Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1884-07-04

perfectly sweet 2 Are you sure they can It
hear in the offiee. George '''
WELL" from George, II should say
they certainly could, if you shout like
that.''
Harry" in half whisper, "if you are
sure it's really you, and that no one else
can hear, want to tell you something.
Do you remember that queer Miss Blake
in Aiken ? Do you hear ma. Harry 2"
Yes" returned.
Then another little giggle. "Isn It it too
funny? Do you know, Harry, now that
see how to use it, I m going TO talk to you
ever SO often. Won't it be fun? But
where was L? Dear. how stupid Oh, 1
know, Miss Blake. Well, she has just
sent me the lovellest''-
Here Clarkson muttered "Old Gruff's
coming" and knowing that he would ask
an explanation Of my receiving the tele-
phone MESA ges, was obliged to abrupt
ly interrupt: Il must go now"-I had
almost said, ''my darling.-tell me the
rest this evening"
but, Harry - heard in grieved lit
tie voice; but Mr.. Gruffland's footsteps
we're too near, and l hung the receiver up
side down and hurried back TO my desk.
All day I worked in nervous desperation.
Would she try to resume the conversation?
Every time the bell rang glanced at
Clarkson. The thought that it might
be her voice whispering in his great red
ear covered me with cold perspiration.
The fear that in Mr.. Gruffland's hearing
| might be called upon to answer some of
her chatter was still worse. made up my
mind that must make Agnes under
stand that she could not amuse herself in
that way and did so. gently but reso-
lutely. I described Clarkson's ear. and /
took some liberties with it. It would be
| just like the wretch to receive all her lit
tie condolences, and retail them for the
amusement of the clerks.
Old Gruff was an ogre, capable of dis
missing me without warning, il did not
attend every minute to my business. Our
hopes of happiness depended upon his
good pleasure. Miss Peyton was cool and
dignifed, 1 suppose she knew was exag-
gerating. Agnes looked hurt. Her sweet
lips trembled little. and her eyes looked
supiciously dim. I longed to have her
alone for little while to comfort her, as l
knew / could; but there was no chance.
for though Miss George relented suffi-
GENTLY to go upstairs to write an
important letter., Raphael was there,
resting his elbow on the table. and look
ing up at Agnes with an expression of
deep pity IN his beautiful but sleepy dark
eyes.
And yet, the next day the same thing
occurred. Mr.. GruffIand 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.
ooh. Harry! Do forgive me Indeed,
indeed 1 felt so sorry last night, and want
ed to tell you so ; but you see. Ralph was
there. Pm 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 ?"
Was there ever such a child 1 felt
like cold blooded wretch, as 1 hurriedly
replied
"All right I'll come up as soon as 1
can-very busy now. Good by !"
felt, rather than heard, little sob at
the other end of the wire. Gruff said
nothing, but I WAS doomed to another
miserable day. managed to ask Clark
son, if l was called again, to say I could
not attend, aud fves times heard that
message, and each time he turned away
with mighty grin. What might not Ag-
mes have said to him ?
Of course 1 hurried to the Peytons, de-
termined to see her alone. She came run
ming into the hall to meet me. bright and
loving, but the annoyances of the day had
made me cross, and taid CURLY:
Really. Agnes, it is very strange
you don't understand that man cannot
take his business hours to talk with his
friends. After all said last night, 1 must
say was surprised to be called up again
to-day"
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said, with
dignity:
Il do not understand you"
"Why, my dear little GIRL said, So
bered by the change in her manner, 81 do
not mean to be cross, but how could
talk to you about my affection or forgive
ness through the telephone. with all those
fellows listening, to say nothing of old
Gruff.''
':But I havn't touched the telephone to-
day, Harry"
"WhatV ~ 1 exclaimed.
"Georgie !" called Agnes, stepping back
to the sitting-room and l followed to tell
the story.
ut is very strange said Miss Peyton
"but of course it is some mistake. The
lines are out of order or crossed in some
way. But mama or Agnes and I have
been out shopping all day, and we lunched
down town, so can prove an allbl.''
1t certainly was very strange, but we
all concluded that it might be as Miss
Georgia suggested. and the pater at once
began to spin long yarns about queer mes
sages, till at last l coaxed Agnes into the
conservatory alone, and the close of the
evening was all the brighter for the shad-
ow with which it began. The dear girl
sympathized with me. and forgave my i'm
patience, and was SO sweet that before l
knew, found myself telling her the one
event of my life had determined to keep
secret-tEe little ENHANCEMENT once had
with Cretia Chase. Of course she had been
the most to blame; and Agnes thought