, 1888-03-15

impartial cupid OF exact science, IL would
be upon night and In an hour such as
this, with the pure and warm ana pre-
cio,is thing In g;i,lze upon your arm.
The old man was soon In state or fu'
rious inipatcncc. Three times had he sat
himself down In his library chair before
the instrument, aud three times had the
needle stood moionlcss, only sending him
back to the door to discover that they had
not taken tho chairs, but were STOPPING
over flower, or bending over the crystal
rim OF the little lake, or standing still to
breathe in the magical radiance of the
wonderful silent moon hut AT last they
approached the seats. They sat down as
intended. lie rushed back to the library
nnd---
How the old mans eyes llghtenedl The
needle had gone from to u the minute
Vcllum touched the chair.
Then the old man pumped himself
down in his seat, und with the shaded
lamp light shining brightly on the face Of
the instrument and bringing the Watchers
nose and mouth in full relief he watched
with all his eyes.
"Symmetry," said Vellum slowly and
earncstly---alonc with her In the shade OF
the elm-''it seems to me this is the hap
picst night Of my lifc'---
The needle rose slowly ms he spoke
from . to II flush.
"Te-hee,' chuokled the old man In the
library.
"But do you know, dear friend" Mr..
Vclum continued, "that IL Will be the
unhappiest OF them all II you choose to
make IL soy"
The depression of the nrteria circula-
tlon In Nalum. through his fear, sent the
needle back TO 10.
Symmetry said nothing
The needle went 10 =.
'What in thunder has hnppcncdY ejac-
alated the old man uneuSily.
She could not speak, she was so beauti-
iully, hopclessly I'm love that she dared not
trust herself To say one word. she could
only turn herself mutely 10 the man be-
side her rand let the soft luminance of tho
moonlight sift down to show the ghost of
the happy tears that lay in those eyes.
that were so earnest and alight with love.
Nellum f''t n orcat throb OF JOY us he
saw her mamlr &. The needle jumped
like n flash 10 %.
"Ahr' said the old gentleman cheerily.
"Ah-h-h.hr he continued patronizingly,
rs 1t crcpt steadily up to %.
~ have never loved any woman said
Vcllum with slightly husky intenseness
81 have thought ut times that they would
be in all my life az things apart. But
from the moment | met you Symme-
try''----- lie drew long, silent breath.
The needle was 40 and II fraction.
High tension" said the old man, shak-
ing his head. ''Suthin III have to give
way pooty soon" And with his right
thumb and foreiinger he twisted COM
press clamp just the faintcst part of an
inch, watching intently the while.
81 am afraid To say the words came to
say"-Ncllum was greatly agitated-the
needle went back u littlc--"it seems to
me as II my whole life was hanging in tho
balanceh-thc needle was A-''but could
you--would you, darling, would you-be
my wife,
His arm went forth in unconscious up
peuling To her shoulder, it passed about
her neck of its own accord the loving girl
sank toward him like u beautiful bcuding
lily, her head was upon his shoulder, and
in that kiss of perfect, Of intense and
trnnscendcnt worship her lovers lips wero
pressed to hers.
Two hundred and the maximum. IL
had jumped there In II fash The old
mans hair was on end and his eyes wero
bulging Tho needle clung To- the limit
like u mussc to n rock. IL would pass
over ON the negative side Hy back, try to
get higher, audi
''Snapr' there was faint sound. Tho
delicate balance had broken. The galvan.
ouctcr was ruined.
The old man was wild. lie was as mad
~ n whole convention of hattcrs. His pct
instrument! He almost frothed at the
mouth. lie rushed through the hall, out
OF the door, down the walk, and flew ut
ycllun.
"Iou scoundrcl, You've smashed my
galvauomctcr, - he roared
"Tvc kissed your daughter. you old
fool roarcd Ncllum back mt him.
oh said symmetry in anguish. Sho
shivered in loves fear,
The Oil mans face was n study. There
was not u sign Of anger in Il. AT Ncllums
words, rs II by magic, his look had
changed instantly to one OF deep interest
and some hesitation.
'Hou-;t--yOu kissed her. you sayfn
~ did said Ncllum, wi ,hout the least
apparent shame.
Gould you--a--ahem." The oil man
was really confused. "Could you--a-
I've got another gulvanometer--could you,
could you kiss her againS'
"Wcll, rather" Vellum did not lose
moment. lie kissed her sountlly, and she
did not dare to disobey.
"Oh, no-stop--l didn't mcan'---- The
old gentleman was thrown of his balance. =
But he was helpessly In u dilemma. He
stood silent. en- -eiy perplexed.
"Will you take me for II son-ir-law p'
asked Vcllum squarely.
"Oh, yes; of course" returned the old
man, n little distracted. "When--a--
when'n you be up again ,"
IL was some time before Mr. Vellum be-
came aware of the mysterious concOmi-
tants of his courtship. When he knew he
laughed long ana loud. They are married
now, and Symmetry seems TO share her
fathers interest In the exact sciences. At
least she thinks that galvanometer the
most perfect mechanical osntrivancc in
the wide, wide world.--II. j. w. Dam in
New York Times.