The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1879-08-14

ana tacltly gave them credit f0l
modesty and good taste. But Mrs. Wal.
ter Hewey did not intend that her Dime,
should lose the eclat of profoundly scien.
ti6c discourse. At the first opportunity
over an entree of bis du ream aur champion.
ons, she leaned forward, anG, raising her
voice to reach the ears of Professor Cad.
der, who sat half The length of the table
away, she remarked:
"And the great work, Professor Does
it advanceP"
''Slowly, madam" quick look at Cas-.
serly. at is labor of lifetime"
''You must know, Mr.. Casserly," said
the hostess, that the Professor is engaged
on an exhaustive treatise on Chinese liter.
AZURE of the sixth century before Christ. 81
'And it will be delightful" cried Miss
Rideout. 81 am longing for its appear.
ance."
Professor Calder bowed in acknowledge
ment. Casserly put on an expression Of
polite interest.
81 am sure, Mr.. Casserly," continued
Mrs. Hewey, shat you can appreciate the
value of his labors."
Casserly blusked. He was rather ner-
vous, but felt called upon to say something
at is subject" he ventured, Fin which
have taken some interest"
The eminent sinologist eyed him as.
kance.
81 have thought" Casserly desperately
continued, seeing that he was expected to
make further remark on Chinese literature
of the sixth century before Christ, ''that a
version of the philosophical poem of the
great Kwang-Hi, preserving the original
meter, would" He stammered and
stopped, for he saw that Professor Calder
was regarding him with a curious smile.
'How straight he goes to the heart Of
the subject" said Miss Croker in an
audible whisper to Miss Rideout.
"He has caught me-" thought Casserly.
''What confounded fool l am to com.
promise myself by attempting details"
The dinner went on. The intense vel.
low light from the blazing chandelier
overhead poured down in an unrelentinQ
food upon the colffures Of the women and
the bald heads OF the scientists. The
guests perspired. Mrs. DIR. Thwing's
face was red. Bead-like drops, distilled
by the heat and wine, stood glistenlng upon
her forehead and upon her tat white
arms. She took napkin, and, in shelter
of the secrecy afforded by the tablecloth,
stelthily wiped her arms up to the elbows.
Casserly, who sat by her. saw the deed.
She perceived that he saw it, and her face
grew roster still.
Mrs. Hewey persistently directed the
conversation to themes which she hoped
would draw out Casserly. Like a strate-
gist executing flank movement, she
approached his intellectual works under
cover of tented assault upon DIR. Thwing.
She led that celebrated microscopic to
tell about the wonderful floriated follicle
from the small intestines of pig, which
he discovered yesterday under binocular
lens of 252 diameters. He compared the
spectacle to round bed of magnificent
pansies. He became enthusiastic, and
Iauncned into brilliant description fthe
Malpighian bodies in the splenic pulp.
The hostess was enchanted. She
glanced from DIR. Thwing to Casserly.
who listened with a frozen smile, and
then from Casserly back to DR.. Ihwing.
The dinner had taken a truly scientific
turn. Meanwhile the servants re moved
the plates and brought clean plates, and the
damask cloth lost some of its immaculate
whiteness and became Uttered with
crumbs.
'.And what is your theory of ciliary mo-
ton ?? asked the celebrated mlcroscopist
to Casserly.
81 deny it. SIR" boldly replied Cas-
serly, who felt that it was the safest
course.
Deny it." gasped the microscopic,
turning pale. And may ask upon
what grounds?"
This is charming" whispered Miss
Croker to Miss Rideout.
The butler opened window at the top.
The distant notes of a hand-organ upon
the street were family heard.
81 deny it, continued Casserly, grow
ing reckless in the hopelessness OF his sit.
uation, because in the first place the"
Fortunately, at this crisis Professor
Flamway created diversion by upset
ting glass of wine upon the mauye silk
overskirt of Miss Croker. To relieve his
pitiable confusion, Miss Hewey politely
inquired about the lepidoptera In his COL
lection and everybody talked of insects.
The dessert had been put in place. The
various wines had had their effect upon
He no longer avoided the top
les which the interchangeable hostess urged
upon his attention. Apprehension
had given away to a sort of sardonic Joy
10 involving himself deeper and deeper in
difficulty. He pried Professor Flamway
with questions and assailed him with arg
lments on controverted points in ento-
biological science. He recklessly
the positions which Pro
essor Hemingshaw maintained In
zoology. He politely sneered at
Professor Hemmingshaw's favorite the
Try Of the Trenton limestone. He per-
,eived with singular pleasure an evident
on the part Of the four en-
rent specialists to prolong the oonversa-
ion on their respective subjects He saw
!is wilder and wilder statements received
" them in silence, while peculiar ex-
,ression grew upon their faces. He knew
hat he was suspected-more than sus.
'ected. detected-hemmed in by a square
i each corner of which sat a Judge who
ould blast him with word. He floun-
Iered on with the abandon of man who
lad nothing to lose.
The dinner was over at last. The wo-
nen, flaming themselves vigorously. swept
nto the drawing-room. The men passed
nto the smoking room and modify lighted
heir cigars.
Professor Hemmingshaw drew Cesserly
side from the others. Both gentlemen
rere nervous and embarrassed.
"A mans scientific reputation is his
host precious treasure" began the Pro-
essor, significantly.
Casserly assented. He did not care DOW
hat came to him. |,
And man who has been sailing under ,
alse colors deserves to be exposed" con-
nued the Professor. in q low tone.
''He does, said Casserly. |,
''let mercy is a noble quality" added
ne Professor. who showed much more az
ation than his victim.
Casserly bowed his head ann vaited |