The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-07-23
Il didn't say doubted it, Mr..

But you do doubt it."
How DO you know?"
BY the twinkle in your eyes"
She looked straight ahead again.
1T may be ali true according to
science and the books" she said. ''bui
| it doesn't seem possible that it can be
so, actually and really"
This ball of twine," the school
master went on, belongs to Tommy
Flanders. He was playing with it in
school and had to take 1t away from
him. He can have 1t again next week
but in the meantime ;tm going TO use
it To establish a scientific fact"
He picked up bit of wood, tied the
loose end of the kite string 10 it, drove
it into tie ground ut one side of the
| smooth road, aud walked along Oh the
other side, unroling the string as he
| went
| Now. Miss Mary" he resumed,
"you walk in the wagon track on that
side of the road and will walk on
this"
The road from the school house to
the Sanford farm dwelling stretched
across the level prairie almost as
straight us 4 rule. Mr.. Walker, by
accident it seemed, had taken so much
| time preparing to demonstrate bis
| scientific fact that the sun was getting Q
| low and nobody was iii sight.
You see, Mary" he said. 'that tais
twine, as travel along in this track,
is drawing all the time closer to the
line represented by the track on your
side. don't you?"
Yes. sir, but"
"And if we suppose these two tracks
to be extended on into intinity. and
this supply of kte-string to hold out
forever, don't you see Mary that these
two lines would be forever and ever
getting closer and yet never"
Never? You are getting on this
side of your own track already, Mr..
Walker"
Then don't look al me in that way,
Mary" he said. warningly. stepping
back on his own side. and swallowing
something that had risen in lis throat.
You are endaugering the whole fab
ric of science! Give me your hand"
What for?'
so l can keep at the right distance.
With his left hand clasping her
right hand across the roadway they
walked slowly along toward the house
of the paternal Sanford. 1t was get
ting really dark. but the interest of
the schoolmaster in his demonstration
did not flag. He still unroled Tommy
Flanders twine as he went.
MIR. Walker"
Mary, my name is Hiram"
Dead silence.
Don't let 90 of my hand yet Maryw
Don't you think. Mr.. Walker" :"
My name is Hiram
1t doesn't seem quite-respectful-
for me TO call you-Hiram, " she said
in low tone.
The whole fabric of science came
perilousy near being overturned
again, but Hiram. by Il great effort,
kept on his own side of the road.
Il am your teacher MY am your
teacher, Mary. how he fingered over
the syllableS of that sweetest of names!
and if tell you to call me Hiram.
out OF school, you know, it is perfectly
respectful and all right"
li-Hiram-don't you think it
would be impossible for us to go on
walking III this way forcver?'
1T is getting to be most awfuIIy diff
ticult already" admitted Hiram, ito
90 on any longer in this way"
Il don't mcan--"
Besides, the string is giving out"
Then doesn't that prove-the string
isn't quite all gone yet is it?'
No" said Hiram, stepping back re-
luctantly to his own side of the road.
Doesn't it -Hiram-that the
two lines, as Il matter of fact. would
come-to -together-some time. no matter
what science says?"
She was walking quite slowly now,
rs if impressed by the alarming posi-
bilitv that the string might give out at
any moment.
MOI There was ring of triumph
in his voice. Come over on this side
of the road, Mary"
He had not let go OF her hand. The
statement may seem superlluous, but
it is necessary to the accuracy of detail
inseparable from the narration of the
processes involved in Il scientific ex-
pertinent. He drew her over to his
side of the roadway.
The track you have been walking
on. Mary" he whispered lis still
lIltl 1OtHiIN hllC-Sll
is still here. The two lines are ap-
preaching each other, but they will
never coiucide. Don't step back,
pleaser
MIR. Walkcr,--"
''Hiram.'
"Wcll-Hiram. she said demurely,
lis the-the demonstration finished?"
Not quite"
He dropped the stick. from which he
had unwound the last Of the twine. 1t
intcrfercd possibly with the freedom of
his gestures.
Not quite. my own dear Mary
The proposition-don't take your hand
away. daring-will not be demon
stratcd TO my entire satisfaction until
YOU have promised that our two lives,
that have been approaching each other
for long timc-ynu know it, don't
you?-slal come togelher--"
In spite of science?
Never mind science just now"
But look at that kite-strngn
Hiram looked. Tommy Flanders
twinC lay along the track on The other
side of the road. He had thrown it
sfrom him too eagerly.
What difference does that make,
my own"
What difference? Don't YOU see
your demonstration is a failure?
Science"
WHO cares for science now? Mary,
will You promise"
"Will you admit that you haven't
proved
Il will admit anything. dearest!
Science is Il fraud. There is nothing
but love in the whole wide universe.
viii that do?
II thiuk it will, Hiram"
And YOU promise?'
Yes. Hiram"
Ii WAS ever so faint n whisDel. Int