over,
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH.
SHORT STORY.
WHEN OLIVER eloped BY OLIVE HIGGINS PROUTY.
LE
13
EXTRA
HONGKONG, SATURDAY, MAY 23, 1914
41
norosa,
for
18 well be
to
17
the
The physicist, with bis weights ( hid bad more "best young men," poor Edith. He blamed me only thing I ever really, really quickly enough once she was
I knew it." He picked and balances, his mirrora and as she called them, than any girl wholly. I had never in my life wanted," I said hoarsely, "Ob, here. I'd ever heard of. Besides, she had any harsh words with my Will," I exelaimed, "ient it tooap Edith's card again, then he candles, bis tubes and wires, has edded: "I know the family investigated the problems of phys was very pretty. After I had brother Aleo, but I couldn't feel bad?" and I began to cry.
Will said sadly," Why, Bobby couldn't help but like Madge ical energy as manifested in the made her soak the orimp out of any of the old kindness that her hair, and do it up primly on morning, and before I realized it, dear, I should think the little once they knew her, and I'm various forms of Las, light,
mighty glad!"
electricity and magnetism, and the back of her neck, people used all that I had been dumbly feeling kiddie was yours!"
Edith appeared at the house by experimente of the greatest I couldn't have felt wores if it to fara around to ses her on the for many months I was hurling
had been.
All tba victorious for the first time when Madge delicacy bee proved the reality of street. But I never told her shet my brother Alec. looked well, that her hat became lith's w and you right telegrams, all the confident, buoy had been downstairs a week. his laws of motion, refracted light ber, or that her colour was fresh around her little finger, Alee ant notes to the different mem- Madge, quiet with her new aby and spec fio gravity.
In short, we are living in an nd lovely. I was hardly kind, Vara," I said. "You haven't bers of the family were more than little manner and frail bonds | ridiculed every idea that abe scrap of independence loft, unless now. The poor little served tea at my request. Oliver,ge so dominated by the methods wrapped glowing and proud, watched her and the ideals of physical science had until her confidence in her fadge has as much right to the mite of humanity
has and opin
piece of flannel from the piano. Edith talked that we have come to identify elf, once so remarkably inflated, first hair as Edith was as flat as a tyre with an ugly a great deal more need of the up there in the sewing room incessantly for a solid hour. I knowledge with physical demon- Bure had lined had shattered all our many points about Madge. She that which can be seen and felt [To the first grandson, of the three of us, with Madge crying pancture. She became modest three thousand dollars. Edith in the clothes basket Madge and was sure she wasn's missing stration and to define reality as
before Will, frightened before has been so absolutely
has a grea: faculty for observation, and heard, analyzed and tested name of Vars, a cheque for upasite. A classmate of Will's.
It wasn't until I ran across She stayed until near dianer, and and proved.
ben in one of her endden cratio three thousand dollars gold is some sort of an engineer, had said rangere and before me she was he'll be given a boy, I don't plane,
wed, and a little.cowed after understand why she should Es so
We refuse to accept anything- lobe presented, Bal grand- that if Oliver cared to go down wo weeks she would do anything concerned anyway. Here comes Eaith some days later in town Bons do not rom to the Vare into South America to some God
in the world that I said, and be first. But I tell you this, if that I woke up to the fact that bursts of enthusiasm announced as real which cannot be subjected *family. Two sons were ma forsaken eput in the Argentine cause of that absolute dependence Edith shouldn't have a son and little girl of Madgo's was the best that she would remain until the to actual physical experiment. We decline to believe anything It was closeted in my room to be true which cannot be ried, but no grandeon had sp- Republic, no place for a women on me, I grew daily fonder and Madge should, it would serve example of a blessing in disguise ten o'clock train from town. peared. Then Oliver Chenery by the way, there was a civil onder of her. I grew to love Edith exactly right. She hasn't that. I had ever come
by mathematics, can be Vare eloped and when he engineering job down there wait her when I bullied her most: and shown one grain of human kind- Edith's daughter at that time was while Will and Oliver waited for proved fetches his wife home she does ing to be superintended. Civil as the daye went on and I saw nese toward Madge, nor have about four months old, and Edith her downstairs to take her to the as planetary motion
was fitting about feathered and train that Edith said to me as she provod-by analysis and ex- not impress the family, except ofgine ring happers to be Oliver's how hard she was trying, felt her you." unfavourably. "My fun's all line. The job would take some watching eyes upon me at the Alec didu't deign to reply farred and tailored, stepping like pinned on bor vail:"My dear, periment; as chemical affinities"
ho
says miserably. eight or ten months. There table or in the library, I could directly to that speech of mine, a borse that has just had a good never saw such a change in any can be proved-by exact mea- living mortal. Do you realize aurements of weight, or degrees This is one of the cleverent, might or might not be any future, ordely keep my tone severe and but he felt strongly enough about rabdown. stories Maclure's has published Will's friend couldn't say...
