Connecticut western news., 1883-05-30
ALONE IN THE HOUSE..
THE HARRINGTON ToLh-GATE.

THE HARRINGTON ToLL-GATE.
 Jennie Bartlett's father and mother had been suddenly called away for the night to Parnassus Centre, where Mrs. Bartlett's sister had been taken very ill, and Jennie was left to keep the toll-gate alone. It was not 8 difficult task, for scarcely any one travelled over the Bar rington Road after nine o'clock, and those who did passed through the open gate without paying toll. 5
 But even if it had been harder, Jennie would have been equal to it. She had lived at the toll-gate ever since she was baby, and knew perfectly well what to charge, and how to make the proper change. Indeed she often kept the gate for her father when he was at home, and people passing through would be apt to wonder how so bright and pretty a girl could grow up in so lonesome place. Jennie, however, did not mind the lone sumeness. Her dearest wish was to go of to boarding school; but so long as she was at home it mattered little to her that Harrington was three miles of on the one hand, and Leicester ten on the other, and that there was scarcely 8 house between. She even liked the sol itude, and was almost sorry when the telephone connecting Harrington with Leicester made connection by the way with the toll-gate. Before they seemed to be out of the world, and the people coming through the gate were like visi- tors from another sphere; now, the ire quent ringing of the call-ben reminded her that civilization was not so far dis tant, after all.
 On this particular night there was not likely to be even the usual number of passers-by. It was dark and threaten ing. Looking out of the door about nine o'clock, Jennie could hardly see more than hundred feet either up or down the road. It would be bad night, she thought, for the gate to get accidentally shut; anybody coming along might run into it without warning; for that matter, people might run into the posts on either side. She hung lantern on one post to prevent this accident, and going in the house, locked the door and went to bed. The fact that she was alone in the house did not disturb her in the least, and in minute she was fast asleep.
 Some time in the night she was sud denly awakened by the ringing of the telephone bell She listened to hear i it rang three times, which was the toll gate signal; if oftener, to call up some of the other people on the same wire Two of the connections she knew were in Leicester, the third and fourth was il the Harrington Bank, the fifth in the tannery, and the sixth in the centra office in Harrington. In the bewilder ment Jennie could not at first determine how many times it did ring; but at las she decided it was six-for the Barring ton central office. That did not mea1 the toll-gate, and Jennie prepared tt turn over for another nap, when asuddel thought aroused her. It was certainl, after midnight, and the central office di' not keep open later than twelve o'clock the bank, too, was shut up, and so wa the tannery; on the whole line she wa probably the only person who could hea the bell. What if it should be some thing important !? Indeed, it woul hardly ring at that time of night unles itwere important. Quickly jumping or of bed, she ran to the instrument, pr the receiver to her ear, and calle through the transmitter, ''Hello hello
 A voice came back to her so distint that 1t seemed Almost in the same room saying, "Hello! is that the cantral O fice?" The tone was quick and sharl and Jennie felt sure that somethin must have happened.
 No, sir,'' she called. "it's the to gate; I'm Jennie Bartlett"
 "Tell your father to come here rigl away" the voice said. "It's very in portant."
 Jennie felt sinking at her hear Fathers away" she said, "and II here alone"
 She heard the voice exclaim somethin in an impatient tone, and then the sour of two or three other people talking though there was some doubt as to wh could be done.
 "Can do anything?" she inquire almost hoping that she could not.
 Another conversation followed, whi, Jennie overheard; the speakers were l doubt nearer the telephone.
 "Why do you want to let them g into Burlington at all ?" one voice aske "Why not stop them at the toll gate
 ''To be sure!" said another. C they get past the gate, like as not they turn down the Riverton road, and thr, Allen off the track They can't turn before they go to the gate; we are su of them as far as that"
 "Tell the girl" and Jennie caue only confusion of sounds
 Presently she heard another 's Hello
 !" Hello z she responded.