The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1884-10-15

e
called our pew.
Werecollected some "sweethearting
which had taken place years before, Rt
ON age when sweetmeats were as im-
pOrtant as love affairs, and we laughed
q little among ourselves, but we
did not mention the Somerindykes be-
fore mother or aunty; and little Miss
Lulu, though the youngest had a way
Of being let alone, so no alusiOn was
made to her bushes. And neXtmOrniug,
the interdict being raised, we began
again to talk telephone. The man
came, the instrument was put in and
mother sent for "the girls to receive
instructions.
Missy (she was the eldest, and named
for Aunt Artemisia) went boldly up to
it and took hold of the receiver as she
might have grasped the lanyard of a
| loaded cannon Jane, Nan and /
crowded around and listened eagerly
to the words of the oracle. 1t all
sounded very easy, and Missy's first
essay, under the guidance Of the man,
was successful
'Remember," said he. 'twO taps
calls Central Office four is yOnr call.
| When some one is using the wire, the
hammer viii fly back, and one tap
means the line is free again. And,
above all, don't shout"
This was delightful; we now felt we
! had a link with the outer world We
sat up late that night discussing IT, So
nice in case of sudden illness or fire, or
! if we had unexpected company and
wanted something from the cOnfec-
toner in a hurry They d never get
it here in time" put in Lulu, who
seemed sulky-or to invite any one we
might want unexpectedly. All the time
we were talking we were interrupted at
intervals bv the sharp tap of the bell,
and we would stop and count eagerly,
hoping for our number; but four never
came, and we would begin to talk
again, when "Hark.' some one would
say, and 'ting- ting-ting ting-ting-
ting-ting' would 90 the bell. Ting
ting" a pause, and the same thing re-
peated silence for while; conversation
resumed; then, with a suddenness which
made us Jump. one sharp stroke.
''Ah, the line is clear" said Missy,
with an air Of superior wisdom, and
Lulu laughed. They seemed busy that
evening. We sat up late, but the little
bell kept up its rapid strokes, and the
last sound we heard as we went laugh.
ing and chattering up to bed was the
single stroke which denoted the close
of a long conversation ''23'' had beer
holding with some one.
We afterward found out that "23'
was Dyke House. That night we cOulC
hardly sleep for thinking of our new
inmate; il seemed like q sort of friendly
live thing, and we almost regretted
having to leave it alone downstairs il
the dark. Indeed, auntie suggested
leaving the staircase lamp burning, bu
when mother rather sharply asked het
''What fOr?" she did not answer. Blu
/ 1Ue knew, and shared her feeling, JAM
/ and 1, though Lulu went into a fit o
laughter which necessitated her sitting
, down on the second step from the top
{ where we left her in the dark. Sht
/ thought she would stay, she said, tt
] keep the telephone company. She wa
I a queer child. Jane and | lay awake
] long time talking about the telephone
] and the wonders of science, until, be
? coming possessed with the idea that VI
q heard the bell, we got out of bed AM
went tiptOeing to the top of the stairs
4 At the foot we saw another light an
z another eager face-aunty's. 80, m
. dears." she said "I-I thought I hear
E the telephone call"
? Next morning came the importan
i moment. Mother had decided to d
D the marketing by telephone. Miss,
4 came down, and with a reflection q
mothers stateliness took her place a
e the transmitter. Jane, Nan and
b crowded around open-mouthed. Aunt
t lowered nervOusly in the background
to her the thing had something uu
e canny. Her feelings had undergone
e change since the previous night. Nc
e for worlds would she have been alOn
p with it in the dark.
= "Call the Central office, said mother
f (She could never be induced to say
s 'Ring up Central Ohice.") Missy ran
G twice and listened, the receiver at he
e ear. Presently her face frightened
/. she heard something: "HellOI' sh
n said. els that Central Office? This
Y Mccartney of Danuemora. She lis
:, tened again. WHAT" she said, wit
s puzzled face. 81 don't hear"
pause "Hello," said Missy. Paus
d again; the bell rang furiously. "He
o loco" said Missy
n "Ring again said mother.
It This went on for ten minutes, mOthe
directing, Missy ringing, helloing
/, getting red in the face, and losing he
Il dignity, with no result At last th
d hammer flew back, the line was blocked
d and wondering and impatient, we s,
II down to our work, listening for tn
= single tap. When it came, we a
started up, but Missy reqested to be le
l. alone with it-as if it had been a corps
d and we sat down again. Then OF
s sued fifteen minutes more of ringin
IS and hellOing, with no success. sd
a let me try, Ventured Man. the bOlde
n of us, except Lulu, and Missy CAV
l. place to her unwillingly. Ten minute
II of uuaVailing efforts on Mans part II
a suited in disgust and impatience. jar
a tried-in vain. Mother grew angr
e and put on her bonnet to 90 TO marke
e Auntie was alarmed and retired to he
3. room, where she faltered, half in an
% half out of the door, anxious to hea
II yet afraid to be too close. 1T migl
q explode, " we heard her murmur. The
IT / tried. l thought l was cooler tina
d the others, who were red and excite
e and beginning to accuse each other
e not doing it right. So L advanced wit
}, easy confidence, rang twice an
r. listened. There was a sound as of Il
" distant sea, and presently a smOtherC
Y 'tap-tap-tap tap which came on n
very ear r-drum, and made me jump.
" "NOlg what IS the matter?" said Miss
a Grossly.
Nothing" said 1, Indignantly.