The Press., 1890-07-17
BY MONOGRAPH.

would some day be well to do; but above all things he was scientific. His passion for science first became noticeable when he began
 to learn chemistry in the fourth form at Hal stone school. Tom and all his class fellows were deeply taken by the weird and unearth- ly odors, the terrifying explosions and the miraculous bursts of subaqueous fire which appeared at the will of Mr. Stubbs, the science master. Indeed they endeavored per sistently to emulate their tutors exploits; but even the tutors performances were pres entity eclipsed by those of his promising pupil Tom. The boy had perfect genius for ex- plosions, so that it soon became customary among the others, during the two or three hours which they spent each week in the laboratory, to give up any little enterprises of their own, and simply keep an eye on Toms movements. It was usually worth their while, for he rarely failed to do some thing marvellous.
 When the end of the term came, and the youth arrived at his home in Dulberry, he set off at once on a tour of inspection round the home premises. A small building, which belonged to the gardener, and was used by him as storehouse for seed, flower pots and other things appertaining to his craft, struck his fancy. He found no difficulty in persuad- ing his too complaisant parents to make this room over to him; and notwithstanding the murmurs of Sandy, the gardener, it was emp tied of its horticultural contents, fitted with benches, shelves and a fireplace and generally rendered habitable.
 Chemicals also, and all kinds of apparatus were ordered from London. Had his friends not been altogether ignorant of chemicals, they would have noticed that the chemicals which Tom ordered, j., and for which they blindly paid, were chiefly of the kind which go to make up explosions. Almost as soon as the laboratory had been fitted up the goods arrived from London. On the first day noth- ing of note was seen or heard, Tom being too busily engaged in arranging and admiring his treasures to begin experimenting with them. Soon, however, the household began to listen in mild toleration to the loud explo- sions which, at intervals of about an hour, were constantly heard from the direction of Toms laboratory. They were not quite so tractable, however, when the embryo chem ist grew tired for the moment of noises, and turned his attention to the production of un- pleasant odors. But even then tho boy was quite safe from interruption. They were not likely to attempt to approach the source of odors by which they were already almost stihed; whereas Tom reveled in the malo- dorous products of his experiments, and be- haved, in all atmosphere reeking with the most abominable gases, as if he was once more breathing his native air after long and painful period of exile.
 His love of science grew stronger, if good deal more rational, as years passed by. At last, when he went up to Oxford, another room was added to his den. This was fur nished after the manner of the average un- dergraduate's rooms, and here he kept his personal property and did most of his read ing. Like most science men, he was fond of novels and of these this room soon contained an extensive 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 to ignore it, was beginning to interest him far more than any of the sciences to which he had hitherto devoted himself. His fathers brother had many years ago emigrated to California Almost immediately he had mar ried, but after few years of hard struggle against poverty, his wife had died, leaving to him little daughter, Dora. Tom Douglas was in his fourth year when he heard from home that his unknown uncle was dead His father had received letter some months be- fore, saying that Dora would soon be alone in the world. t 2
 She would be quite rich-for success had come to her father when it was too late to save his wife-and now the dying man begged his brother to become her guardian, and offer her a home. Mr. Douglas had at once con- scented, and Dora arrived in England shortly before the commencement of Toms last long vacation; so that when he arrived in Dull berry she had already been there for a week or two. The cousins became very good friends, and it was the image of a sweet girl ish face, blue eyed and little sad, which oc- cupied Toms mind, and caused him to neg lect his science work almost entirely.
 - At the end of the ''long' he went up to Oxford once more, in order to take leave of his friends and formally to take his degree, for at the end of the previous term he had gained first" in honors chemistry. This brief absence from Dora was so utterly pain full to him that he became aware of the fact that he really was very much in love with her. Of course he ought to have known it before; perhaps he had done so, but at least he had never acknowledged it to himself. At any rate, he made haste to get back to his home. s# #F 1& #*F
 When hereturned to Dulberry he carried with anxious solicitude a box, which ap- peared to contain something at once very fragile and inestimably valuable. Dora had taken great interest in his scientific studies -or rather he had revived for her benefit his boyish interest in explosions. After lunch, therefore, he told her that during his absence he had spent a few days in town, and there had secured scientific wonder which she must examine.
 He took the box under his arm, and they went together to his sanctum in the garden. Arrived there, he opened the box and took out a piece of mechanism which, he said, was a photograph. He showed Dora how a thin plate of mica, moving with the air vibrations caused by the voice, set in motion small stylus of steel, and how this stylus marked out it's vibrations on thin cylinder of smooth wax, which by screw arrangement was caused to move at once in the direction of it's length and around its axis. Then he shifted back the cylinder into it's or.ginal position, 50 that the point of the stylus rested at the be- ginning of the little channel which it had all ready marked out on the wax.
 Finally, turning the screw again, he set the cylinder in motion, and the stylus, trav- cling along the line it had traced thereon, vibrated as it had done in the first instance. By this means the mica was once more set in vibration, and. as it had communicated its vibrations to the air, the original sounds were once more reproduced.
 AohA Ul icAa oo PSA ouauo Doi1 Co sALS u SoHSs put the presence of that silent recorder made ger nervous, and she was content with listen- ng to the repetition of some trite and rather sounds of his own.
 The next few days passed not quite happily Or Tom Douglas. He was in love, deeply in ove with Dora, but he did not dare to tell Ter as yet the secret which was, neverthe- ess, betrayed to her keen sight by his every word and action. He spent a good deal of ime alone in his study, and amused himself liter rather silly fashion with the phono- graph