Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-06-19

Blake. Well, she has just sehtHle tile
/ lovelest-"
Here Clarkson muttered, "Old
I Gruffs coming" and knowing he
would ask an explanation of my re-
ceiving the telephone message, l was
obliged to abruptly interrupt: Il must
90 now had almost said my
darling" Tell me the rest this even
ing"
"But. Harry" I heard a grieved
/ little voice; but Mr.. Gruiliands foot
steps were too near, and | hung TIE
receiver upside down, and hurried
back 10 my desk.
/ All day / worked in nervous despera-
/ ton. Would she try to resume the
conversation Every time the bell
rang l glanced at Clarkson. The
| thought tina. it might be her voice
whispering in his great red ear covered
me with cold perspiration. The fear
1 that Mr.. Grullland's hearing | might
/ be called up to answer some OF her
4 chatter was still worse. | made up
my mind that must make Agnes un-
derstand that very night that she
could not amuse herself ia that way,
and / did so gently, but resolutely. |
scribed Clarkson's ear, and ] took
some liberties with it. 1t would be
Just like the wretch to receive all her
little condolences. and retail them for
the amusement of the clerks.
Old Gruff was an ogre, capable Of
dismissing me without warning, if |
did not attend every minute to my
business Our hopes Of happiness de-
pended upon his good pleasure. Miss
Peyton was cool and dignitied. | sup
pose she knew | was exaggerating.
Agnes looked hurt. Her sweet lips
trembled a little, and aer eyes were
suspiciously dim. | longed to have
her alone for a little while to com
fort 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
beautiful but sleepy dark eyes
And yet the next day the same thing
occurred. Mr., Grufliand was there.
and looked up from his papers with a
glance of disapproval as | took Clark
son S place at the telephone Ny HUI
10 T. was rather savage.
"Oh. Harry, do forgive me2 In
deed, 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
meg
"Of course, ] returned, feeling
GruH's eyes burning unpleasantly on
the nape of my neck.
ION, Harry, dear, cont talk like
that to me. Do say you love me.
Was there ever such a child2 Ifelt
like a cold FLOODED wretch as / hur-
riedly replied;
Albright. I'll come up as soon as
| can. Very busy now. Good bye'
felt, ratSer than heard, a little sob
at the other end of the wire. GrUtf
said nothing, but was doomed to an
other miserable day. | managed to
ask Clarkson if | was called again 10
say could not attend, and five times
| heard him give this message, and
each time he turned away with a
mighty grin. What might not Agnes
have not sand to him2
OF course ! hurried to the Peytons',
determined to see her alone She
came running into the hall to meet
me, bright and loving, but the an
noyances of the day had made me
cross, and / said CURLY:
Really, Agnes, it is very strange
you don't understand that q man eau
not take his business hours to talk
with his friends, After all | said last
night, may say / was surprised to
be called up again to-day"
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said,
with dignity:
I 81 do not understand your
"Why, my dear little girl" l said,
sobered by the change in her manner,
Il do not mean to be cross, hut how
could | talk to you about my affec-
ton and forgiveness through the tele-
phone, with all these fellows listen
ing, to say nothing of old GrutfG
But | have not touched the tele
phone to-day, Harry'
"WhatN / exclaimed.
"Georgiew called Agnes, stepping
back to the sitting-room, and fol
lowed to tell the story
1T is very strange, - said Miss Pey
ton; 'but of course it is some mis-
take. The lines are out Of order o.
crossed in some way. But mamms
and Agnes and lave been out shop
ping all day, and We lunched down
town, SO we can prove an alibl.'
1t certainly was very strange, bu
we all concluded that it might be q.
Miss George suggested, and the pate
. at once began to spin long yarns abou
queer messages till at last coaXeC
, Agnes into the conservatory alone, ant
, the close of the evening was all tn,
brighter for the shadow with which /
began. The dear girl synpathizet
: with me and forgave my impotence
and was so sweet that before l knew
found myself telling her the one even
Of my life I had determined to keel
S secret-the little entangIetreut | once
> had with Lucretia Chase. OF couls
she had been the most to blame, an(
Agnes thought her very horrid auC
q forward so | had To admit that Cretls