Telegram-herald., 1889-07-17
TOMS SECRET.


Already Knew It
Tom Douglas was young. good-icoktng,
aud woald some day Dc well-to-do. but above
all cllnxs be Was scientific. His passion
for scisaoe first became noticeable when
he began 10 learn chemistry ia the FSarth
Form AZ Halstone School Tom and al his
class fellows were deeply taken by the
weird ana Gnear,kly oders, the terrifying
explosions, and the miraculous bursts Of
sUbaausous Ers which appeared at the viii
Of Mr.. 6tubba, the science master. Indeed,
they endeayored persistently 10 emulate
their tutors exploits, but even the tutors
performances were presently quite ecllpsed
by those Of his promising pupil Tom Tie
boy had perfect genius for explosions. SO
that il soon became customary among the
others, duriag the two or three hours
which they spent each week IN the laoora-
tory, to give up any little enterprises Sf
their own and simply keep an eye on Toms
movements. IL was usually worth their
while, for he rarely failed 70 do something
marvellous.
When the end Of term came and the youth
arrived At his home In Dulberry, he set on
st once on q tour Of inspection round the
home premises A small building, which be-
lo1ged 70 the gardener, AID was used by
him As a storehogse for seeds, flower pots,
and other things appertaining TO his craft
struck his fancy. He found no difficult
ty In pers9aaing his too complaisant pa
rents 10 make this room over TO him,
and Notwithstanding the murmurs OF Sandy
the gardener, IL was forth with emptied OF
It's horticultural contcnts, fitted with
benches, shelves and q FIRE place, and gen.
orally rendered nabltable. Chemicals also.
and all kinds OF apparatus, were ordered
from London. Had his parents not been
altogether ignorant of the science or chem
lstry they would have noticed that the
chen icals which Tom ordered, and for
which they b.indly paid, were chiefly OF the
kiEd which 20 20 make up explosions. Al
most Us soon as the laboratory had been
dttei Up, the goods arrived from London.
On the first day nothing worthy of note
was seen or heard, Tom being too Duslly
engaged in the arranging and aduDrin5 his
treasures 10 begin experimenting with
them. Soon, however, the household began
10 listen with mild liberation TO the loud ex-
plosons which, at intervals or about An
hour, we're constantly heard from the
direction of Toms laboratory. They were
not quite so tractable, however, when the
embryo chemist grew tired for the moment
Of noises and turned his attention TO the
production of unpleasant odors. But even
then the boy was quite safe from inter
ruption. They were not likely To attempt 70
approach the source of cdors by which
they were already almost stified; whereas
rora reveled In the malodorous products Of
his experiments. and behaved, IN an at
mosphsre reeking with the most abcuinable
r1FN
breathing his native air after long and
painful period of exile
His love Of science grew stronger, IL a
good deal more rational, a. years passed by.
At last, when he went up 70 Oxford, another
roora was added to his den. This was fur
uished sfser tho manner Of the under grad
yates rooms, and here he kept his personal
property and did most Of his reading. Like
most science-men, be was fond OF novels,
aud Of these this room soon contained an ex-
tensive and catholic collection. But the
course of true love never did run smooth,
and at last Tom Douglas discovered that
there was one thing which, struggle as he
might 70 ignore IL, was beginning to inter
est dim far more than any OF the sciences
to which he had hitherto devoted himself
His fathers brother had many years ago
enigratsd 10 Australia Almost immedi-
ately he had married; but after a few
years Of hard struggle against poverty his
wife died, leaving him a little daughter.
Dora Tom Douglas was ia hls fourth year
when he heard from home that his unknown
uncle was dead His father had received a
letter some months before, saying that
Dora vogid soon be alone ia the world. She
would De rich-for success bad come TO her
/ father when 10 was too late TO save his wife
and now the dying man begged ms broth
er % become her guardian and offer her g
horne. Mr.. Douglas had az once consented
and Dora arrived il England shortly be
( fore the commencement OF Toms last long
/ vacation. 80 that when he arrived At Dal
berry she had already been there for a wees 1
or tw1 The cousins became very good
I friends: and il was the image CT sweet
I girlish face. blse-eyed aud a little sad
t wb5cb occu pied Tom mind and cassed hin
~ neglect MS science-vv work almost entirely
stthe end Of toe long be went . u
Oxford once more. IN order 70 tske leave o'
his friends and formally - take bic degree
I fer A. the end of TIE previous term be bad
F gained a 'sfrst1 in Houors Casrn stry
+ Thts brief absence from Dorawzs soufterlJ
pairF1l to him that he became aware Of To-
lat sfas be really was very raGca ia lovc
with her OF cutFss. be ouwht % have
knswn il before; perhaps he had eone 80
cut az east be lad never ackBowi@i ged 4
F ~ h.mself A. any rate he made haste q
get back 70 his home.
Wbea he returned 70 Duiberry he csrriee
F with saxioas so icit8de hox, which srpesres
F 4 oeoutaSn something Z atonee very frsEi auf
iuestmasiy vaiu4bie Dors rad taken I
great interest "a "a scientific stUiles-c'
rather. be bad revived Ter her benefit b
/ boytsh interest n explosions. After llnca
therefore. he scld her thst darIag lis 40
( sence De hss spent a few dags II town aat
sners bad secured a scisauic wonder
I wnlch ste nas8 azsine. He tex the ,
assssf BIS srIs, and thsy wsAs sogetaer Z