, 1890-12-25
our TS.'
London World, /

lDnUOfl NOrlu.
When one Is iluffy.harod, CHEEKY.
tempered and % years of age--and
little Lady Loveday was all three
one does not regard with unmixed
rapture the prospect Of a whole weel,
with the British Association for the
Advancement of Science. But Sir
James had been elected president
for the year, and his wife, as in duty
bound, was obliged to accompany
him.
The town of Mud chester, with Its
forest of tall chimneys and its per-
petual gloomy pail, may possibly
represent the sinews and strength
of England, but 1t Is not exactly an
ideal place In which to spend the
early days of September. Elsewhere
there are blue skies, heather-clad
moors and grouse on the swing, but
Mudchestcr, for some inscrutable
reason, preserves the same
gray and depressed appear.
ance year In and year out.
Sir James Loveday, however, full OF
the temporary Importance which
attaches to the eminent scientist
who is president of the year, was de-
lighted with the whole thing, and
especially proud of showing of his
pretty young wife to his scientific
colleagues, whose spouses, though
uniting in their persons the mani.
fold virtues of the British matron,
could hardly lay claim to either
epithet. They had met on home
ward-bound Cunnrder, and though
this particular ship had beaten the
record, there had been time enough
for Sir james to become enamored
OF Miss Lena Gardner, who, finding
no one younger to her taste on board,
had smiled on the elderly scientist
until he had offered her his name
and his fortune. She was sensible
young woman, with nice appreci-
alton of the good things of this life,
and. In six weeks time from their
landing at Liverpool. they were
quietly married in London.
Quite little murmur of admira-
tion and notable craning of mas
culine necks greeted Lady Loveday
as she made her appearance In the
town hall of Manchester on the
night of the opening address. 1t
was her first introduction to tine
scientific world. and men of science
much like other men, are apt to APP
preciate good looks. In her white
brocnde mantle, a boa of ostrich
feathers encircling her pretty throat,
and some diamond arrows thrust
through her hair, sho looked radi-
ant vision of youth and beauty In
the crowd of addressed, gawky
women who made up the feminine
portion of the audience. Devotion
to the toilet forms no part of the
programme of the ladies who attend
meetings of the British Association,
the advancement of science being
more important in their eyes than
the plating of hair and wearing OF
gold. And so Lena was able to
make her little sensation. She en-
tered the large hall alone, for Sir
James was already in his place on
the platform, and was even giving
the preliminary cough which pre-
cedes the opening address.
man to himself-a young man who
had strolled in late, and now found
himself at the very back of the vast
hall--"if that isn't Lena! Odd that
/ should see her the first week /
arrive in England What the deuce
Is she doing here? Wonder If she
has forgotten? Well-it's three
years ago."
The opening address was an
enormous success, IA 1t always il.
During the week the popular en-
thusiasm, cooled by many scientific
lectures, may aLate; but on the
opening night no judge on the
bench Is surer of laugh than the
eminent scientist who opens the
meeting. The mildest .jokelets are
received with rapture, the feeblest
SMILES get n round OF applause.
Lady Loveday was surrounded by
admiring chemists, biologists and
botanists by the time the large au-
dience was filing out.
you'll come with our expedition
on Thursday, Lady Loveday, won't
you?" urged thin young pro-
lessor from Scotch. university,
whose appearance suggested the sus-
picion that he had recently come
out of an eye hospital.
Lady Loyeday smiled and made
up her mind TO the inevitable.
After all he was only little worse
than the rest All the young men
mt the meeting wore rundown col
lars and coats which had apparently
been made for somebody else.
"I shall be delighted" " she said,
in her most cordial tone. "Where
are you going and what are you GO
ing to do to Improve me?'
"Oh, it's an expedition down q
salt mine. We shall have to take
you down in bucket. You won't
mind, will you?" urged the weak
eyed young man eagerly.
"Not at all, II you will insure the
rope not breaking"
But all the same, wnen Tn ursday
arrived, and Lena found herself
alone ut the railroad siation-for
Sir James had u committee meeting
that morning, and could only Join
her later on in the day-she felt
somew hat depressed at the prospect
before her. There was n large and
somewhat weird-looking crowd on
the platform. A slight drizzle was
falling, and the ladies of the nartv