The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-06-19

occurred. Mr. Gruff was there. and
looked up from his papers with glance
of disapproval as I took Clarkson's
place at the telephone. My "Hullo'
was rather savage.
"Oh, Harry, do forgive me-! Indeed
l 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" I 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 child? I felt
like cold blooded wretch as i hurried
" replied:
"All right. I'll come up as soon as ]
can. Very busy now. Good by"
1 felt, rather than heard, little sot
at the other end of the wire. Gruff said
nothing, but was doomed to anothe,
miserable day. I managed to ask
Clarkson, if l was called again, to say
l could not attend, and five times I heard
him 6 i've this message, and each time ]le
turned away with mighty grin. What
might not Agnes have said to him?
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 annoyances of the
day had made me cross, and I said curt
ly:
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, ]
must say [ was surprised to be called
up again to-day?"
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said,
with dignity:
II do not understand you"
"Why, my dear little girl" said
sobered by the change in her manner
Il do not mean to be cross, but how
could l talk to you about my affection
and forgiveness through the telephone,
with all those fellows listening, to say
nothing of old Gruff?"
But have not touched the tele-
phone to-day, Harry!"
"Georgie?" called Agnes, stepping
back to the sitting room, and followed
to tell the story.
It is very strange" said Miss Pevton,
"but of course it is some mistake. The
lines are out of order or crossed in some
way. But mamma and Agnes and I
have been out shopping all day, and
We lunched down town, so we can
prove an alibi."
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 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. The dear girl sympathizcd with
me and forgave my Impotence, and was
so sweet that before 1 knew, I found
myself telling her the one event of my
life ] had determined to keep secret
the little ENHANCEMENT once had with
Lucretia Chase. Of course, she had
been to blame, and Agnes thought her
very horrid and forward, so I had to
admit that Cretia had misunderstood
some things had said to her when a
mere boy, and then Agnes asked me if
I really, really loved her best, All me
what happy evening it was!
Again the next day the telephone an
noyance began, but I felt sure of my
ground, and told Clarkson he could re-
fuse to listen. Imagine my surprise
when he turned to me with clever imi-
tation of Agnes voice, saying:
"She is quite sure Harry will come
when he knows she wants to talk to HIM
about Cretia."
Twas Thunderstorm Lucretia Chase
lived in Vermont; was morally sure
no one in the city knew of her exist
ence-no one but Agnes. I rushed to
the instrument. It was the same girls
clear voice. How could any one have
know that Cretia possessed some idiotic
lines had once written her-any one
but Agnes? Yet now heard them re
peated:
Oh. Cretia! fairest valentine!
Wilt thou accept this hand of mine!
smaller gift mYeoul forbids;
But tens the number of my kids
turned away in anger and surprise,
only to meet old Gruff's grim glance.
IF this thing goes on, Mr.. Dixon, it
might be we'll for you and Mr.. Clarkson
to change desks!
II knew what that implied, and my
heart sank to my boots.
II do not understand it myself" re-
piled. II assure you, sir, that I am
exceedingly annoyed. I will not an
swer it sgain."
II will, myself, sir" he growled
and went back to my desk to upset
my ink bottle, to make mistakes in my
accounts, and torture myself with the
conviction that since no one but Agnes
could have sent the message, she was
teasing ME without realizing the fatal
consequences to our happiness. And
all day Mr.. Gruffland would answer
that COMPOUNDED telephone. That some
of the messages were meant for me
could tell, and that they must be utter
nonsense I could conjecture from his
occasional comments: BY Jimminy,
Johnson! is remarkable expression
for a young lady, Mr.. Dixon"
It would he too long to tell the story
of these days in detail. Sometimes they
would be respite, and then the nonsense
would begin again. It was larks for
Clarkson and the rest, but to me it
seemed as if the bell of the telephone
was ringing the knell of my bright hopes
Agnes assured me of her innocence, and
Miss Pcyton was ready with explana-
tons; they had been shopping or prac-
ticing duets. But I could see that a
GOODNESS had come between Agnes and
me. She feared that doubted her and
What could I think? Again and
again the messages referred to what ]
had said to her when quite alone.
Could she have repeated my contiden-
ces?
At the Office, preparations for the new
business were being carried on, and not
one word had been said to me of pro.
motion. To crown all, Agnes informed
me one evening that she was going to
shorten her visit: she had heard OF
friends going directly to Aiken and
thought it best to secure their escort.
passed wretched evening, but left. de-
termined to make desperate effort
to clear tho mvsfarv Arnou bod