brusque, nor comforting arms guess, for before I left the "How do you do," she said that having that baby has simply of heat, or rate of motion, as the that girl ovor? It's laws of physical energy can be for some time.]
"I'll go. I'll go right off,"
"Gorgeous day, isn't nade from around her when she com house he gravely balled me aside loftily.
wonderful. Pat refinement into proved. maid Oliver."Madge is unhap mitted blanders. The child was and aid: "Elith's still in ait?"
her. Why-really
Immortality, like all Great," I replied.
wouldn't Даева (Conclude't from last Saturday.) py and wants to go home any queer, secretive little thing. oritical condition, Lucy. I think
the child's greatest, deepest and highest And then E-lith asked evasive. I'm sure it's best. It she never told me if she were under the circumstances, feeling нау.
metruths of modern science, is I've decided to invite the established by the proof of in- "Oh no, no, no, it isn't" I said was all a mistake," he added lonely, or homesick, seldom re- as you do toward her and me, itly, unable to resist a reference to origin now. Listen fiercely. "Don't say that."
ferred to Oliver, seomed grave will be better if you do not come Madge, "How is everyone at your whole family bunch, as usual, ference; the truth of the immort I sadly, "my marrying her. I
Оде Christmas. put my hand on his shoulder might have known it wouldn't and intent, and I wondered if here again, snyway not at setablishment?"
mayal life is demonstrated not by have I "Ob, all right. "and sud-work." I stared hard at the salt Gleanings Falls would ever have present," No, it isn't, Oliver,
forgivingin dircot experience, which is I closed my lips tight. Tue a note already written to you. denly, because I couldn't bear to cellars. Will began carving the recognized the sparkling, gay ees Oliver unhappy and despair-steak silently
lile village coquette who had house where I was born was There's a new member in our this short life, I've concluded. manifestly impossible, but by I saw the 35 I came to have a look at inevitable and necesary deduc- ing, and becuse my voios wee) It was during dessert, after had a word and a smile and a closed to me for the first time, family, you know."
who "Very wall," I replied shortly, colour rush to Elith's face. "A Madge. She isn't half bid, you tion from what is experienced trembling and there were tests Delta bad taken up a tray for
and sped away as fast as steam girl," I hated to announce. "Born coow. I had a nice little talk with here to what must exist over Lassed. in my eyes, I went quickly out of Madge, that I was told that Mre ready nod for everyone
her upstairs in her room after there! the room and apstaire. I was Vars wanted me in her bedroom, Oliver had been gone some six could take me to Will and my Thursday."
