San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-10
APPLIED SCIENCE.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.
Copyright

Copyright
For an hour or more the youtnful son
of science worked over his new mega
tives, and then he quietly closed the
shutters and lighted his stereopticon.
The first picture he threw upon the wall
greatly pleased him. With half parted
lips, a placid smile and closed eyes, the
sleeping Alma lived in shadowy beauty
before him.
"Queer such a charming girl should be-
long to such fOOln'
Not choice language for son of pure
eyed science, but history is history and
the truth must be told.
''Now for the paper"
He took Alma stolen picture from the
lantern and inserted in its place positive
copy of the paper he had captured from
her lover. Suddenly there flashed upon
the wan document of the most startling
and extraordinary character. lie read 1t
through several times before he could
bring himself to understand the peculiar
nature of the important discovery he had
made. Long and earnestly he gazed upon
the gigantic writing on the wall, and then
he slowly opened one Of the shutters and
the magic writing faded away in the rosy
Light of the setting sun.
~ ulOlIleuI dlltE, lue tea DtLl IuuS.
This over, young Mr.. Franklin said he
must go out for his evening constitu
tional He wished to be alone. The
events of the day, the discoveries he
made, and, more than all, Alma's grief
and silence at the supper table disturbed
him. He wished more air, more freedom
TO think over these things, and TO devise
some plan for future action.
Alma, What of her? Was he not
growing to like her-perhaps love her?
And she was engaged to that-that-he
could not think of him with patience.
The chimney; the two in the photo, and
the strange paper; what did they all mean?
Why were both father and daughter in
such evident distresss He pOndered these
things as he walked through the shadowy
lanes, and then, about 8 o'clock, he re-
turned, in measure composed and Sc.
rene.
There was light in the parlor, and he
went in and found Alma alone.
sob, Elmeri I'm glad you've come.
It's very lonely here. Father has gone
to bed quite i'll, and Lawrence asked me
to sit up till he returned. He's gone
down to the village on some business. |
can't see why he should. The stores are
closed and the last train has gone"
She made place for him on the sofa,
and he sat down beside her For some
time they talked indifferently upon va
rious matters-the weather, the heat Of
the day and like triviallties.
Suddenly she turned upon him and said,
with i'll suppressed excitement:
"What did you do with it, Elmer9''
"Do with whatY
''The picture"
"oh, yes-the lantern slide. / wish /
had never made it. It's up stairs in my
room"
"You didn't know it was Alice Green"
''No, How should l? l did not know
who either of the people was till the
picture was thrown upon the wall"
"Do you know now-know both of
them, meanr'
Yes, / think do. One was Mr. -
"Yes, Elmer, yOu may as well say it.
1t was Lawrence.
Elmer could think of nothing to say,
and wisely said nothing. After a brief
pause Alma said slowly, as if talking to
herself:
SIT was cruel thing to do"
II did not mean to be cruel"
"0h, my dear cousin, don't think Of it
in that way. II was Lawrence who was
80 cruel.
"Yes 1t was not very gentlemanly;
but perhaps he does not care for-for this
person"
''He does. The picture was only con-
irmGtion of what / had heard before.
I've done with him." she added, in sort
of suppressed desperation. "Fm going
to break our engagement this very night.
know it will nearly break my heart, and
father will be very angry; but, FL
mer, come nearer; let me tell you
about it. I'm afraid Of him, He
has such an evil eye, and you
remember the chimney-the day you
camel thought he would kill you,
he was so angry"
Evidently she was in sore trouble, Even
her language was marked by doubt and
difficulty.
"Adyise me, Elmer. Tell me what to
do. / hardly know which way to turn,
and I'm SO lonely. Father is busy every
day, and can't talk to him. And Law
rence-I dare not trust him."
Here she began to cry softly, and hid
her face in her handkerchief. The son Of
science was perplexed What should he
do or sayS All this was new to him. That
young and pretty girl should appeal to
hin with such earnestness Disconnected