The Press., 1884-05-29

occurred. MT. Gruhiand was there, and disapproyal as took Clarkson's place at the telephone. My "Hullo'' was rather savage.
 ''Oh, Harry Do forgive me Indeed, indeed I felt so sorry last night, and want ed to tell you so ;~ but, you see, Ralph was there. I'm alone now. Oh, Harry, wont you forgive me?'
 ''Of course," I returned, feeling Gruff's eyes burning unpleasantly on the Eape of my neck: me. Do say you love me ?"
 Was there ever such child? felt like a cold -blooded wretch, as l hurriedly re- piled:
 ''All right. I'll come mp as soon as I can. Very busy now Good-by p
 I felt, rather than heard 8 little sob at the other end of the wire. Gruff said noth- ing, but I was doomed to another miser- able day. l managed to ask Clarkson, if I was lied again, to say I could not at tend, and five times I heard him give this message, and each time he turned away with mighty grin. What might not Az nes have said to hlm ?
 Of course, I hurried to the Paytons, de- termined to see her alone. She came run
 
 loving, but the annoyances of the day had made me cross, and I said curtly:
 "Really, Agnes, it is very strange you don't understand that man cannot take his business hours to talk with his friends. After all I said last night, 1 must say l was surprised to be called up again to- day p
 Agnes stopped abruptly, and said, with dignity
 ''I do not understand you r
 "Why, my dear little girl, ;" I said, so- bered by the change in her manner, ''1 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 have not touched the telephone to- day, Harry
 "What p I exclaimed.
 "Georgie P called Agnes, stepping back to the si, ting room, and l followed to tell the story.
 'It is very strange" said Miss Payton :; "but, of course, it is some mistake. The lines are out of order, or crossed ill some way. But mamma and Agnes and have been out shopping all day, and we lunch cd downtown, so We ii prove an ati6j.
 It certainly was very strange, but we all concluded that it might be as Miss Georgie suggested, and the batter at once began to spin long yarns about queer messages, till at last l coaxed Agnes into the conservl- tory alone, and the close of the evening was all the brighter for the shadow with which it began. The dear girl sympa- thized with me, and forgave my impa- tience, and was so sweet, that before I knew, I found myself telling her the one event of my life had determined to keep secret-the little entanglement I once had with Lucretia Chase Of course she had been the most to blame ,and Agnes thought her very horrid and forward, so l had to admit that Cretia had misunderstood some things 1 had said to her when mere boy, and then Agnes asked me if I really really loved her best. An me what happy evening it was
 Again the next day the telephone an- noyances began, but l felt sure of my ground, and told Clarkson he could refuse to listen. Imagine my surprise when he turned to me with clever imitation of Agnes voice, saying:
 ''She is quite sure Harry will come when he knows she wants to talk to him about 'Cretia.'"
 I was thunder-struck Lucretia Chase lived in Vermont was morally sure 10 one in the city knew of her existence-no one but Agnes I rushed to the instru- ment. It was the same clear girls voice. How could any one have known that Gre tia possessed some idiotic lines I had once written her-any one but Anges Yet now heard them repeated
 ''Oh, Cretia fairest valentine!
 Wilt thou accept this hand of mine?
 smaller gift my soul forbids;a But ten's tho number of my kids !"
 I jerked away in anger and surprise, on- ly to meet old Gruff's grim glace.
 elf this thing goes on, MT. Dixon, it might be well for you and MT. Clarkson to change desks !'
 I knew what that implied, and my heart
 'J do not understand it myself, l re- piled. 'I assure you, sir, that l am eX- ceedingly annoyed. l will not answer it again.
 '1 will myself, sir" he growled, and l : 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 teazing mo with out realizing the fatal consequences to ur , happiness. And all day MT. Gruffland would answer that confounded telephone. That some of the messages were meant for He cOulQ tell, ana that they muSU Do ub- ter nonsense I could conjecture from his occasional comments: By jimminy John , son ]! is 8 remarkable expression for a young lady, MT. Dixon." :, It would be too long to tell the story of i these days in detail. Some days thele would be a respite, and then the nonsense f would begin again. It was larks for Clark " " son and the rest, but to me it seemed as i, if the bell of the telephone was ringing a the knell of all my bright hopes. Agnes assured me of her innocence, and Miss :. Payton was ready with explanations ' they had been shopping, or calling, ol r, practicing duets. But I could see that a 1 coolness had come between Agnes and me. > She feared that I doubted, and I-what : could I think? Again and again the mes . sages referred to what I had said to h@l u when quite alone, Could she have rr. peated my condolences ] At the office preparations for the new a a business were being hurried on, and not > > one word said to me of promotion. To crown all, Agnes informed me one even- ing, that she was going to shorted her wis |. it /; she had heard of friends going direct ? ly to Aiken, and thought it best to secure t their escort. passed wretched even- e ing, but left, determined to make 8 des- I perate effort to clear the mystery. Agnes e had told me that they were all to be out