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

lived In Vermont; | was morally sure
no one in the city knew of her exist
ence-no one but AGNES nnshad to
the instrument. 1t was the same girls
clear voice. Hoy 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, Cretial fairest valentine!
Wilt thou accept this hand Of minel
A smaller gift my soul forbids;
But tens the number ofmy kidsl
[ turned away in anger and surprise,
only to meet old Gruff's grim glance.
IF this thing goes on, Mr.. Dixon, it
might be well 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" j re-
piled. II assure you, sir, that I am
exceedingly annoyed. I will not an
swer it sgain."
81 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 Nh. Gruffiand would answer
that COMPOUNDED telephone. That some
of the messages were meant for me I
could tell, and that they must be utter
nonsense / could conjecture from his
occasional comments: by Jimminy,
Johnsonr is q remarkable expression
for a young lady, Mr.. Dixon"
1t would be too long to tell the story
of these days in detail. Sometimes they
would be respite, and then the nonsense
would begin again. e was larks fer
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 Peyton was ready with explana-
tions; they had been shopping or prac-
tiIing duets. But / could see that a
GOODNESS had come between Agnes and
me. She feared that / doubted her and
What could / think? Again and
again the messages referred TO what /
had said to her when quite alone.
Ccald she have repeated my confiden-
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
neon 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 a wretched evening, but left, de-
termined to make a desperate effort
to clear the mystery. agnes had
told me that they we're all to
be out the next day, so l begged off at
the Office, reached the house at 10, and,
persuading the servant that / wanted
rest, and would let myself out when /
was ready, | managnd to conceal myself
in a closet in the hall, where / waited
four mortal hours. Alight came through
the hall, a chair was drawn up to the
telephone, and a clear voice, wonder
fully like Agnes, called; please con-
meet with Gruf1and & Col"
Waiting only long enough to let him
actually begin conversation in his usual
style. ] rushed out, and, catching the
culprit by the arms, bestowed aresound-
ing box upon the ear of the astonished
Mr.. Raphael. The little imp! This
was his revenge for his wsl deserved
snubs. i have no doubt he had heard
every word OF my conversation with
Agnes.
Of course the Peytons were distressed
and apologetic, and Agnes was per-
suaded not to hurry away, and old Gruff
relented and / got the promotion in due
time, but / never could endure the sight
of that cherubic boy, / verify be-
lieye that the box / bestowed upon him
was his only punishment, and / rejoice
to think it was such q singer!
Ii this story has a model it is a short
one. The more innocent and guileless
a boy looks, the less he is to be trusted.
The Continent.
s TIE ARHrrTryg.