is shoutedl" says the
lady, with an involuntary movement of
her pretty white hands toward her
pretty rose-tipped ears, "for / should ex-
pect to be deaf for ever more"
"Never fear, my dear-I mean Miss
Beardsley. Such misfortune as that
shall never occur, even though you
should chance to be at the very side of
the shouter. Edison is at this moment
perfecting an instrument that begins to
deliver its messages in moderately
loud veice, which increases in volume
as it is carried forward, until it reaches
the most distant point it is intended to
reach, thus maintaining an even tone
all along the route. How glorious all
these Edisonian inventions arep he
continues, with a glow of enthusiasm,
and what humdrum times our ancestors
must have had without them! Why,
they are the very life of the age. There's
the phonograph, for instance-but | beg
pardon: you are looking bored. l can
not expect you to take as much interest
in these scientific subjects as l do. Is
not Reginald coming this way"
"He is not" answers Miss Laura, de-
murely; che is still holding Bella's
hand, and totally ignoring all the other
welcoming hands extended to him."
"tAhl the old, old story that is ever
newl" quotes Mr.. Fishback, as he peeps
over the shoulder of his fair guest at
the new arrival; and then, suddenly
rising and confronting her, he exclaims:
" You must have heard that story very,
very often, -Laura-forgive my calling
you SO, but you used to permit it in the
days we went blackberrying together
some ten years ago; and forgive me
again, but, upon my word, I can not
help asking you, impelled as | am by
some mysterious power, Why have you
never marriedT'
A blush rises to her cheek, but she
looks up in his face calmly, and replies:
"I don't remember the blackberry cpl
sodes, and / have remained unmarried
because I vowed when young girl never
to marry unless convinced that | was
the first and only love of the man whose
wife became"
Laura, have never loved another"
"Mr. Fishback, you forget my old
friend Teresa, the sister of the girl to
whom your brother Reginald is now
making love on the lawn"
"Good heavens! Laura, how mistaken
you are!"
"'Twas with her you looked for black
berries. never knew you to find any
not with me, sill"
"Laura, how blind you werel / sought
her society only to be near you. l de-
clare, upon my word and honor, / lin
gered by her side for hours and hours
in the hope that you would join us for
moment or two during the time. and
when you did, in that moment or two
was concentrated the joy of the whole
day. You were so proud, so cold, so re-
served, 1 did not dare to approach you
save through your friend; and"
"And you did not bury yourself in
seclusion for two years after she Tilted
you and married Frank Huntington p
she asks, as he pauses.
"Great heavensl how preposterous
Laura, ] saCear-"
But, as he is about to swear, enter 6
procession of small nephews and nieces
and attendant friends, the leader ot
which carries an odd-looking box.
"See, unclel" the bright-eyed little
fellow calls out as he approaches. 90
found this old phonograph on the tol
shelf of your closet, where | was look
ing for your fish line to play horse with
and it talks like every thing"
With this he begins to turn the meta
crank, and voice-a somewhat shril
young voice, the voice of Teresa, siste
Bella-whilom friend of Laura Boards
ley-begins to speak:
Yes, Leon, my own, 1 will grant you
impassioned prayer, and breathe tn
words you long TO hear into this magica
CdSk0b, anu luCu, WuOh JOu diO tOhOi
or inclined to doubt me, jealous one, yo
can call them forth to bring back tn
smiles to your dear face, and joy
your dear heart. l do return the lov
you SO ardently avow, and l aoM MARI
you when mamma gives her consent
Until then no lips shall touch the LIZ
made sacred by your kiss, no hand sha
clasp the hand that wears your lovel
diamond ring. But, oh, Leon dear, tr
to like Laura little for my sake.
know she is all that. you say she is-a
fected, cold-hearted, naughty and di
agreeable q am just naughty enough
be pleased when you tell me her beaut,,
: SO much admired by Others, particuls
] Frank Huntington, fades into utter il
! significance besides'that of your own Ii
f tie sa)-but, my Leon, try, oh tr
to tolerate her, for, strange as it may a
{ pear to you, disliking her as you do, Ia
/ quite fond of her. Good night, belove'
: Dream of your Tessa."
v "That something or other" ph
/ nograph!" said Mr.. Fishback;
!. thought I destroyed it long ago." as
4 angrily snatched it from the hands
: the small discoverer.