Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1884-06-19

" But of course it is some mistake. The
lines are out of order or crossed in some
way. But mamma and Agnes and I have
been out shopping all day, and we
can prove an ahbi."
It was certainly very strange. but we
all concluded that it might be as Miss
George suggested, and the pater at once
began to spin long yarns about queer
messages, till at last / coaxed Agnes into
the conservatory alone, and the close of
the evening was all the brighter for the
shadow with which it began. The dear
girl sympathized with me and forgave
my impatience, and was so sweet that
before l knew found myself telling her
the one event of my life I had deter
mined to keep secret-the little entan-
ment once had with Lucretia Chase
Of course she had been the most to
blame, and Agnes thought her horrid
and forward, so [ had to admit that
Cretia had misunderstood some things
I had said to her when a mere boy, and
then Agnes asked me if I really, really
loved her best. All, me! what a happy
evening it was.
Again next day the telephone annoy
ances begun, but I felt sure of my ground,
and told Clarkson he could refused to lis
ten. Imagine my surprise when he
turned to me with a clever imitation of
Agnes voice. saying:
''She is quite sure Harry viii come
when he knows she wants to talk to him
about Cretia."
[ was thunderstruck! Lucretia Chase
lived in Vermont; I was morally sure no
one in the city knew of her existence
no one but Agnes. rushed to the in
S4TI1T,0nn+
voice. How could.anyone have guessed
Cretia possessed such idiotic lines I had
once written her-anyone but Agnes?
Yet now heard them repeated:
Oh Cretia! fdirest valentine!
Wilt thou accept this b and of mine.
smaller gift my soul forbids;
But tens the number of my kids
turned away in anger and surprise,
only to meet Gruff's grim glance.
eff this thing goes on, Mr.. Dixon, it
might be well for you and Mr.. Clarkson
to change desks"
knew what that implied, and my
heart sank to my boots.
81 do not understand it myself" I re-
piled. 81 assure you, sir, that l am ex-
ceedingly annoyed. l will not answer it
again"
'I will, myself, sir" he growled, and I
went back to my desk to upset the ink
bottle, to make mistakes in my accounts
and torture myself with the conviction
that, since no one but Agnes could have
sent the message, she was teasing me
| without realizing the fatal consequences
to our happiness. And all day Mr..
Gruf1and would answer that confounded
| telephone. That some of the messages
were meant for me could tell, and that
| they must be utter nonsense could con-
To- 1%c.
'"By Jimminy Johnson is a remarkable
expression for young lady to use, Mr..
| Dixon"
It would be too long to tell the story of
those days in detail. Sometimes there
would be respite, and then the nonsense
would begin again. It was larks for
Clarkson and the rest, but to me it
seemed as if the bell of the telephone
was ringing the knell of all my bright
| hopes. Agnes assured me of her limo
cence, and Miss Peyton was ready with
explanations; they had been shopping
or calling, or practicing duets. But 1
could see that GOODNESS had come be-
tween Agnes and me. She feared that
I doubted her, and What could I
think? Again and again the messages
quite alone. Could she have repeated
my confidence?
At the Office preparations for the new
business were being hurried on, and not
one word had been said to me of promo
| ton. To crowd all, Agnes informed me
one evening that she was going to short
en- her visit she had heard of friends
going directly to Aiken, and thought it
best to secure their escort. I passed a
wretched evening, but left, determined
to make desperate effort to clear the
mystery. Agnes had told me that they
were all to be out the next day, SO [ beg
ged off at the Office, and reached the
house at 10, and, persuading the servant
that [ wanted to rest and would let my
self out when I was ready, managed to
conceal myself in a closet in the hall,
where l waited four mortal hours. At
last was rewarded. A light step came
through the hall, chair was drawn to
the telephone, and a clear voice wonder
fully like Agnes called: 'tPIease connect
with Gruff1and & Cop
Waiting only long enough to let him
actually begin conversation in his own
style, / rushed out, and catching the cul-
prit by the arms, bestowed a resounding
box on the ear of the astonished Mr..
Raphael. The little imp! This was re-
venge for his well. deserved snubs. I nave
no doubt he heard every word of my
conversation with Agnes.
Of course the Peytons were distressed
and apologetic, and Agnes was persuaded
not to hurry away, and old Gruf releut-
ed and [ got the promotion in due time,
but never could endure the sight of
that cherubic boy. verify believe the
box that l bestowed upon him was his
only punishment, and I rejoice to think
that it was such stinger.
If this story has moral it is a short
one. The more innocent and guileless a
boy looks the less he is to be trusted.
Wit and HumOr
BIinks="Whv how de do Iinksl