The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-11

last night-the result Of a narrative 50 in
teusely romantic-was as thrilling 4 sensa-
ton as Is often seen, or Journal Is called
upon 10 chronicle.
To give an intelligent and comprehensive
idea Of the occurrence, our story must be-
gin with one OF
THOSE DREARY DAYS
in the month Of April last, when the bliz-
yards that held spring firmly within the
embrace OF winter made we'll people de-
spOndent and feeble people III. The prin-
'cipal downtown thOrOughfIe, MaiD street,
was all but deserted, and the few passers-
by failing TO engage the attention Of the
gallant but pOOTy-Occupied clerk OF an in
finential establishment, be nodded over the
open pages OF what might have been, from
the himSy character Of the GOV and the
poor interest awakened in the young man,
a temperance tract or a dine novel. His
eyes bad closed and his head was Just going
back for a quick. energetic, forward nod,
when the sharp. clear ring OF the little tele-
phOne-bell aroused him from his laZy atti-
tude, and, springiug forward. be thrust the
phone to his ear and yelled ~ a loud and
husky voice. HeloO In clear and silyery
tones came back The query, " How are you,
Mr.. -? Do you know who | am; -
Now, the young gentleman who is the
subject OF this narrative IS a handsome and
noble young man, bot 50 bashiul and retir-
ing in disposition that to have bis name
called and 20 gentle an inquiry from one he
at once conceived 10 be fair and charming,
breathed as il were into his very ear, took
away bis breath, and FOR a time his self
possession, and be fumbled out:
"Yes'm, am-tbat i, ,I-l-er, have been
asleep. an-and really can't remember your
name-that is, your voice."
Well, the conversation went on. The
young man gained seli-cODtTol, and he was
soon chatting in Il confidential way that was
TO him
SIMPLY SURPRISING.
and his admiration for the fair one whose
voice came 20 sweety over the wire was
increasing directly as the squares Of the dis
tauce they were apart. How far they pro-
gressed in elrnesiness and confidential eX-
pressi0ns no one knows, FOR II either were
overheard ii was a one.-ided view Of the
question. However, the effect Of This sin
gular interview upon the young man, who
for prudent reasons we will call Romeo
because his name was not Chlrlie-was
simply alarming 10 his friends. He ne
elected his business. became erratic and
ire,fu, and hc who had been noted for his
mOdesiy and circumspection was now OBJ
served 10 walk The streets at an hours,
staring AZ young ladies aud following them
in such suspicious manner that he was
frequently threatened with arrest by the
police. He was in lOve-in love with the
Girl be once knew through the telephone
but had never met Would she ever call
him through that telephone again, and
would be ever be able to discover who
THIS FAIR ELECTRIC ENCHANTREss
was? Those were the thoughts that took
possession Of hin, and. Ike Jlphet in
search Of his father, be walked the streets
for q month and visited places u amuse-
ment and crowded n semblies, In The bOpe
OF meeuug her whose voice he loved. Al
last the happy hour came. and he was re-
warded for the many anxious and patient
hours Oi his search. About the last oi May
be visited a church.festiyal, and, Wearied
out with watching and waiting, be was
about 10 leave, when the siyeTy voice, so
long treasured and remembered. fell upon
his ear With its merriest tones. He turned
to the object OF his affections and gazed
upon her for the first time. She knew him,
and the consciousness Of his presence sui-
fused her cheek with 4 blush that rendered
even her homeiineSs attractive.
YES, SHE WAS UGLY,
but he cared not, for he was blind with
love for the pOssessOr OF that voice. 10
that moment of Joy the basbful Romeo for
cot his basbfulness, and presenting himself
was soon engaged in tete.d-tete, drinking
in the melody Of her voice. The acquaint-
auce 50 rOmantically begun soon took
shape in the diily meetings Of ardent
lovers, and the fair one had pighted her
trolh 10 Romeo, when one evening last
month the father OF t1e young lady, learning
Of the affair, had a stormy interview with
his daughters lover, which ended by his
showing BIN the door and fOrbidding bis
visits 10 the house and attentions TO Bis
daughter.
Cousoled with the reflection that the
course Of
True LOVE NEVER RUNS SMOOTH,
these two. as many other lovers have DONE
set 10 work 10 eylde the surveillance which
the old man instituted over his daughter,
aud 10 remove the barrier that Kept them
asunder. With wOman's wit, The Young
lady trst found the solution, and Romeo
was once more awakened from a SAD deiec.
iion IN bis office by the ring II that little
bell. Springiug forward to the instrument,
bis ear caught again the me OdIOus tones Of
that dear voice.
Tue new system OF meetings was now
and twice daily lt regular
hours, and sometimes 0itentr, these sweet
hearts might have been seen pouring their
tale Of love into the cold tympanum Of
Blake transmitttr. DAYS and weeks went
By, and these young hearts. ar first bound
ing with ioy a. their quasi rednl0n. became
impatient. Those meetings wnlch enabled
them 10 hear but not 10 see, to speak but
not 10 touch. became now entirely made
quate, and 10 q NJ OF desperation they
formed, in cautious whispers thar went
stealing over the wires, a deep conspiracy,
by which they would be ever freed from
CRUEL PARENTS TYRANNY.
This plan was concOc,ed on Tuesday last.
Juliet fOr we will so call the gir), IN the
absence of her parents, who would 20 to
The Wednesday evening chuTch.meeting,
and while the servants guarded The out
ward walls against the approsch OF the
enemy. was 10 steal quietly from he house
and meet her Romeo, who with carriage
would await her al a point designated.
The hours crept on apace, and Juliets
guilty heart, on yesterday, more than once
came near betraying ber in the parJxysms
Of trepdaliOn which il sent bounding up 10
her throat whenever 4 door was suddenly
opened or a car whistle blew. Her nervous
ness was not unObseryed by the mother,
" hO, when her aunt bad called yesterday
lfteI noon 10 get Juliet TO stay all night with
her, as her husband bad gone out OF town,
said, - Yes indeed, she shall 20. she needs
change, for she has been like another child
ever since her father shut her up 30 closely
Ia the house." SO the poor girl, all trem-
MIMI with anYiaIN last IheIr nlnns ahOnln