Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-04
AN CHRONOLOGICAL IDYL.
1.-THE GOBLIN MOTH

only sound was that OF the professors pen at his
desk as IL scratched rapidly along the paper and
added sentences and paragraphs 70 his lengthy
and exhaustive treatise on "The Goblin Moth"
Every AGw and then he would strike knotty prob
lem and stop, his pen uplifted HIS brow would
knit and his saxon face would gather together
with the concentration OF thought: his short, yell
low curly hair would seem to bend over his high
white forehead TO admiringly peep at the working
Of his faculties and his placed blue eyes would
gate sternly through his spectacles upon the point
at issue Clearly 10 was useless for the Goblin
moth TO attempt to conceal anything from his
unreienting pursuit. In his neat gray suit he was
big square-framedm man OF forty -ve the professor
All science held for him the fascination which the
search after truth exerts upon every true student
Bue his chosen field was entomology. Bugs were
his hobby.
IN q desultory and aimless kind OF way In an adj
1acRnt room, ceased its echoes There was the rust
ng o. er1wn dSss and tas ses Gss w ne
thu professor, hesitated, and then sat quietly
down In an easy chair without word She was
twenty two, and they had been married year.
s,ne was a plump little woman who walked with
CT aceful dignity. She had a composed. thoughtful
de eply sympather:c as well as very merry. There
was a frm look about her mouth lines which
Indicated sslf-possessOn and self-reliance. Alto
ge:her she seemed very sensible and Enthusiastically
pretty: ,0 ,,,s.,
dom from a stand and opened Il IN the middle
she began 20 read In a somewhat distracted half
Interested way: Very soon IL descended slowly to
her lap and she fell 10 thinking. She looked
straight ahead OF her at the floor for a long time
then She leaned her head back and gazed nxedly
fng several times She looked over at the professor
wistfully. she yawned once and looked q little
tined and bored; she had apparently nothing 70
the professor. She sat still for a while longer.
Then she picked up an evening paper 20 readi
over again. The rustic OF the paper attracted the
professors attention and he looked around.
cAhi is it you, DEAR" he said pleasantly.
She went over TO him and looked down at his
work. Her hand strayed to his forehead and
slowly smoothed the curls.
GLOW are you getting on?" she said.
9ineHspiendidly. week more audit win be
at VIII never be nnished,r she said ruefully,
slipping down 10 a seat on his knee.
"on, but It Will See. have only Inns obser.
vafions 70 analyze and finish the experiments on
the last lot. and then.why, II Is done"
"And then you will not work any more ut
Hvery.iittie. There is only that paper for the
next meeting and the report for the year TO do
That viii not take long. Not long. my little
AohiS" he said loosely as he kissed her on the
cheek The Aphis was the prettiest bug he knew
She twined her arms around his neck and laid
htr cheek beside hia
'Oh, dearie, do love you so,- she murmured
earnestly, but somewhat irrelevantly.
"Sot more than 1 do you, my treasure" he said
He talked with her for a little while, and she
was bright and happy. But very soon she caught
his eye wandering over her shoulder the closely
written sheets, and she kissed him and dutifully
"You viii not work late" she said, half-plead.
1ngy. See! IL Is IL O'Clock, and you have been
Not ten minutes my dear. Not ten minutes"
''Surely?' she asked
But the bronze clock on the mantel had struck
midnight hall an hour agone before the professor
stopped his work and went thOughtfully TO bed.
And even then a puzzling question followed and
cid not leave him until he fell asleep.
