Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1884-11-06

Raphael was there, resting his elbow on tn
table and looking up a, Agnes with an ex
preston Of deep pity in his beautiful bu
sleepy dark eyes.
And vet the next day the same thing oc
Cured. Mr.. Gruffland was there and locke
up from his papers with glance Of disap
proval as took Clarkson's place at the tele
phone. My "Hullo' was rather savage
"Oh. Harry. do forgive me Indeed. in
deed felt so sorry last night. and wanted
to tell you so; but you see, Ralph va
there, I'm all alone now. Oh Harry won
YOU forgive me?"
"Of course" | returned. feeling Gruh-
eyes burning unpleasantly on the napc o
my neck.
'.Oh Harry, dear, don't talk like that tc
me. DO say you love me"
Was there ever such child felt like
cold blooded wretch as hurriedly replied
"All right. I'll come up as soon as
can. Very busy now. GOODBYE"
felt, rather than heard, a little sob a
the other end Of the wire Grufr said moth
ing. but was doomed to another miserabi,
( day. managed TO ask Clarkson. If wal
called again. 10 say could no, attend. ant
five time. heard him give this message
and five times he turned away with a might,
| grin. Wha, might not Agnes have said t.
/ him?
4 or course, hurried to the Peytons. deter
I mined to see her alone. She came running
I into the hall to meet me, bright and loving
I but the annoysnces of the dl, had msde me
Y cross. and said curtly:
Really. Agnes, it is very strange YOU
I don't understand that a man cannot take
his business hours to talk with hi. friends.
After all said last night, ] must say VA
surprised to be called up again to d, :"
Agnes stopped abruptly and said, vi,t
dignity:
II do not understand you,"
why. m, dear little girl" said. soberei
BY the change in her manner. Il do not
mean to be cross, but how could talk tc
you about my affection and forgiveness.
through the telephone, with all those fel-
lows listening. 10 say nothing Of old Gruf ?"
but | have not touched the telephone
today, Harry"
What :" exclaimed.
George :" cried Agnes, stepping back 10
the sitting room. and | followed to tell the
story.
1T il very strange" said NJ. Peyton
"but Of course It i some mistake. The lines
are cut Of order or crossed in some way
But mamma and Agnes and | have been out
shopping all day. and We lunched down
town, 50 We can prove an abb"
II certainly was very strange, but We all
concluded that i, mlch' be a. Miss George
suggested. and the paier al once began to
spin long yarns about queer messages til! al
las, cos1cd Agnes into the conservatory
alone. and the close of the evening was all
the brighter for the shadow with which i,
began. The dear girl sympathized with me
and forgave my impatience, and was 50
sweet that before knew, found myself
telling her the one event Of my life had
determined 10 keep secret-the little en-
tanglem-nt once hal with Lucreiia Chase
OF course she had been the most TO blame
and Agnes thought her very horrid and for
ward. and so had 10 admit ,ha. Creiia had
misunderstood some things aad said to
her when mere boy, and then Agne. asked
me if | really. really loved her test. All
me. What happy evening it was.
Again the next day the telephone annoy
ance, began. but felt sure Of my ground
and told Clarkson he could refuse 10 listen
Imagine my 'arpr.s. When &. as .,e. voice j say
ing
.She i. quite sure Harry will come when
he knows she wants 10 talk to him about
Crelia.'
Iva. thund.r.truck Lucretia Chase lived
in Vermont, vas moral, sure no one in
the city knew OF her eIi.tence-uo one hu,
Agnes. rushed 10 the instrument. Ii vas
the same girls clear voice. How could any
one have known that Cretia possessed som.
dio,ic lines had once written her-any
one but Agnes Yet now heard them re-
peated
oh, Cretia faircst valentine.
wilt thou accept this hand Of lnlne'
4 smaller gift my soul forbid.;
But tens the number Of my Kid.
turned away in anger and surprise, only
TO meet old Grufs grim glance.
'lf ,hi, thing goes on, Mr.. Dixon. it
might be well for YOU and Mr.. Carlson to
change desks"
knew wha, tha, implied, and my heart
sank TO my boots.
IL do not understand it m,self,HI replied.
Il assure YOU. sir, that ! am exceedingly an
moved. will not answer il sgainl'
Il will, myself" he growled, AMI | went
back to my desk to upset my ink bottle, to
make mistakes in my accounts ant torture
myself with the conviction that sine no one
bat Agnes could have sent the message, she
was teasing me without reilzingf fhe fatal
consequence to our happiness. Al all day
Mr. Gruifiand would answer that casfoundsd
telephone. That some of the messsges were
meant for me could tell. aud tbt the,
must be utter nonsense could chjectur.
from his occasional comments: Bvhmmny
Johnson is a remarkable express IN ioI a
young lady. Mr.. Dixon
II would be too long TO tell the story Of
these DAYS in detail. Sometimes thee would
be a respite and then the nonsense would be-
gin again. 1t was larks for ClarAon and
the rest, but to me il seemed as The bell
Of the telephone was ringing the knil of all
nv bright hopes. Agnes assured H Of her
innocence and Miss Peyton was redy with
her exclam,tions they had been Stopping
or calling, or practicing duets. But | could
see that a cooness had come between Agnes
and me- She feared tha. had douted her
and I-what could | think Aaln and
again the messages referred to VIII had
said to her when quite alone. Cild she
have repeated my condolences
At the Office preparations for the r = bus
mess were being hurried on, and ut one
word had been said to me of promoon. To
crown all, Agnes informed me that he was
going to shorten her visit She hid heard
of friends going TO Aiken and hao deter
mined TO secure their escort. | nssed a
wretched evening. but left, determined to
make desperate effort to clear the rystery.
Agnes had told me that they were d to be
out the next day, so begged off At the
office, reached the house at ten, ah per-
suading the servant that | wanted o rest
and would let myself out when was
ready, | managed TO conceal mysf in
closet in the hall where waited for NOR
tai hours. At last | was rewarded. light
step came through the hail, chg was
drawn to the telephone and clea voice,
wonderfully like Agnes'., called; Please
connect with Gruffiand 4 CO."
Waiting only long enough to ct him
actually begin conversation in hi usual
style, rushed out, and catching theulprit
the ear of the astonished Mr.. Raphae The
little imp This was his revenge for Is well
deserved snubs. have no doubt heheard
every word of my conversation with gnes.
Ofcourse the Peytons we're distresa and
spologetic, and Agnes was persuadehot to
hurry away, and old Gruf relentedand
got the promotion in due time, but lnever
could endure the sight Of that cheruh boy.
verify believe that the box ! bestowl up
on him was his only punishment. AMI re-
joice to think that it was such stinge
If this story has q moral, it is sho, one,
The more innocent and guiltless boy ,oks,
the less he il to he truSted.-The Comment