The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-27
AT THE TELEPHONE.

en- route for my office.
Some months had passed since I sa,
my Agnes for the first time at dinner a
Peytons. l had frequently met Mis-
George Peyton in society, and ha
been several times invited to her recep
lions, so 1 was not surprised to receiv
one day an invitation to dine with he
informally" to meet q young lad
from Aiken, S. c.. OF course Ipresent
ed myself at this informal dinner il
! full evening dress, where I met som,
other gentlemen in similar attire-Clark
son was one of them-and a few yount
ladies, and was introduced to my Agnes
1t could only make you see her a
she appeared to me that night-so fresl
and blooming; the blue of her clea
peaceful eyes; the delicious curve Of til.
delicate lips! But enough that thel
and there | yielded, and became her ar
dent adorer.
From the first she distinguished MI
with her favor. Twas allowed to claim
the best dances; they were always my
flowers that she carried, and finally
for she returned to Aiken, I was hel
acceptedloyer!
The year had flown swiftly, and nov
a brilliant prospect seemed to open be.
fore me. My firm were about to estab.
lish branch department in another
part of the city, and proposed to make
one of their clerks a junior partner and
manager of the new concern. 1 had
been the longest in the employ, and had
reasonto think I was regarded with
favor by"Old GrnfT-as Mr. Grufiand.
the senior partner, was caIled-and he
would be the one to make the promo
ton and settle the question of salary.
Indeed, for some weeks Z had e
that he was working the management
into my hands, sol felt justified in writ
ing to Agnes, urging our Immediate
union. The dear girl consented, and
in her letter received that morning she
told me she was coming again to mako
a long visit at the Peytons, to, edo some
shopping" Enhancing words!
Well. she came. There was a de-
mure but delightful meeting at the sta
ton, and an enchanting 70 minutes.
until / delivered her to Miss Georges
arms at the Peyton's door.
Then followed days of devotion to
work, followed by evenings of unal-
Logged bliss. Isay "unalloyed"b but there
was n drawback. The Peyton fam
lily were very considerable, Miss George
espeeiallyso so, but my darling Agnes was
haunted with the fear that they would
think her visit to them was only
to- enjoy my society, and was con-
stantly suggesting that we should
join the family in the sitting room"
Old Mrs Peyton was a bore, but q mild
one-paterfamilias an imitigated one;
Miss George was benignant, but Slight
" tiresome. There was only one other
member of the family, a pretty little
fellow named Ralph, but the girls had
takento calling him Raphael, from some
fancied resemblance to one of the Sis
tine cherubs. He seemed a quiet little
chap. with a sweetinnocenceo of express
ion and demeanor, who posed, a good
deal of the time with his cheek on his
hand after the manner Of the cllerub
aforesaid.
Agnes had been in the city a few
weeks when, n mornings. the tele-
phone bell in Il office rang sharply.
This was of frequent occurrence and
ClarlSson's desk was stationed near it to
save time in answering the call. The
rest of us scarcely looked up as the ia
miliar "Hullo!" was shouted, or tie
concluding Gail right! I'll tell MI.
Gruff1and. Goodby!" But this morn
ing Clarkson turnedto me with: "This
is. for you, Dixon!" Accordingly I
shouted "Hullop and in reta,rn heard
Miss Georgie's,voice:
as that you Mr.. Dixona Agnes is
here and wants to try to speak to you."
Then / heard her giving directions.
"Stand a little nearer; press this close
to your ear-so."
"Good morning. I called
In return [ heard a giggle, and my
Agnes voice, exclaiming;: aOh, oh! Il
tickles my earl" Then more directions
from Miss Peyton, and at last the sweet
est voice in the world began in as near
" al might be q stentorian roar:
us that really .you,. Harry? Isn't
this perfectly sweet? Are you sure
they can't hear in the office, Georgie2,
"Well, from George, II should say
they certainly could, il. you shout like
that"
Harry" in a half whis per, "if you
are sur it's you, and that no one else
a hear, l want to tell you something.
you remember that queer Miss Hlake
in Allena Do you hear me, Harryaas
Eyes, / returned.
Then another littEe giggle. "Isnt it
too funny? Do you know Harry, now
that I see how to use it, I'm going
to talk to you ever 70 often. Won't it
be fun? But where was 1? Dear me
how stupid! Oh, / know, Miss Blake.
Well, she has just sent me, the love
Here Clarksor muttered, 'sGad Grrff's
coming" and knowing he would ask an
explanation OF my receiving the tele-,
phone messages was obligedto abrubt-
~ interrupt: ."I must go new"-I had
almost said 4my darling aTell nae.
the rest this evening.
aBut, Harry" I heard in a griered
little voice; but Mr.. Gruf1and's loot
steps we've too near, and / hung up the
receiver upside down, and hurried back
to my desk.
AL day I worked in nervous despera-
lion. Would she try to resume the
conversation? Every time the bell
rang I glanced ut Clarkson. The
thought that it might be her voice whis-
pering in his great red ear covered me
with cold perspiration. The fear that
in Mr.. Grufiand's hearing / might be
called upon to answer some Of her chat
ter was still worse. Imade up my mind