The Portland daily press., 1878-02-23
IL,

Two weeks later. Every few hours, during
some three or four days very prim aud de-
| vouqooking Episcopal minister with a cast
In his eye, had visited Alonzo. According to
his card, he was the Rev. Melton Hargrave of
Cincinnati. He said he had retired from the
ministry on account of his health. If he had
said on account OF i'll health he would proba-
bly,, have erred, to judge by his wholesome
| looks and firm build. He was the inventor
OF an improvement in telephones and hoped
to make his bread by selling the privilege of
using it. CAT present." he continued, "a
man may 60 and tap telegraph wire which
IS conveying song or a concert from one
State to another, and he can attach his pri-
Vate telephone and steal a hearing OF that
music as it passes along. My invention will
stop all that"
"Welp', answered Alonzo, eff the owner of
the music could not miss what was stolen,
why should he care?'
he shouldn't care" said the Reverend.
| WELL said Alonzo inquiripgy.
Suppose" replied the Reverend, s'suppose
that instead of music that was passing along
and being stolen, the burden of the wire was
loving endearments of the most private and
sacred nature?'
Alonzo shuddered from head to heel. "Sir,
| 1t is priceless invention" said he; 81 must
have one at any cost"
But the Invention was delayed somewhere
| on the road from Cincinnati, most unaccount-
| ably. The impatience of Alonzo could hard
| ly wait. Tae thought of Rosannah's sweet
words being shared with him by some ribald
thief was CALLING to him. The Reverend came
frequently aud lamented the delay, and told
| of measures he had taken to hurry things up.
This was some little comfort to Alonzo.
One forenoon the Reverend assembled the
stairs and knocked at Alonzo's door. There
| was no response. He entered, glanced eager
ly around, closed the door softly, then ran to
the telephone. The exquisitely soft, remote
! strains of the Sweet By and By came floating
| through the instrument. The singer was
| Hating, as usual the five notes that follow
| the first two in the chorus, when the Rever
end interrupted her with this word, in
| voice which was an exact initiation
| of Alonzo's with just the faintest flavor
OF impatience added:
"Sweetheart?"
Eyes, Alonzo?"
''PIease don't sing that any more this week
try something modern"
The agile step that goes with happy heart
was heard on the STAIRS, and the Reverend,
smiling diabolically, sought sudden refuge be-
hind the heavy folds of the velvet window
curtains. Alonzo entered and flew to the
| telephone. Said he
''Rosannah dear, shall we sing something
| together ~
Something moderns" she asked with sar-
castle bitterness.
eyes, if you prefer"
Sing 1t yourself if you like"
This snappishness amazed and wounded
the young man. He said
'Rosannah, that was not like you."
Il suppose it becomes me as much as YOUR
very polite speech became you, Mr.. Fitz
Clarence".
sinister Fitz Clarence! Rosannab, there
was nothing impolite in my speechv'
"Oh, indeed! Of course, then 1 misunder-
stood you, and most humbly beg your par
don. No doubt you said Don't sing it any
| more to-ddyP"
''Sing avhat any more to-day? ?"
"The song you mentioned, of course. How
very obtuse we are all of a sudden"
II never mentioned any song"
''Oh, you didn't9"
mo, didn't"
I am compelled to remark that YOU did.
"And am obliged to reiterate that L
didn't"
"A second Tudeness! That is sufficient sir.
l will never forgive you. ALI is over be-
tween u.s.
Then came muffled sound of sobbinc, AL
ONO fastened to say
"Oh, Rosannah unsay those words There
is some dreadful mystery here, some hideous
mistake. l am utterly earnest and sincere
when say Dever said anything abou any
song. l would not hurt you for the whole
world. Rosannah, dear?
Oh. speak to me, won't youP"
There was pause; then Alopzo heard the
glrfs sobbings retreating and knew she had
gone from the telephone. He rose with
heavy sigh and fastened from the room, say
ing to himself 81 will ransack the charity
| missions aud the haunts of the poor for nv
mother. She will persuade her that l never
meant to wound her,
A minute later, the Reverend was crouch
ing over the telephone like cat knowing the
ways OF the prey. He had not very MANY
minutes to wait. A soft, repentant voice,
tremulous with tears said
"AloDzo dear. 1 have been wrong. You
could not have said so cruel thing. 1t must
have been some one who initiated YOUR voice
in malice or in jest"
The Reverend coldly answered in Alopzo's
tones
You have said that all was over between
us. So let let it be. spCrn your proffered
repentadce and despise it!'
Then he departed radiant with fendish
triumph, to return no more with his imagin-
airy telephone invention forever.