Wichita eagle., 1890-01-18

word and action he spent good deal OF
time alone in his study, and amused himself
after q rather silly fashion with the phone
graph.
One day he had gone off ON a visit to some
friends, and Dora was feeling lonely and q
trihe weary Fer cousin had begged her to
| borrow any of his books if at any time she
wanted something to read, and she went
down to his study to get one As she went,
she was thinking Of him, and wondering why
he still hesitated to ask her the simple quas-
ticn, which she would SO gladly answer-the
question which he was constantly asking him.
self. and to which his love and humility both
gave different answers. She had chosen q
book, when her eye fell on the phcnograph
lying ready for use on the table. Now that
she was alone, she thought it would be rather
pleasant to try how her own voice sounded.
She had read lately ia one of the newspa-
pers that people had no idea of what their
voices really sounded Like; and she rather
wondered whether her singing, OF which she
was inclined to think highly, was really SO
good as she imagined. Filled with dread lest
the unlattering photograph should prove to
her that her voice was harsh and unpleasant,
and rot quite decided as to what song she
should try, she began to move the ueadis
which set the cylinder in motion. What
sound was that which fell upon her ears!
Her cousins voice was speaking to her; and
after a moment Of blank establishment, she
listened with quiet smile, as though Tom
were standing before her i'll the flesh and say
ing what the phonograph now said for him
This is what she heard: Dora, darling, |
have loved you since the day when first
saw you. | have longed TO tell you every
day since then, but have always been afraid
VIII you try to love me just httlef" The
voice lapsed into silence.
With sudden gladness Dora saw what
had happened Her cousin had also wondered
how his voice sounded to otherS-Jo her-and
especially how the question would sound
which he so longed to ask. Well, the voice
struck her as awkward, constrained, and
quite unlike the cheerful tones to which she
had become accustomed; but the words
at that moment she heard her cousins
voice at tho other end of the garden. He had
returned home unexpectedly, and was chat
ting with the gardener lie would be here
presently, no doubt.
In moment she had once more set in mo-
ton the cylinder OF the photograph, and
bending over it spoke few words In low,
clear voice. Then she lifted the cylinder back
into its original position, and stepped quickly
into the next Foom-the laboratory
In few minutes she heard the converse
ton between Tom and the gardener cease
The young man came quickly down the gar
den and entered his sanctum. He flung his
hat and walking stick upon chair, and
then the photograph struck his attention. He
moved toward it, and stood looking down on
it, with his back toward the door of the room
whence Dora was eagerly watching him.
Then he began absent mH,dedly to put the
treadle in motion. Once more the phono-
graph spoke, and as be did so Dora moved 81
lentIy forward and stood i'll the open door Of
the laboratory. Dora, darling, l have
loved you ever since the day when l first saw
you have longed to tell you every day
since then, but have always been afraid.
VIII you try to love me just little.
Tom heard these words and then, before
he had moved bis foct from the treadle the
photograph spoke in another voice: "Why
should you be afraid to come and ask mo
when you know"-
1t was Dora's voice, and even while he
wondered at this marvel he heard the same
voice speak king again. Toni" said the voics,
and turning he saw his cousin standing with
a yard OF two away from him.
Dora" he cried you have learned my Sc
cret!'
Dora moved toward him and hid her face
in his shoulder. Then, as he raised and
kissed it, she whispered, Yes, Tom, long
ago. "-Boston True Flag.