Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-09-20
LULU. Yes. GOod-by."

Lulu. y eS. GOOd-by.
Re,enter Lulu, blushing rather more than
usual.
Who were you talking to?' inquiries Nan,
with more curiosity than correctness
Signs OF embarrassment on Lulus face The
Kitten, on an unauthorized exploring expedition
on the mante piece, slips. snatches frantically
with all Its eighteen claws at the mantel scarf
orasi' destruction. All our thoughts are turned
another way, and Mans question remains unan-
sWered. We were becoming. as said more con-
tent. though auntie could never get over her
nervous treinor at the running fire of ting ting
ting to which we were subjected. She ALWAYS
thought 1t was our call-could not tell 90 from
4, or even from l. and a call at a late hour of
the evening sent her seeplessto bed One
night we had retired very early after a fatigu-
Ing day. Jane and |, after working very hard
We're wakctul. but We fell asleep at last. to
wake some hours later to the dazcd conscious
ness of a hideous uproar. We clutched each
other nervously.
Il saw a light" said Jane
al heard noise" said l.
We did indeed. We sprang I'D and rushed
down stairs. The telephone bell was ringing
lurIousLy' vlclousIy, trst one number. then
another. then all together. q ceaseless string of
taps. Mother. in ample white robes, like Ris-
tori as Lady Macbeth. was there before us.
where is Lulu" she demanded.
We looked around. Missy, Man. Jane and I.
with and without slippers. some in shawls some
y.
sleeplng-wrapper. silk handkerchief tied over
her nght-cap. shawl over all, crouched on the
lower step, shaking more with fear than cold.
The unearthly racket went on. Call Lulu
repeated mother.
Lulu came rosy with sleep, and very cross.
BOTHER" she said, when aunty gasped out,
.'Fre.'
Il insist upon knowing what this means" said
mother.
'.Hello!" said Lulu to the transmitter.
ssWhpm do
you!"
The ringing went on fast and fnrious-a string
OF tours. string Of twenty-threes and twOs. and
then hundred at least at q breath
perhaps some children have got hold of it, %
suggested Luln. suliliy.
Children, at t.o o'clock a. m.!" said mother.
In whitening tone.
Perhaps our house is on fire." said Missy.
''anG they are ringing to warn US
go and see" said mother.
Nan and Lulu started on round through the
Cellars. Jane and went round the house out
side looking Tor glare. All was calm, still
ahd pitchy dark; the unseen surf scarcely Kissed
AZ it slid off the rocks. which it struck with a
little velvetv thud. We re-entered the house:
the telephone was still ringing furiously nm
ceaslngiy. Mother had placed herself on the
sofia with the air of one who means to STAY.
Aunty had retrcated to the top step. where she
sat with All eye on the open door of her room.
In voice faint with terror she reiterated her
Dellel In supernatural agency. We all sat down
For an hour one dreary hour of a bitter No
vember night. we sat and listened to that awfuI
bell. Then it died away gradually, with few
Spasmodic taps.
This settles it." said mother, Tomorrow we
get one OF the other bells, which only repeats
our own call"
We crept upstairs cold and cross, and inst rs
we closed our doors, q final tap made US all
start.
The new bell was put in next day. mother
experimenting the operation with much interest.
making many inquiries, and finally with great
dignity sending the first message. We were all
much moved. Lulu especially watched her with
startled face, and locked nnaccOuntably grave:
indeed. we soon noticed a change in the child
All that day and the next she was very nervous.
red and pale by turns and flying to the telephone
every second. imagining continual calls Two
more days passed. Lulu would not 90 out.
though mother told her, as she had now learned
TO use the telephone, we were independent of
her. Lulu Ibid not care to go out" she said
She took book and sat in the hall, but no one
saw her read. She could scarcely eat her meals
for flying up to listen at the telephone She
was the first up in the house, and the last to 90
to bed. She grew pale and thin.
THAT awful night preys upon her." said
aunty.
On the fifth day mother sent her ont ON an
errand. Lulu, usually so glad of an excuse to
go out. tried to shirk it; she begged Off For
days she had lost all her pretty bushes. but she
now blushed furiously. Mother was iniexible,
and Lulu went.
About half an hour after she left. the tele-
phone bell rang. Mother arose in her peculiarly
digniiied way and went to the instrument. This
was novelty to us, so we all followed her:
aud, as have since learned exactly what she
then heard, viii put it down here in its right
place:
.Hello!" said mother, gently. "What is
it?"
'Is that Mccartney of Dannemora?" said a
voice.
YES" said mother.
THE VOICE. Il knew it was, but lust
wanted to hear your sweet voice say Yes YOU
darlingl love the word, because I'm always
dreaming of hearing you say 1t to o more i'm
pOrtant question"
Signs OF establishment and horror on mothers
face.
THE VOICE. ''You never will meet me any,
where, and | can't ask you to marry me through
this old telephone, though don't know what |
should have done without 1t"
Mothers lace grew stony with horror but she
chung to the receiver desperately.
The VOICE. But dear, dear Lulu"
oh gasped mother.
THE VOICE. "Did you speak?"
MOTHER (ia Gerry lo,c tone). "No."
The VOICE. "My own darling, you have &C.
knowledged that You loved me; and if you do
not all the undyng enmity of all the old women
| In the world can keep us apart. Our love will
bridge the Dyke
| "Mhat!" shrieked motbar dinoino daxrn thu