Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1894-01-04
..You might have taken her word for

but LOOK mere, pa! see WHdt 1ue bOoh
says: The scientific mind takes nothing
upon trust. Prove all thingsr | have
proved that"
You certainly have. Well, until
breakfast is ready I'll glance over The
Times. Have you seen it,
''The Times? Oh. dear me. this is it
which l have under my spirit lamp. ]
am afraid there is some acid upon that,
too, and it is rather damp and torn.
Here it is"
The doctor took the bedraggled paper
with rueful face. Everything seems
to be wrong today" he remarked. What
is this sudden enthusiasm about chemis-
try, Ida:'
"Oh, l am trying TO live up to Mrs,
Westmacott's teaching"
"Quite right. quite right" said he,
though perhaps with less heartiness than
he had shown the day before. "Ah, here
is breakfast at last.'
But nothing was comfortable that
morning. There were eggs without egg
spoons. toast which was leathery from
being kept. dried up rashers and grounds
in the coffee. Above all there was that
dreadful smell which pervaded every
thing and gave horrible twang to every
mouthful.
81 don't wish to put a damper upon
your studies, Ida," said the doctor as be
pushed back his chair. But do think
it would be better if you did your chem
ical experiments a little later in the day" :"
But Mrs. Westmacott says that wom-
en- should rise early and do their work
before breakfast
''Then they should choose some other
room besides the breakfast room" The
doctor was becoming just little ruff1ed.
Aturn in the open air would soothe him,
he thought. Where are my boots?' he
asked.
But they were not in their accustomed
corner by his chair. Up and down he
searched, while the three servants took
up the quest, stopping and peeping under
bookcases and drawers. Ida had re-
turned TO her studies and Clara to her
blue covered volume, sitting absorbed
and disinterested amid the bustle and
the racket. At last general buzz of
congratulation announced that the cook
had discovered the boots hung up among
the hats in the hall The doctor, very
red and fustered, drew them on and
stamped off to join the admiral in his
morning walk.
As the door slammed Ida burst into
shout of laughter. "You see, Clara"
she cried, 1.-The charm works already.
He has gone to No. instead of to No. 8.
Oh, we shall win great victory. You've
been very good, dear. l could See that
you were on thorns to help him when he
was looking for his boots"
"Poor papa! It is so cruel. And yet
what are we to dor
'Oh, he will enjoy being comfortable
all the more if we give him little dis
comfort now. What horrible work this
chemistry isl Look at my frockl It is
ruined. And this dreadful smellr' She
threw open the window and thrust her
little golden curled head out of it.
Charles Westmacott was hoeing at the
other side of the garden fence.
"Good morning, SIR" said Ida.
Good morning" The big man leaned
upon his hoe and looked up at her.
"Have you any cigarettes, Charles?
"Yes, certainly"
Throw me up two"
"Here is my case. Can you catch?"
A sealskin case came with soft thud
on the floor. Ida opened it. 1t was
full.
"What are these?" she asked.
Egyptians"
"What are some other brands?"
'Oh, Richmond Gems and Turkish and
Cambridge But why?"
Never mindr' She nodded to him
and closed the window. I'VE must re-
member all those, Clara" said she. 1--WE
must learn to talk about such things.
Mrs. Westmacott knows all about the
brands of cigarettes. Has your rum
Gomez
"Yes, dear It is here"
"And l have my stout. Come along
up to my room now. This smell is too
abominable. But we must be ready for
him when he comes back. If we sit at
the window, we shall see him coming
down the road"
The fresh morning air and the genial
company of the admiral had caused the
doctor to forget his trouble, and he came
back about midday in an excellent hu-
NOR. As he opened the hall door the vile
smell of chemicals which had spoiled his
breakfast met him with redoubled vir-
ulence. He threw open the hall window,
entered the dining room and stood aghast
at the sight which met his eyes.
Ida was still sitting among her bottles,
with lit cigarette in her left hand and
q glass of stout on the table beside her.
Clara with another cigarette was loung-
ing in the easy chair with several maps
spread out upon the floor around. Her
feet were stuck up on the coal scuttle,
and she had tumblerful of some red.
dish brown composition on the smoking
table close at her elbow. The doctor
gazed from one to the other of them
through the thin gray haze of smoke,
but his eyes rested finally in settled
stare of astonishment upon his elder and
more serious daughter.
TO BE CONTINUED.