The volume was not finished In a week or In a
month The Goblin moth had as many relations
ASH IL had come from Louisville, KY, and all
those relations had 10 be studied, analysed, and
placed In order that the world, which FOR a long
time had been In heathenlsh ignorance concerning
this microscopic but very important apple de-
stroyer, might have Its gnawing curiosity graft
ned The professor was In excellent spirits ali the
time. He could scarcely rnish his dinner quickly
enough To get at his favorite occupation. and the
Tact that he had been busy all day with his STU
dents did not seem 10 diminish the extent OF his
evening isbofs at all He talked a good deal
Win her during meal timeS-abOut bugS-and she
was dutifu.ly Interested, though the subject was
one which, had not the professor been Interested
In IT, might not have aroused her ardOr. After the
professor sat down at his desk she knew that he
was fixture there until midnight, and he always
sat down there Immediately after dinner. And so
the long. dreary evenings ran on as they had run
on for months before. The professor took some re-
creation, 10 be sure, and In IL she shared There
was a society Of very learned people in the neigh
oorhood, who met at private houses once month
10 proudly exhibit TO each other the solid chunks
OF truth that they had dug up out OF the terra In
preceding. The meetings were perhaps not as ex-
citing as dancing party; they might even have
sOcfaole, II the question OF amusement were con-
sidered: But they were very interesting from a
5aentinc standpoint, and the professor enjoyed
them greatly so thatit was natural that she should
enjoy them too.
Al one OF these meeting, just as the first paper,
which handled the tr0glodyteS without gloves,
was announced. she found herself seated next TO a
young man whose clothes fitted him so perfectly
that IL seemed almost worldly lie had been in
trOduced 10 her Jnat evening as 'Mr jack Some
tning-or-other, the brother OF the hostess When
the paper was finished and everybody began dis
cussing Its points she turned to the young man.
who seemed quite reserved, with a Courteous de,
sire TO make him feel at ease.
Are you engaged In scientific pursults?' she
asked.
"sOmewhar," he replied
''Do you read this evening"
he said modestly.
might ask the subject.p
certainly. II Is Researches into the Reticence
OF the Horned Toad"
Indeed she said and she nodded If the sub
that al professors wives did
"Haye you been at IL long?y
.'And what do you find is the cause OF fists
reticence think you saidsD
He nodded 81 have concluded that It is because
mas absolutely nothing 10 say
She looked al him sharply In SUNRISE There
was an e1pressioly drol look In his ewes. She
oorst into peal OF laughter. IL was TOO funny
Then she checked herself and blusbed deeply
livery body had looked up at the frivolous soIind
nc PiVicSooi sinlIcu IN gOO0-humOred sympathy
from across the room. IL occurred 70 him that he
had not heard her laugh Ike that for a long time
how could your" she asked Mr.. Jack In low
tones on reproach minute later "You are A
disgrace 70 this meeting"
well. my sister will make it up a." he said drylv
'Shes Diuer than skim milk. Just try her on me
Notness OF the Amt" 49, va ~
she laughed again. IL was the rankest neresy
Dul sne cOuld not help IL. II felt good 70 laugh.
Inere WIS scarcely a paper read that evening
which Old not call forth a shot from the free ana
fearless Arab at her side except the profes
sorA He eQmplimented that quite gracefulIy
She seemed % know him awfully we'll and was
win MIN all the evening. She invited him cor
daily Al the close to come and see them
IT. JACKS Irish eyes were very far-sighted and
Tor other things beside the invoices and sales
wncn occupied him during the day In Front street
In san franci,co He had seen her several times
on the ferry-boat and trains knew who she wss
ana was very DESTROYS or knowing her personally
IL had not been an accident that focsd him seated
next 70 her at the meeting. He was delighted 10
ma that all his pleasant Impressions concerning
her were correct.
During the following week he called 10 see them
and spend the evening. The professor SUSPENDED
us IaoOrs Tor time, but finally wandered back TO
tleui Win an apology 20 his guest. Mr. Jack did
hot conSca. DIS chagrin over what some people
Lave resArded as lapse In hospitality because he
ieit none he was quite content 10 remain in the
sitting room and chat with the hostess over things
mKeneIG He called again.
Inc innuence OF scientific surroundings an
pcaroo, alter time, 10 have uuire n ciytlizino
eueSt on their caller. He had gathered a great
uoea VI iniornatlon, and the interest ne took in
the couln moth was really surprtsny In one 30
new 70 tne subject He listened TO the professor
with uIdirninishing attention and f,er,Ipa !. r.
4taz