The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-28
CHAPTER III.
"BLUE BEARp,s CHAMBER

lite with the doctor, and his daughter would
often say jestingly that Frances could turn
him round her finger. Indeed, Nellie some
times affected to be jealous, and declared
that she believed her friend would wind up
by becoming her mamma. This, however,
was the merest badinage, still the young
lady was undoubtedly great favorite with
the doctor, and could coax him into pretty
nearly what she pleased. On one point only
was the doctor inhexible; he would not show
her what she denominated "Blue Boards
chamber" She had asked to see it in the
first instance in the idlest spirit of curiosity.
It was wet day. She felt dull, or some
thing of that sort. The doctor parried her
request in good -humoured fashion. He
read her a lecture on the sin OF being in
quisitive, but he did not show her his den.
This only stimulated the girls desire to see
the inside of the laboratory. She returned
TO the charge again and again. and though
Frances was always assured the doctor
could refuse her nothing, she discovered that
he could, and most decidedly too. Frances
Smerdon said nothing; she did not even tell
her friend, but she registered vow in her
own breast that if she ever did get the OPP
portunity, she would investigate the labor
atory pretty thoroughly. She questioned
Nellie as to whether she had ever been in
side, and the girls reply was only once. and
then for very few minutes.
Il never was in any OF er laboratory, but
j suppose they are all much alike. A sort
of cooking-range, small furnace. and ali
sorts of queer-shaped glass bottles"
Miss Smerdon considered. She also had
never seen laboratory.
81 recollect," she murmured. hearing a
gentleman say, it was with regard to invi-
tations, that he always went every where he
was asked. once, on the same principle that
you should see everything once, OF course.
therefore, it's my business to see labora-
tory once If l can"
However, an opportunity to get inside the
doctors den did not seem likely to present
itself She had coaxed him, ard pledged
herself not to be frightened at anything she
might see inside, even skeletons; but is was
no use, the doctor was infexible. She in
quiried of Nellie if anybody was ever ad-
united there.
"a few pupils of chemistry who come to
him from the outside and whom / never
see, and also Phybbs the housemaId, but
Phybbs' visits are rare, and are only made
under my fathers immediate superintend-
ance.n
From that instant Phybbs became in
vested with considerable interest in the
Asian mysteries. She even condescended
to converse with Phybbs on the subject,
which was quite contrary TO Miss Smerdon's
usual habits, as though though considerate
she was given to keeping a stiff upper lip
with servants. 1t was odd that her curl
osity should be so excited about such trifle,
but she was a rather spollt young woman,
accustomed to have her own way in every
thing, and moreover it is just about these
very trifies we do become so painfully ex-
ercised. What she had gathered from
Nellie and Phybbs ought to have satisfied
her, but it did not. The doctor spent
great deal of his time in his laboratory and
Frances Smerdon pictured him as perpetu-
ally transmitting baser metals into gold.
seeking for the philosophers stone, or indulg-
ing in the darker myster. es OF the Rosicru-
clans. Who were these pupils that Nellie
spoke OFF, Disciples. of course, she ought to
have called them; for, gifted with a vivid
imagination, Miss Smerdon was rapidly in
vesting the doctor with supernatural pow
ers, and believing him to be the head of a
sect. She was girl with very romantic
kink in her brain, and had built all these
visions in her own mind on the plain prosaic
fact that her host was an elderly gentleman,
who dabbled in dentistry, and did not want
his retorts and machinery meddled with.
However, Miss Smerdon had not much
time TO indulge in further imaginings. The
through England that she did not perhaps
make enough of her soldiers. If we were
going to war-and practical people said we
we're virtually at war at that very time, al
though perhaps not shot would be fired
still it beloved the nation to send forth her
army handsomely. There might be bitter
tears to shed, even over victories. should
real fighting ever begin; but at the present
moment there was deal Of Rule Britain
MIA" about, "Britons never, never shall be
slaves" and all that sort of thing. 1t was
right that our young heroes should be
Toasted before going into the lists-des-
tined to be heroes in real earnest too,
whether in life or death, many of them
But all this was In futurity. At present the
banners waved, the bands played, the
crowd cheered, the officers dined and
danced, and war was apparently one of the
most lght-hearted of pastimes. There had
been much talk of giving a great ball to
the regiment which the -th had relieved.
but soldiers get scant warning OH these oc-
casions, and unfortunately the proposed
guests were packed off TO the east little
before the date fixed for the entertainment.
What was to be donem said the commit
tee. 1--WE have excited society in Manches.
ter, and society must be satisfied. Postpone
the ball, we may, to put it off altogether il
impossible"
Then arose in that committee hard
practical man, who opined that one regi
ment was as good as another-in his hear
he considered they were all expensive en-
cumbrances. AS long as the Manchester
ladies got their ball, they would be con
tent As long as their partners have rec
coats, girls don't trouble their heads abou
VINO Is inside of them. Ask the new regi
ment instead of the old, it will all come Il
the same thing. And SO it came about tina
no sooner had they appeared in Macaeste
than the til found themselves feted in al
directions. lit was necessary, of course, t.
make the acquaintance of the newcomer
before this ball, given in their honor. too
place. The young ladies of the city wer
most positive on this. aud the result was th
hunblest subaitern of the --th found him
self committed to as many engagements q
in these days falls to the lot of an Africa
explorer.
81 tell you what, old man, exclaime
ByDg, as he lounged in the ante-room on
morning after parade, sits well for yo
that you hadn't two or three weeks in Mar
chester before you backed yourself for you
big walk. They can't mean us for activ
service. or they would never have sent us
such q Capua as this. Last nights tt
fifth night I've dined out this week. d
you!., Well. if turtle, champagne, pune
Are little comforts you will find govern
ment don't provide on active service ez