The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-03-18

"a "a
plate of mica, moving with the air vibrations
caused by the voice, set in motion a small
stylus OF steel, and how this stylus marked
out its vibrations on thin cylinder Of smooth
wax, which by screw arrangement was
caused TO move at once IN the direction of its
length and around its axis. Then ne shifted
back the cylinder into its original position, 50
that the point OF the stylus rested at the be-
ginning of the little channel which it had al
eady marked out on the wax
Finally, turning the screw again, he set
We cylinder in motion, and the stylus, trav
cling along the line it had traced thereon,
vibrated as it had done in the first instance
BY this means the mica was once more set in
vibration, and as it had communicated its
vibrations to the air, the original sounds were
once more reproduced.
Tom tried to persuade Dora to sing song
but the presence of that silent recorder made
her nervous, and she was content with listen
ing TO the repetition of some trite and rather
disconnected sounds Of his own.
The next few days passed not quite happily
for Tom Douglas He was in love, deeply in
love with Dora, but he did not dare to tell
her as yet the secret which was neverthe-
less, betrayed TO her keen sight by his every
word and action. He spent good deal of
time alone in his study, and amused himself
after a rather silly fashion with the phono-
graph.
One day he had gone off on visit to some
friends, and Dora was feeling lonely and a
trife weary. Her cousin had begged her tn
borrow any of his books If at any time she
wanted something to read, and she went
down to his study to get one AS she went.
she was thinking of him, and wondering why
he still hestated to ask her the simple ques-
fch ba leo ,rl,
question which he was constantly asking him
self, and to which his love and humility both
gave different answers She had chosen a
book, when her eye fell on the photograph
lying ready for Use on the table. Now that
she was alone, she thought it would be rather
pleasant to try how her own voice sounded
She had read lately in one of the newspa-
pers that people had no idea of what their
voices really sounded like, and she rather
wondered whether her singing, of which she
was inclined to think highly, was really so
good as she imagined. Filled with dread lest
the unflattering photograph should prove to
her that her voice was harsh and unpleasant,
and not quite decided as TO what song she
should try, she began to move the treadle
which set the cylinder in motion What
sound was that which fell upon her earsi
Her cousins voice was speaking to her and
after a moment of blank establishment, she
listened with quiet smile, as though Tom
were standing before her in the flesh and say
ing what the monograph now said for him.
This is what she heard; Dora, darling,
have loved you since the day when first
saw you. have onged to tell you every
day since them but have always been afraid.
Win you try to love me just littleF' The
voice lapsed into silence.
With a sudden gladness Dora saw what
had happened. Her cousin had also wondered
how his voice sounded to others-to her-and
especially how the question would sound
which he so longed to ask Well the voice
struck her as awkward, constrained, and
quite unlike the cheerful tones to which she
had become accustomed; but the words
AT that moment she heard her cousins
voice at the other end of the garden. He had
returned home Unexpectedly, and was chat
ting with the gardener He would be here
presently, no doubt
In moment she had once more set in mo-
ton the cylinder of the phonograph, and
bending over it spoke few words in a low,
clear voice Then she lifted the cylinder back
into its original position, and stepped quickly
into the next room-the laboratory
In few minutes She heard the conversa-
ton between Tom and the gardener cease.
The young man came quickly down the gar
den and entered his sanctum. He flung his
hat and walking stick upon chair. and
then the phono2r4p h struck hsattention He
moved toward il, and stood looking down on
il, with his back toward the door of the room
whence Dora was eagerly watching him
Then he began absent mindedly TO put the
treadle in motion. Once more the phono-
graph spoke, and as he did so Dora moved 81
lently forward and stood in the open door of
the laboratory Dora, darling, | have
loved you ever since the day when | first saw
you. | have longed to tell you every day
since then, but have always been afraid.
Win you try TO love me just a little
Tom heard these words, and then, before
he had moved his foot from the treadle, the
photograph spoke in another voice why
should you be afraid to come and ask me
when you know
1t was Dora's voice, and even while he
wondered at this marvel he heard the same
voice speaking again. Toni" said the voice,
and turning he his cousin standing with
half parted lips and laughing rosy face only
yard or two away from him.
Dora" he cried, you have learned my Sc
cretr
Dora moved toward him and hid her face
in his shoulder Then, as he raised and
kissed it, she whispered, Yes, Tom, long
ago. Boston True Flag