The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1884-06-20

~ ~ANa9 IL 3nN hAk0H 1ASkEJ isSa
that l see how to use ii, I'm going
TO talk 10 you s-=cs 81 often. Won't it
be fun? But where was I? Dear me
how stupid Oh, / know, Miss Blake.
Well, she has just sent me the love-
Hest"
Here Clarkson muttered, sold Gruffs
coming" and knowing he would ask an
explanation of my receiving the tele-
phone messages, / twas obligedto abrubt
iy interrupt II must go now"-I had
almost said "my darling" "Tell me
the rest this evening"
but, Harry" / heard in q grieved
little voice; but Mr.. Grufhfiianddis foot
steps were too near, and l hung up the
receiver upside down, and hurried back
to my desk.
All day / worked in nervous despera-
ton. Would she try to resume the
conversation? Every time the bel
rang / glanced at 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.. Gruffand's hearing i might be
called upon to answer some of her chat
ter was still worse. Imade up M mind
that / must make Agnes understand
that very night that she could not amuse
herself in that way, and / did so gently,
but ~resolutely. / described Clarkson's
ear, and / took some liberties with it.
1t would be just like the wretch to re-
ceive all her little condolences and retail
them for the amusement of the clerks.
Old Gruf was an ogre, capable of dis
missing me without warning, if / did not
attend every minute to my business.
Our hopes of happiness depends upon
his good pleasure. Miss Peyton was
cool and dignified. suppose she knew
was e~xaggerating. Agnes looked hurt.
Her sweet lips trembled a little and her
eyes were suspiciously dim. / longed
to have her alone for a little while to
comfort her, as / knew / could; but
there was no chance, for although Miss
George relented sufficiently to go up
stairs to write an important letter, "
Raphael was there, resting his elbow on
the table and looking up at Agnes with
an expression of deep pity in his beauti-
full but sleepy dark eyes.
And yet the next day the same thing
occurred. Nh Gruff was there, and
looked up from his papers with a glance
of disapproval as / took Clarkson's
place at the telephone. My "Hullo"
was rather savage.
"Oh, Harry, do forgive me! Indeed
! felt SO sorry last night, and wanted to
tell you so; but, you see, Ralph was
there. I'm all alone now. Oh, Harry,
won't you forgive me?"
"Of course" / returned, feeling
Gruff's eyes burning ~unpleasantly on
the nape OF my neck.
"Oh, Harry, dear, don't talk like that
to me Do say you love me-"
like a cold blooded wretch as hurried
ly. replied:
"All right. I'll come up as soon as I
can. Very busy now. Good by!"
/ felt, rather than heard, a little sob
at the other end ofthe wire. Gruff said
nothing, but I was doomed to another
miserable day. / managed to ask
Clarkson, if / was called again, to say
| could not attend, and five times Iheard
him give this message, and each time he
turned away with a mighty grin. What
might not Agnes have SAID TO him
OF course, / hurnec to the Peytons,
determined to see her alone. She came
running into the hall to meet me, bright
and loving, but the annoyanees of the
day had made me cross, and said curt
~
Really, Agnes, it is very strangeyou
don't understand that aman cannot take
his business hours to talk with his
friends. After all / said last night, i
must say / was surprised to be called
up again to-day"
Agnes topped abruptly, and said,
with dignity
IT do not understand you'll"
"Why, my dear little girl / said
sobered by the change in her manner,
II do not mean to be cross, but how
could / talk to You about my affection
and forgiveness through the telephone,
with all those fellows listening, to say
nothing of old Gruff?"
aBut Ihave not touched the tele-
phone to-day, HarrylD
aGeorgie?" called Agnes, stepping
back to the sitting room, and followed
to tell the story.
1t is very strange said Miss Pevton,
ssbut of course it is some mistake. The
lines are out of order o. crossed in snrne
way. But mamma and Agnes and L.
have been out shopping all day, and
we lunched down town. SO W can
prove an alibi."
1t certainly was 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 I coaxed
Agnes into the conservatory alone, and
the close Of the evening was all the
brighter for the shadow with which it
began. Thedear girl sympathized with
me and forgaye my impatienee and was
ca sweet that hpf0ra Il knew found