Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-06

sound, as of.a man clearing his throat pro-
ceeded from the instrument, and then in
high, piping tones, thin but distinct, the
commencement of the celebrated scientist S
lecture. 'fOf all the interesting problems, I"
remarked the box, (which are offered to us
by recent researches in the lower orders
of marine life, there is none to exceed
the retrograde metamorphosis which char
acterizes the common barnacle. The differ
entiation of an amorphous protoplasmic
mass" Here Rupert Esdaile broke the
connection again, and the funny little
tinkling voice ceased as suddenly as it be-
gan.
The young man stood smiling, looking
down at this garrulous piece of wood and
metal, when suddenly the smile broadened,
and light of mischief danced up into his
eyes. He slapped his thigh, and danced
round in the ecstasy of one who has stumbled
on brand-new brilliant idea. Very care
fully he drew forth the slips of metal which
recorded the learned professors remarks,
and laid them aside for future use. Into
the slots he thrust virgin plates, all ready
to receive an impression, 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 success
of Mrs Esdaile's conversazione. From
first to last everything went admirably.
People stared through microscopes, and
linked hands for electric shocks, and mar
yelled at the Galapagos turtle, the os from
tis of the Bos months, and all the other cur
iosities which Mrs. Esdaile had taken such
pains to collect. Groups formed and chat
III H.. 0f
Birchespool listened with protesting lip,
while Prof Maunders held forth upon a
square of triassic rock, with side thrusts
occasionally at the six days of ortho-
dox creation; knot of specialists dis
puted over stuffed ornithorhynchus
in a corner; while Mrs. Esdaile
swept from group to group, intro
ducing, congratulating, laughing, with the
ready, graceful tact of a clever woman of
the world. By the window sat the heavily
mustached Cantain Beesly, with the daugh-
ter of the house, and they discussed a prob
lem of their own, as old as the trias sic rock,
and perhaps as little understood
'But L must really go and help my mother
to entertain, Captain Beesly," said Rose at
last, with little movement, as if to rise.
"Don't go, Rose. And don't call me
Captain Beesly; call me Charles. No now!''
"Well, then, Charles" T"
''How prettily it sounds from your lips!
No, now, don't go. 1 can't bear to be away
from you. 1 had heard of love, Rose; but
how strange it seems that 1, after
spending my life amid all that is
sparkling and gay, should only find out
now, in this little provincial town, what
love really isi''
''You say so; but it is only passing
fancy"
''No, indeed. 1 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
there was such q depth of sorrow in them as
he spoke that Rose could have wept for
sympathy.
II should be very sorry to cause you
tone
'Then promise"
No, no; we cannot speak of it just nsw,
and they are collecting round the phono-