Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-10-31

said he, with his hands buried deeply IN
his trousers pockets and an uneasy ex-
preston on his face. There's one thing
that l wanted to speak 10 you about.
Look here. Rosie, bit of fun is all very
well, but you wouldn't be such little
donkey to think seriously of this fellow
Beesly?"
My dear Rupert, do try to be little
tess abrupt, said Mrs. Esdaile, with a
depreoating hand outstretched.
II can't help seeing how they have been
thrown together. don't want TO be un-
kind, Rosie, but can't stand by and see
you wreck your life for man who has
nothing TO recommend him but his eyes
and mustache. Do be sensible girl and
have nothing to say to him.
1T is sr7ely point, Rupert, upon
which i am more fitted to decide than
you can be, remarked Mrs. Esdail with
dignity.
mo matter, for I have been able to
make some inquiries. Young Chefiing-
ton, of the gunners. knew him in India.
de says"
But his sister broke in upon his revela-
tions. Il won't stay here. ma, to hear
him slandered behind his back she
cried with spirit. "He has never said
nything that was not kind of you. Ru-
pert, and don't know why you should
attack him so. 1t is cruel, unbrotherIy.
With sweep and a whisk 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 shoul-
ders rising higher and higher to his ears,
feeling intensely guilty, and yet not cer-
tain 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 phonograph. with wires. bat.
teries, 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
languid curiosity he completed the con-
nection and started the machine n
pompous, husky sound, as of a man
clearing his throat, proceeded from tho
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 IL
by recent researches in the lower order
of marine life there is none to exceed tho
& VafpcUraHa aafo nfrAhnCfa xz-bSoh Oh
terizes the common barnacle. The diff.
ferentiation of an amorphous protoplas-
mic mass"
/ Here Rupert Esdaile broke the connec-
ton again, and the funny little tinklirg
voice ceased as suddenly as it began.
\ The young man stood smiling. looking
/ down at this ganulous piece of wood and
I metal, when suddenly the smile broad.
ened and light of mischief danced uI
into his eyes. He slapped his thigh and
I danced round in the ecstasy of one who
has stumbled on brand new, brillian'
/ 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 tin slots he thrust vir
gin plates, all read 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
protesting lip while Professor Maun-
ders held forth upon square of tfiassic
rock, with side thrusts occasionally at
the six days of orthodox creation: knot
of specialists disputed over a stuffed orni.
thorhynchus in corner; while Mrs. Es-
dale 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 Captain
Beesly, with the daughter Of the house,
and they discussed problem of THEN
own, as old as the triassic rock, and per-
haps as little understood.
But / must really 90 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.
HHow prettily it sounds from your lipsl
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 I,
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 50, but it il only passing
fancy"
@No, indeed. shall never leave you.
Rose-never. unless you drive me away
from your side. And you would not be
80 cruel-you would not break my hearth
He had very plaintive blue eyes, and
there was such depth Of sorrow in them
as he spoke that Rose could have wepi
for sympathy.
should be very sorry to cause you
grief in any way. she said in a falterine