We know, say the scientists, “A girl? Did you say a girl?"inner. All she needs are some surprised on passing the gueat. I excused myself, and slipped weeks, I think, when Madge safe little brown refuge of ten room to hear muflid sobs. I upstairs quietly. Madge was inally told me her astounding rooms; to poor Mudge and her Edith's voice broke into a nervous clothes and I've gotten it into that the "ether" in the atmosphere stopped and listened, and then, bed. ller hair was parted, braid awa. I was quite unprepared pathetically meagre little layout laugh. "Lnoy Vars, has Madge my head to take her to my own is a reality, even though it is quite sure, I abruptly knasked ed neatly, dowa her back. Her for it. Such a possibility hadn't of four nainsook slips, three a little girl? Is she dreadfully remaker's in town. One may utterly bayond the reach of our and immidiately opened the tears were dried. fler plain little scen-red to me and for a moment anal gertrudes, two hands, two disappointed? How is she? When is well be generous, Lucy. 3- experience; and this because the was it? How much does it weigh?ides, if the girl comes to the facts of light cannot be explained
house at Christmas, she must without it. door. I was amized in discover nightgown buttoned at her throat, didn't know exactly what to say shirts and two tiny nightgowns.
A month later, the news of the A girl! Well, well, is it postress decently. I've a good mind Madge fate downward -on
So, also, to my mind, do we the I had never seen her so pretty:to the child. I was surprised that
the dinner sicod beside her bed she had let Oliver go off to South arrival of Elith's nine-pound sible?" Her eyes were fairly to take the little thing in hand know that the immortal life is a bed in tears.
She grasped my "Why, what's the mater? I untouched.
Americs without so much as a daughter filled me with the most glowing now.
My dear Bobby, do comenyself and polish her up a bit reality, even though, like the exclaimed.
"You wanted me?" I asked.uggestion. I was amazed that ecstatic joy. I had known for arm.
"ether," this immortal life is he's pretty enough. You see," It's "I want to home, I want to
go
Yes,
ahe replied looking up the poor little afraid thing had many days, a good deal, I should and have lunch with me.
invited the Sewalls for Christmas conscious experience, because the ms at home," she waited. I olos- I'll do anything you tell me," for so many weeks. It was when weaker football team when it met. Let's let bygones be by Evo-won't it be wonderful if ficts of human life cannot be go home, they're not sahamed of at me, "I am not going bome. kept the secret pluckily to herself imagine, like the joy of the been such years since we have lith broke off. I had already utterly beyond the reach of our ed the doors and wont over to she'said.
I saw her under lip tremble makes the first goal in a great gone. What do you say? Dear. her just be it here, t just! And the didn't go home. We
We know, say the chemists, hate if he went on. Olivar oncked Oliver off alone to South pitifully like a little child's and struggle. The torturing fear of me, how exciting it all is! A little rock should marry Ratband explained without it.
tears fill her eyes that I suddenly the other side I didn't consider. daughter! By the way, Bobby, simply had to ese Madge "first
that the invisible ions and cor- thought I was good enough at America the next week, and as I reached out my hand and drew Edith's disappointment was as I wanted a girl all the time, for before asking her. However, I
The instant the door had closed pusoles are real, because the facts home," she was orging all the rode back from the depot in the
"Why, Madge," I said tender to rejoice. Madge hai achance! I'm telling people. Remember,
anderstood without them. lime and each hetenes came open car with his slip of a wifeer down beside me on the couch. nothing to me. I knew only how all I said-at least that's what really think she'll do." brokenly. "Oh, I wish I had beside me, on my handa for the ly, and she fell over in a little
It was on November twenty should anyone nak. A girl Edith I rushed back to Midge. of the visible elements cannot be never heard of Oliver Vare," she next half year, I drew my first heap and began to ory in earnest. first that Madge's little child was heavens, a girl! I can hardly threw my arms about her.
"You've passed your prelimi
I sai!. choked. "I've tried and tried to long free breath. Oliver, I ro-On, don't, don't cry, Madge born. Oliver had taken the first wait to tell Al. Come on in here, be like bie folks, but he finds oognized, had bean more of a tear," I pleaded gently. Please available boat for home, after my dear, I'm going to send fault with every single thing I do, responsibility on my handa than who knows," I added brightly he had received Madge's belated Oliver's wife and baby a bang-up or wear or say or think, and I'm Madge. My way was clear now. listen, dear child-who knows letter. But after connecting with box of flowers. Dear me, but I'm
We know, say the scientists, going home.
