Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-13
CHAPTER VII


sat at his breakfast table next morning that
the two sweet girls who sat on either side
Of him were deep in conspiracy, and that
he, munching innocently at his mullins. was
the victim against whom their wiles were
planned. Patiently they waited until at
last their opening came.
"It is q beautiful day," he remarked ''It
will do for Mrs. Westnacott She was
thinking of having q spin upon her tri-
cycle"
"Then we must call early. We both in
tended to see her after breakfast"
ooh, indeedi' The doctor hooked
pleased
"You know, pa" said Ida, ''it seems to
rs that We really have q very great advsn-
tage in having Mrs Westmacott living 20
near.
"Why, SO, dear?"
"Weil, because she Is 20 advanced, you
know. Ii we only study her ways We may
advance ourselves also" q
81 think I have heard you say, papa, I"
remarked Clara, chat she is the type Of the
woman of the future?"
81 am very pleased to hear you speak 50
sensibly, my deara certainly think that
she lisa woman whom you may very well take
as your model The more intimate you are
with her the better pleased I shall be.
.Then that is settled" said Clara de-
murely, and the talk drifted to other mat
ters.
All morning the two girls sat extracting
from Mrs Westmacott her most extreme
views as to the duty Of the one sex and the
tyranny Of the other Absolute equality.
vcn in details, was her ideal Enough Of
enly. That afternoon they went shopping
into London, and before evening strange
packages began to be handed in at the doc-
tors door. The plot was ripe for execution,
and one of the conspirators was merry and
jubilant while the other was very nervous
and troubled.
When the doctor came down to the din
ing-room next morning he was surprised TO
find that his daughters had already been up
some time. Ida was installed at one end Of
the table with a spirit lamp, a curved glass
flask and several bottles in front of her.
The contents of the flask were boiling
room. Clara lounged in an armchair with her
feet upon second one, q blue-covered book
in her hand, and huge map Of the British
islands spread across her.lap.
"Hullo!' cried the doctor, blinking and
shifting, "where's the breakfast?''
'"Oh, didn't you order it?" asked Ida
I'll No; why should II" He rang the
bell 'Why have you not laid the break
fast, Jane2"
'Tf you please. sir, Miss Ida was a-workin'
at the table"
''Oh, of course, Jane" said the young
lady calmly. 81 am so sorry. shall be
ready to move in few minutes"
''But what on earth are you doing, Ida7''
asked the doctor. ''The smell is most
offensive. And, good gracious, look at the
mess which you have made upon the clothl
Why, you have burned . hole right
through"
'Oh, that is the acid,' Ida answered con-
tentedly. 'tMra Westmarott said that it
would burn holes"
"Yon might have taken her word for it
without trying" said her father dryly.
ssBut look here, pal See what the book
says: The scientific mind takes nothing
upon trust Prove all thingsP I have
proved that"
''You certainly have. Well, until break
Have you seen it?"
''The Times? Oh, dear me, this is Il
which have under my spirit lamp. I am
afraid there is some acid upon that too, and
it is rather damp and torn. Here it is"
The doctor took the bedraggled paper with
q rueful face. Everything seems to be
wrong to-day" he remarked. "What is
this sudden enthusiasm about chemistry,
Ida ?''
"oh, am trying to live up to Mr.. West
macott's teaching"
ssQuite right! quite rightl'' said he,
though perhaps with less heartiness than
he had shown the day before. "Ah, here is
break fast at lastp'
But nothing was comfortable that morn
ing. There were eggs without egg-spoons,
toast which was leathery from being kept,
dried-up bacon and grounds in the coffee.
Above all there was that dreadful smell
which pervaded everything and gave hor-
rible twang to every mouthfuL
81 don't wish to put damper upon your
studies, Ida," said the doctor as he pushed
back his chair. 'But I do think it would
be better if you did your chemical expert
ments little later in the day"
A turn in the open air would soothe him
he thought "Where are my boots?" he
asked.
But they were not in their accustomed
corner BY his chair Up and down he
searched, while the three servants took up
the quest, stopping and peeping under book |
cases and drawers Ida had returned to her |
studies and Clara to her blue-covered vol |
ume sitting absorbed and disinterested
amid the hustle and the racket A. last a |
general buzz of congratulation announced |
that the cook had discovered the boots hung |
up among the hats in the hall. .he doc |
tor, very red and fustered, drew them on |
and stamped off to join the Admiral in his |
walk.
As the door slammed Ida burst into |