Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-10-31
THE VOICE OF SCIENCE.
RUPERT sTAREs WINS HIS WIFE WITH A
PHoNoGRAPH's AID.

Mrs. Esdaile, of the Lindens, Birches
pool, was a lady of quite remarkable
scientific attainments. As honorary sec.
retary of the ladies' branch of the loca
Electric Society she shone with a never
falling brilliance. 1t was even whispered
that ON the occasion of the delivery on
Professor Tomlinson's suggestive lecture
on the "Perigenesis of the Plastidule she
was the only woman in the room who
could follow the lecturer even as far as
the end of his title.
Rose Esdaile had just passed her Goth
year, and was looked upon as one of the
beauties of Birchespool. Her face was,
perhaps, trifle long,for perfect symme
try, but her eyes wer& fine, her expression
kindly, and her complexion beautiful.
was an open secret, too, that she had un
der her fathers will $500 a year in heI
own right. With such advantages far
palmer girl than Rose Esdaile nigh:
create a stir in the society Of provincial
town.
A scientific conversations in private
house is an onerous thing to organize, We,
mother and daughter, had not shrunh
from the task. On the morning of which
write they sat together surveying theiI
accomplished labors, with the pleasant
feeling that nothing remained to be done
save to receive the congratulations OF
their friends.
With the assistance of Rupert, the SOD
of the house, they had assembled from,
all parts of Birchespool objects of scien.
tific interest, which now adorned the
long tables in the drawing room. In
deed, the full tide of curiosities of every
sort which had swelled into the house had
overflowed the rooms devoted to the
meeting, and had surged down the
broad stairs to invade the dining room
and the passage. The whole villa had
become museum.
you've really managed it splendidly,
ma, said the young lady, craning her
neck up to give her mother congratu
latory kiss. 1t was so brave of you C.
undertake it, 4"
Il think that will do, pulred Mrs. Es.
dale complacently. "But do hope that
the phonograph will work without a
hitch. You know at the last meeting OF
the British Association got Professor
Standerton to repeat into it his remarks
on the life history of Medusiform Como
phore.
"How funny il seems, exclaimed Rose,
glancing at the square. boxlike appara-
tus which stood In the post OF honor on
the central table, to think that this wood
and metal will begin to speak just like a
human being"
Hardly that, dear. OF course, the
poor thing can say nothing, except what
is said to it. You always know exactly
what is coming. But do hope that it
will work all right"
Rupert will see to it when he comes
up from the garden. He understands all
about them. Oh, ma, feel so nervous.
Mrs. Esdaile looked anxiously down al
her daughter and passed her hand caress-
ingly over her rich brown hair Il
understand, she said in her soothing,
cooling voice, II understand
He viii expect an answer tonight,
ma"
Follow your heart, child. am sure
that have every confidence in your good
sense and discretion. would not die
tate to you upon such matter
You are 50 good, ma. or course, as
Rupert says, we really know very little
Of ofCharles-of Captain Beesly. But then,
ma, all that we do know is in his favor. y
"Quite so. dear. He is musical and
well informed, and good hmmored, and
certainly handsome. It is clear. too,
from what he says, that he has moved in
the very highest circles.
~The best in India, ma He was an
intimate friend of the Governor Generals.
You heard yourself what he said yester-
day about the D'Arcies and Lady Gwend.
oline Fairfax and Lord Montague Gros-
venor
Well, dear, said Mrs Esdaile resign
edly, you are old enough to know your
own mind. ] shall not attempt to die
tate to you. ] own that my own hopes
were set upon Professor Stares.
-Oh, ma, think how dreadfully ugly he
Is.
But think Of his reputation. dear.
Little more than 80, and a member Of the
Royal Society.
Il couldn't, ma / don't think could
If there was not an, her man in the
world. But, oh, do feel so nervous
for you can't think how earnest he is.
/ must give him an answer tonight.
But they win be here in an hour. Don't
you think we had better 90 TO our rooms?A
The two ladies had risen, when there
came quick, masculine step upon the
stairs, and brisk young fellow, with
curly black hair, dashed into the room.
L A l. ~ 4