The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1889-12-15

original sounts Sers onee more repro
/ onced
Ton tried 70 persuade Dora to sing =
song. asu1 the presence Of that silent re-
coraeg made her nervous. and she was con-
tent xsth listening 70 the repetition al
some trite ard rather disconnected re-
marks 0E BIS 0sn- The nexs few days
passed Dot quite happily Tor Thomas
Douglas. He vas In ioye--deepiy IN love
With Dora, uGf he did not dare 70 tell
Aer IS set the secret which was neEerthe-
less betrayed 10 her keen sight BY bis every
word ard action He spent mach time
Acne IN his study amusing himself after 3
very ally fashion with the photograph.
Ore day he had gone o. visit 70 some
friends. and Dora Sas feeling i9zely ard q
tribe ennuiei Her cogsin hasi begged hSF
to borrow any 81 his books II 81 any time
she wanted something % read, and she
went down % his room 10 get one. As she
sent she was thinking OF him. and wonder
ing Why he still hesisated 10 ask her the
simple question waich she would 80 gladly
answer the question be was 50 constantly
asking himself. ard 20 which mis- love and his
humility beth gave different answers. She
had chosen book, when her eyes fell On
the photograph lying ready for use on the
table. Nov that she was aaoue she thought
Il would be rather pleasant 10 try how bis
own voice sounded She had lately read
in one OF the newspapers that people had
40 idea Of what tbeir voices really sounded
ike; and she rather wondered whether her
singing. Of which she was inclined TO think
highly. was really a. good as she had i'm
agined.
Filled with dread lest the unflattering
photograph should prove to her that her
voice MAS harsh and unpleasant. and not
quite decided as 70 what song she should
try. she began TO move the treadle which
set the cylinder in motion7 What sound
was that which fell upon her earsg Her
cousins voice was speaking 10 her, and,
after a moment of blank establishments,
she listened with quiet smile, as though
Tom was standing before her in the flesh
and saying what the phonograph now said
for him. This is what she heard: Dora,
darling. / have loved you ever since the
day when first | saw youl | have longed
20 tell you every day since then. but have
always been afraid. VIII you try 10 love
me just a little r. The voice lapsed into
silence.
With 3 sudden gladness Dora saw what
had happened. Her cousin had also wen
dsred how his voice sounded 10 others-to
her and especially how the question
would sound which he so ionged TO ask.
Well. the voice struck her Is awkward
constrained quite unlike the cheerful tones
10 which she had become so accustomed.
but the words
At that moment she heard her cousins
voice al the other end Of the garden. He
had returned home Unexpectedly, and was
chatting with the gardener. He would be
here presently, no doubt In moment
she had once more set in motion the cylin-
der OF the phonograph and, bending over
it, spoke a few words in low, clear voice.
Then she shifted the cylinder back into its
original positions and stepped quickly info
the next room, the laboratory.
In a few minutes she heard the CONVEX
sation between Tom and the gardener
cease. The young man came quickly
down the garden and entered bis sactum.
He flung his hat and walking stick upon a
chair, and then the phonograph struck his
attention. lie moved toward IL and stood
looking down ON 1t, with his back toward
the door of the room whence Dora was
eagerly watching him. Then he began abb
sent-mindesiiy 10 set the treadie in motion.
0nce more the photograph spoke, and as
il did so Dora moved silently forward and
stood In the open doorway Of the labora-
tory. Dora. darling, ! have loved you
ever since the day when ! first saw you.
! have ionged 10 tell you ever since then,
bat have always been afraid. WIN you
try 10 love me just little?n
Tom had heard these words and then,
before he had moved his foot from the
treadle, the phonograph spoke in another
voice; why should you be afraid TO
come and ask me. when you know"
Ii was Dora's voice. eYea while he won
dered at this marvel he heard the same
voice speaking again. "Tom." said the
voice. and turning he saw his cousin
standing with haii-parted lips aud laugh
ing, rosy face. only a yard or two away
from him. Dora. he cried, YOU have
learned nay secretg" Dora moved toward
him and hid her face on his shoulder.
Then, as he raised and kissed it, she whis-
pered, Yes Tom, long ago.