Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-12-12


stairs. and a brisk yourg f, How, with
curly black hair. dashed into the room.
"All ready" he asked, running his
eyes over the lines If reli. strtwn tables.
"All ready, dear, answered his mother.
"Oh. am glad to catch you together,
s...I ne, with his HANDS b;5,i"d o'.'py il
his trousers pockets AMI go Uneasy cx.
preston on his face "a: r. =, one thing
that | wanted to speaE to ynu about.
Look here, Rosie = If fun is all very
well. but you would.i't be such II little
donkey to think seriously of this fellow
BeeSly:"
My dear Rupert do try to be a little
less abrupt, said Mrs, EsdaiIe, with a
deprecating hand outstretched.
81 can't help seeing how they have been
thrown together. don't want to be un.
kind, Rosie but cant stand by and see
you wreck your life for man who has
nothing to recommend him but his eyes
and mustache. Do be a sensible girl and
nave nothing to say to him"
1T is surely a point, Rupert, upon
which am more fitted to decide than
you can be, remarked Mrs. Esdail with
dignity.
No matter, for I have been able tc
make some inquiries. Young CheiiinS-
ton, of the gunners, knew him in India.
He says"
But his sister broke in upon his revela-
tions. Il won't stay here, ma, to hea,
aim slandered behind his back" she
cried with spirit. "He has never said
anything that was not kind of you, Ru-
pert, and | don't know why you should
attack him SO. 1t is cruel. unbrotherly.
With sweep and whisb she was at
the door, her cheeks flushed, her eyes
sparkling, her bosom heaving with this
little squirt of indignation, while close at
her heels walked her mother with sooth-
ing words, and an angry glance thrown
back over her shoulder Rupert Esdaile
stood with his hands burrowing deeper
and deeper into his pockets and his shout
1ers rising higher and higher to his ears,
ceiling intensely guilty, and yet not GER
ain whether he should blame himself for
having said too much or for not having
said enough.
just in front of him stood the table on
which the phonoSraph with wires, bat
tcries, and all complete, stood ready for
the guests whom it was to amuSe. Slowly
his hands emerged from his pockets as
his eye fell upon the apparatus and with
lauguid curiosity he completed the con.
nection and started the machine. \
pompous, husky sound, as of man
clearing his throat proceeded from the
instrument, and then in high, piping
tones. thin but distinct the commence
ment of the celebrated scientists lecture.
"Of all the interesting problems, re-
marked the box, (which are offered to US
Ny recent researches in the lower orders
Of marine life there is none to exceed the
Yetrograde metamorphosis which charac.
terizes the common barnacle. The diff
ferentiation of an amorphous protoplas-
mic maSS-"
Here Rupert Esdaile broke the connec-
lion again, and the funny little tinliling
voice ceased as suddenly as it began.
The young man stood smiling, looking
down at this garrulous piece of wood and
metal. when suddenly the smile broad.
med and light of mischief danced ur
into his eyes. He slapped his thigh and
danced round in the ecstasy of one who
mas stumbled on a brand new, brilliant
idea.
Very carefully he drew forth the slips
of metal which recorded the learned pro-
fessor's remarks and laid them aside for
future use. Into the slots he thrust vir-
gin plates, all ready to receive an impres.
sion, and then, bearing the phonograph
under his arm, he vanished into his own
sanctum. Five minutes before the first
guests had arrived the machine was back
upon the table and all ready for use.
There could be no question of the sue.
cess of Mrs. Esdaile's Conversations.
From first to last every thing went admir-
ably. People stared through microscopes.
and linked hands for electric shocks, and
marveled at the Galapagos turtle, the os
frontos of the Bos months, and all the
other curiosities which Mrs. Esdaile had
taken such pains to collect. Groups
formed and chatted round the various
cases.
The Dean of Birchespool listened with
a protesting lip while Professor Maun'
ders held forth upon a square of triassic
rock, with side thrusts occasionally al
the six days of orthodox creation; knot
of specialists disputed over a stuffed orni.
thorhynchus in a corner; while Mrs. Es.
dale swept from group to group, intro
ducing, congratulating, laughing, with
the ready, graceful tact of clever
Of hn on nj
sat the heavily mustached Captain
Beesly with the daughter of the house,
and they discussed a problem of Their
own, as old as the triassic rock, and per.
haps as little understood.
But I must really go and help my
mother to entertain, Captain Beesly, said
Rose, at last, with movement as if to
rise.
Don't go, Rose. And don't call me
Captain Beesly; call me Charles.
We'll, then, Charles.
How prettily it sounds from your lips
No, now, don't go. l can't bear to be
away from you. | had heard of love,
Rose but how strange it seems that /,
after spending my life amid all that is
sparkling and gay, should only find out
now, in this little provincial town, what
love really is!"
"You say SO, but it is only passing
fancy"
mo, indeed. shall never leave you,
Rose-never, unless you drive me away
from your side, And you would not be
so cruel-you would not break my heart?"
He had very plaintive blue eyes, and