The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1906-07-13
An Up-to-Date Romance.
BY LESLIE w. OUIRK.

LOIS was rich. ms tact caused all the
trouble. Because Lois was rich the
aunts regarded me with undisguised dis
trust; because Lois was rich they kept
| her eternally at home like Gagged mouse;
because Lois was rich, in fact, they for
bade my marrying her.
Because l was fool, perhaps. l swore
that l would marry Lois in spite of the
aunts, her fortune, and all the persona
fed objections that ever walked on earth.
Because | was fool, certainly, made
this plain to the aunts.
Things went from bad to worse. At
first was allowed to see Lois any time
chose. But after a while the periods
when ! was permitted to find her Eat
home" were curtailed nightly. After
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, swore vengeance, talked
United States law at those two old jailer
aunts till my knowledge and powers OF
invention were entirely exhausted. But
still they smiled serenely upon me. and
intimate that might call for few min
utes the week after next.
| don't know what they told Lois
about me. ANYHOW, it did not in the
least alter her love. But it was embar-
RAISING sometimes when she would turn
her great, trusting brown eyes upon me
and ask if | had ever killed man or
blown up house with dynamite. Be
cause had not.
"Iwish, she said to me one day, that
Icould hear your big, hearty voice all the
time 1t would make me Drawer"
Plainly, if l could not be by her side |
must find an alternative. There was the
telephone, to be sure, but there were also
the aunts with their opposition. There
was-what on earth was there? Oh,
yes
l sent to dealer in monographs.
II should like talk" said.
He led me into his private office.
well ?"
Into monograph" explained, 'for
a reproduction of my speech, you know"
So talked. 1t cost me more than the
long distance telephone. but paid will
ingly. l bought monograph and took
lessons on making records. Then l pre-
scented the machine to Lois.
"If you wind it up and put in record"
| told her, "it will talk for me-"
The machine swore eternal love for
Lois in my behalf, and Lois smiled.
The next time called | bought twelve
records. Half of them were lastingly i'm
pressed with remarks of mine. and half
of them were blank. l explained to Lois
the process of reversing the machine i'll
order to produce permanent record of
her speeches.
Now, have numbered these six rec
ords," | explained. Put them on the
cylinder OF the photograph in the proper
order After No. has talked, take one
of the six blank records and reply to
mine In this manner we will keep up a
close imitation of conversation"
The aunts blandly informed me that
was not to be allowed to call for a week
or more Nevertheless. not all the aunts
of the universe could keep me from march
ing up and down the walk in front of the
house.
So the next day sauntered past-that
! is, almost past. At the further corner of
the yard came to an abrupt halt, for
| the curtains of the house were down and
| no smoke curled from the chimney. 1t
was deserted!
There was no time for trihing. There
might be landlord or an agent who
owned key; no one was on the spot.
Within five minutes l had broken into
| the house.
The rooms down stairs were bare
Scarcely noticing them. swept up the
stairs to the front room, from whose
window had often seen the face OF Lois
while was walking in front of the house.
1t, too, was deserted.
AS | searched the room with eager
haste my eyes spied single object. Tn
der the edge of the front window, almost
hidden by the curtain, and apparently
placed there to prop up the window, was
photographic record.
burst into the store of my friend, the
dealer in monographs, with the impetu-
osity of a runaway train. Before he
could restrain me had placed the record
on small phonograph and started the
wheels of the machine.
"Oh, Frank" came the trembling voice
of Lois from the negaphone horn, I'VE
are going away-my aunts and l. They
told me tonight that should never see
YOU again. | don't know where we are
bound for eventually, but we go to Ever.
VILE from here Come to me, Frank,
won't you? my aunts are coming
and must hide the record. pray that
you may find it,
Evervile found to be little railroad
junction. 1t was easy to trace the three
women to hotel. They had occupied
double room No. 16 the night before.
Anybody in Room 16?' l demanded
of the sleepy clerk.
Guess not" he grunted, studying the
register.
I'll take it then" announced, hur
riedly.
Before he was through insisting that g
single person could find no use for a room
with two beds in it had thrown q bill
on the counter and was halfway up
o stairs.
In a drawer of the dresser | found thu
record for which was searching. With
out seconds delay slipped it on tn
photograph carried. The voice of Loi
. presently broke the breathless silence.
Aunt Rebecca thinks am crazy" i
said. perhaps l am, but it is not be
cause talk to my phonograph all tn
time, but because they are taking m
away from you. Somehow, Frank,
D feel that you will follow US. / do no