The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-07-31
9n drei1 @ Der Voice. 6
 1 E. ALe1o1. " Cz1uz

LOIS had two auntS and lover. The aunts were downright tyrants; the lover-wen. I was the lover. Lois was rich. This fact caused all the trou- ble. Because Lois was rich the aunts regarded me with undisguised distrust; because Lois was rich they kept her eternally at home, like a caged mouse; because Lois was rich, in fact, they forbade my marrying her.
 Because I was a fool. perhaps, I swore that I would marry Lois, in spite of the aunts, her fortune and all the personified objections that ever walked on earth Because I was a fool, certainly, I.made this plain to the aunts.
 Things went from bad to worse. At first I was allowed to see Lois any time I chose. But after while the periods when I was permitted to find her "at home were curtailed nightly. After a time, indeed. was allowed to see her only on certain days. between certain hours. for all the world as If she were in prison.
 clustered, I swore vengeance. talked United States law at those two old Jai1er aunts till my knowledge and powers of invention were entirely ex- hausted. But still they smiled serene lyfupon me. and intimated that I might call for few minutes the week after next.
 I don't know what they told Lois about me. Anyhow, 1t did not in the least alter her love- But it was em- barrassing sometimes when she would turn her great, trusting brown eyes upon me and ask if had ever killed a man or blown up a house with dyna- mite. Because I had not.
 q wish" she said to me one day. that I could hear your big, hearty hn nlr- braver"
 Plainly, if could not be by her side I must find an alternative. There was the telephone; to be sure, but there were also the, aunts with their oppo- sition. There was-what on earth was there? Oh. yes
 I sent to a dealer in photographs.
 T should like to talk,"I said.
 He led me into his private office.
 ''Well?
 Into photograph" explained, flor reproduction of my speech, you know"
 So I talked. It cost more than the long distance telephone, but I paid will lingly. l bought photograph and took lessons on making records. Then 1spresented the machine to Lois.
 "If you wind 1t up and put in a rec ord" told her, "it will talk for me"
 The machine swore eternal love for Lois in my behalf and Lois smiled.
 The next time I called I brought twelve records. Half of them were 1astingly impressed with remarks of mine and half of them were blank. l explained to Lois the process of re- versing the machine in order to pro- duce a permanent record of her speeches.
 Now. I have numbered these six records I explained. Put them on the cylinder of the photograph in the proper order. After No. is talked take one of ,the, six blank records and reply to mine. In this manner we will keep up a close imitation of d conver- sation."
 The aunts blandly informed me that I was not to be allowed to call for a week or more. Nevertheless, not all the aunts of the universe could keep me from marching up and down the walk in front of the house.
 So the next day I sauntered past that is. almost past. At the further cor ner of the yard I came to an abrupt halt. for the curtains of the house were down and no smoke curled from the chimney. It was deserted,
 There was no time for trifing. There might be a landlord or an agent who 'wned key, but no one was on the spot Within five minutes I had brok- en into the house.
 The rooms down stairs were bare. Scarcely noticing them I swept up the stairs to the front room, from whose window l had often seen the face of