Lessons could begin any day, but you may win father's three some sort of an old coal-boat excited. Won't Oliver be too!
that nature is not chaotic, bui "I sat down besida her. "Look And no one will ever know what thousand dollars?" I threw it bound for Savannah, he had been cuts with a daughter? here, Madge," I said stornly. earnestness and determination
At no time in the history of uniform, through all time and "Stop talking like that. You went into the task that I had ad-out carelessly enough at the time, blown miles out at sea, been be know, I felt she'd have a girl, merely for something to say, calmed for days and never reached and I simply never make a mie-
human thought, perhaps, has apsva, because all the known reality facts of human experience demand can't go home. Don't you know dertaken. From the beginning merely in desperation. I little home until his mite of a child was take." you are married? Why it's per took it absolutely for granted guessed what a burning hope of two weeks old. I had been very Next Wednesday.the express the doubt of the fectly absurd!" The cobbing that since our stormy talk that mine the winning of that three busy myself settling a brand new man leit a stunning embroidered of the immortal life been more that hypothesis for their rational So, also, do we know that we perfectly still with her nose buri relations, thereafter, would be wasn't until after a memorable and Oliver in one of the suburbs, dear little Daughter," it said, on ment; and the explanation of this stopped suddenly, and she lay evening in the guest-room nur thousan 1 dolira woull become, five-roomed apartment for Madge baby's coat and cap, "for the general than at the present me explanation. ed in the down comforter. Ewent those of teacher and pupil My day with Edith some several we ks where i hoped to have them Elith's visiting card, in her bold, prevalent doubt of our own, age are immortal, because all the It and generation ie the explanation known facts of human life de. on talking to the cheap rhinestone hathority would be unquestionear Midge's announcement that installed by Christmas. Oliver unmistakable handwriting.
satisfactory explanation. comb in die-book of her boadoverhauled her entire wardrobe
The scientist, although he does. "You say Oliver ånds fault and with the freedom an! cruelty of the seed of that hope was planted. had been doing wonderfully well was Oliver, who had been home of man's doubts through all the mand that hypothesis for their
We are living in' what it has It wasn't until after that day that in South America and the firm for two days, who opened the ages. he certainly has reason to. You're a customs officer. The cheap lace
age of science, and by science we has a perfect right to accept as only eighteen and you have things I sent to the Salvation became such a fighting support-wanted him in their city office package. He and I were alone
salary.
bis eyes fell apa the carl. never lived in the city and you army. The rhinestone comb 1er of Madge's, such an eager the next winter with $500 more in the library. He flashed when become a commonplace to call an not know in actual experience, mean, of course, nothing more nor proved the reality of "ather," "So Edith-" he begen. 44 don't know how to do anything dropped into the atove before bar champion of her canse.
"Yo," I assured him, and less than ordered knowledge. Our the actuality of ions and corpuscles right, but you've got to learn, very eyes
up to Hilton to spend the day with had been spending the entire day And it will be hard and take a
of accurate demonstration and of of nature. And, in exactly the Te is fuld to describe in a long while. You don't know how nutshell the use of pronte lith. She received me in her settling the new apartment. the roses on Madgo's bureau are age is one of careful investigation, and the truth of the uniformity
Plaborate chin'z bung bedroom, didn't get home until about eight from Edith, too."
same way the theologian, although He flung the card on the table exact truth."
