The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1893-07-28
THE VOICE OF SCIENCE.

Mic ntttlnnents. Al honorary secretary
OF the ladies' branch OF the local Eclectic
society she shone with never failing bril-.
lance It was even whispered that on the
occasian Of the delivery OF Professor Tom
linson's suggestive lecture on the "Perl-
genesis OF the plastidule'' she was the only
woman In the room who could follow the
lecturer even IN far as the end Of his title.
1t would have been a strange thing had
Mrs. Eslaile not been popular amonglocal
scientists, for her pretty house, her charm
ing grounds, and all the hospitality which
an income Of $4,000 year will admit Of,
were always ut their command. On her
pleasant lawns In the summer, and around
her drawing room fire In the winter, there
WINS much high talk OF microbes and
leucocytes and sterilized bacteria where
thin, ascetic materiaists from the univer
sity upheld the Importance Of this life
against round, comfortable companions Of
orthodoxy from the cathedral close. Aud
In the heat Of thrust and parry when sci-
entiGc proof ran full tilt against infexible
faith, a word from the clever widow, or an
opportune rattle over the keys by her
pretty daughter, Rose, would bring ull
back TO harmony once more.
Rose Esdaile had Just passed her twenti-
eth year, and was looked upon as one Of
the beauties Of Birchespool, Her face was,
perhaps, Il trife long for perfect symmetry,
but her eyes were fine, her expression kind
ly and her complexion beautiful. II was
an open secret, too, that she had under her
fathers will R500 n year In her own right.
With such advantages u far palmer girl
than Rose Esdaile might create n stir in
the society OF provincial town.
A scientific Conversations In private
house IL an onerous thing to organize, yet
mother and daughter had not shrunk from
the task. On the morning of which |
write they sat together surveying their ac
complished labors, with the pleasant feel
ing that nothing remained to be done save
10 receive the congratulations OF their
friends
With the assistanceof Rupert, the son Of
the house, they had assembled from all
parts Of Birchespool objects Of scientific
interest, which now adorned the long tables
in the drawing room. Indeed, 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 Specimens Of
the fora and fauna of the Philippine is.
lands, l0-foot turtle carapace from the
Galapagos, the on fronts Of the Pos months
as shot by Captain Charles Beesly In the
Thibetan Himalayas, the bacillus Of Koch
cultivated on gelatine--these and thou.
sand othersuch trophies adorned the tables
upon which the two ladies' gazed that
morning.
"You've really managed 1t splendidly
MAJ said the young lady, craning her
neck up to give her mother q congratula
tory kiss. ut was so brave Of you to un-
dertakeit."
~ think that will do,' purred Mrs. Els
dale complacently "But do hope that
the phonograph will work without hitch
You know at the last meeting Of the Brit
ish association got Professor Standertor
to repeat into It his remarks on the lift
history OF Medusiform Gonophore."
allow funny 1t seems" exclaimed Rose
glancing at the square, boxllke apparatus
which stood In the post Of honor on tn,
central table, ito think that this wood ant
metal will begin to speak just like a hu
man being"
"Hardly that, dear ofcourse the poo
thing can say nothing except what is sait
to 1t, You always know exactly what Il
coming But do hope that it will worl
all right"
Rupert will see 10 II when he comes VI
from the garden. He understands al
about them. Oh, ma, feel so nervous.
Mrs. Eslaile looked anxiously down a
her daughter and passed her hand caress
ingly over her rich brown hair. II under
stand she said in her soothing, cooinl
voice, 81 understand
"He will expect AN answer tonight, ma.
Follow your heart, child. am sur
that ] have every confidence in your goo,
sense and discretion. would not dictat
to you upon such matter"
''You are 80 good, ma, OF course, q
Rupert says, we really know very little o
Charles--of Captain Beesly. But then
ma, all that we do know is in his favor"
"Quite so, dear. He Is musical and wei
informed, and good humored, and certain
ly handsome, 1t is clear, too, from wha
no says, that he has moved in the yer
highest circles"
"The best in India. ma, He was an In
innate friend Of the governor generate
You heard yourself what he said yestel
day about the D'Arcies and Lady Gwer
doline Fairfax and Lord Montague Gro'
venorn
"Well, dear" said Mrs. Esdaile resigr
edly, "you are old enough to know you
own mind. shall not attempt to dictat
to you, | own that my own hopes weT
set upon Professor Stares."
"oh. ma, think how dreadfully ugly b
is."
"But think Of his reputation, dear. III
tie more than thirty, and member of I'll
royal society"
II couldn't, ma. Idon't think could
there was not another man in the worl'
But, oh, do feel so nervous; for you eau
think how earnest he is. 4 must give hil
an answer tonight. But they will be hel
- ~. ~ 1. !.