The scientist has turned his he does not know in actual con to dress nor how to talk, nor How
Tu" that child through, but i to keep'squist nor anything," made her work as hard as if there was while she washowing me o'clock. Will had been watching
"Look here, Bobby," he telescope toward the immessur soious experience, has a perfect said. But you've got to buckle was a diploms at the end. Ia baby's weighing basket, baruffle for me and met me at the door and came over and stood before
ed and lace trimmed; that I re-The instant I entered the house I
watching reality and the actuality and the down and find out and I'm going wanted Edith and the family to marked in the most off hand sort knew something anexpected had gil. "I must have been com- able spaces of the heavens, and right to accept as proved the to teach you. Do you hear? You accept her, and I knew they of way in the world that I guessed happened. There was a white plately run down or something here, by patient aren't a baby or a child to ory wouldn't do it so she was, any Mage's baby would have to be pillow on the couch in the library. Before I went away. Everything through the long hours of the truth of the conception of im-
bothered me horribly and to think nigus, has discovered and forma mortality. like this. You're armarried wo more than a college would accept weighed on the kitchen scales; italia hadn't fit the lamp. man. You're Oliver Vars' wile." a candidate who hadn't stadied at all. I meant it as a kind of "Will," I said, all work in my I took it out a, on poor little lated the laws of planetary motion, I stopped to give the poor girl & Latin or French. I had to begin tribute to Edith's equipment, but knees," where's Malge? What's Madge. Why Madge, say, Bob and has proved the reality of by, isn't Madge" he blushed a these laws by a reasoning so chance to say something but she at the very foundation of every-
He closed the library door and little and then said: "I've known exact that he can prophesy a cer- gone off in the room. I did
Tuore hsa beon a marked re lay absolutely silent and rigid. thing. From low-out Dutch you would have thought a bomb happened?" I rose. Think over what I have necks and unkept hands I had to not see why she should go into turned on an electric light. a lot of girle in my day, but not tain conjunction of the stara a
duction in the number of trampa said, "I finished. Then get up lead her to stiff tailor-made collare at pasion. I told her so." She's all right, denr. We didn't one to come up to Madge. Did century hence to the very hour and bathe your eyes, come down and manicured nails.
Hor cheeks were brilliant red send for you, because there was I ever tell you how she can cook? and minute.
The scientist has turned his admitted to the Tenterden (Kent) I was Liko a streak! You ought to EOB to dianer and be sensible. W mashing her food at the table with anger. I don't remember nothing you could do
her arrange flowers in the middle microscope toward the earth Workhouse since the introduction and of a system of compulsory bathing But Oliver, and Will and I had with her fork and the lesspoon her actual reply, but I know hot here all the time."
"You mean "I began. of the table. Look ba if they were upon which we trend, dinner alone that night
Liggarishly left in her cup, I ha he won't come down, to lend her in the midst of the words of defense for poor abused Oliver had announced gloomily. intricaties of Falad forks and Madge came to my lips. I know "Will," I said, and then my mind growing! Madge is worth twenty by careful analysis of the com- on admission. During the past we quarreled and she rose and leaped over a league of details to society girls. Could Rath run position of matter has revealed half-year the number of tramps "She is crying. She wants to go fager bowls. And most difficult left me in a sudden storm. one question, and after I had a vegetable garden, do you think? and formulated the laws of admitted was 513, as compared home," he said, and my heart of all, I had to teach the little When noon came Edith was in asked it Will took my hands and Could her boarding school friends chemical affinity, and proved the with: 1035 in the previous hall rank, for I knew I had played my heathen girl the absolute neces bed with a temperature and the replied gently go into the village store and ran reality of these lawa by a year, when the bathing order was Isat ostd and lost, brought ity of attor silenes on her part, doctor on the way, and Aloo was No, dear, a sweet little girl." the socounts when the regular demonstration so exact that he first introduced. Trampa are now That night Will had brought tho imbecility of any attempt at down in the libfory with me, I couldn't answer at first. I el is out on her vacation ? can foretell the immediate con- avoiding Tenterden and going to home the long looked for news of big cay or Birtatious. Up there dreadfully concerned about the crumpled down in a heap in Madge can do she could sequence of any given combina-adjining anions where bathing
position for Oliger. We dis in Glennings Falle, Mudge was
of my news upon Will's big choir, It was the learn city ways and manners tion of chemical elements. Owned 1 curdily as dinner, the considered almost a belle. Ske
She
From
It was on a Saturday that I went
had
On November. twenty-first,
me.
You
-
aries, dosr child!'
SHORT SERMON.
So, álao, do we know that the invisible life beyond the grave is real, because the facts of this visible life cannot be understood without it...
Tramp's Distaste for Bathing.
is not enforced.
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