The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-10-18

hearts mother felt that she had added
one more cause of pride to the list of
her triumphs over Mrs. Somerindyke,
before whose envious eyes, as she sat
in her lonely pew, she week by week
Sparaded her five blooming daughters.
For once, however, this amiable
triumph was not complete; the lady of
Dyke House was not alone. AS we
rustled and tluttered up the aisle,
handsome, manly head appeared above
the high pew door, and scanned US
with merry blue eyes.
There was some subdued excitement
among US; we noticed an additional
shade of pink in Lulu's cheeks, and
though when standing up she kept her
eyes strictly at home, we surprised
some furtive glanceS across the aisle
before she disappeared into corner of
the tall, green lined box which we
called our pew.
Werecollecteds some ''sweethearting"
which had taken place years before, at
an age when sweetmeats were rs inn
portant as love affairs, and we laughed
a little among ourselves, but we
did not mention the Somerindykes be-
fore mother or aunty; and little Miss
Lulu, though the youngest, had way
of being let alone, so no allusion was
made to her bushes. And eXtmOrning,
the interdict being raised, we began
again to talk telephone. The man
came, the instrument was put in and
mother sent for 1.-THE girls to receive
instructions.
Missy (she was the eldest, and named
for Aunt Artemisia) went boldly up to
it and took hold of the receiver as she
might have grisped the lanyard of
loaded cannon. Jane, Nan and L
crowded around and listened eagerly
to the words of the oracle. 1t all
sounded very easy, and Missy's first
essay, under the guidance of the man,
was successful
'Remember,n said he, 1.-TWO taps
calls Central Office; four is your call
When some one is using the wire, the
hammer will fly back, and one tap
means the line is free again. And,
above all, don't shout"
This was delightful; we now felt we
had link with the outer world. We
sat up late that night discussing it. So
nice in case of sudden illness or fire, or
if we had unexpected company and
wanted something from the confec-
toners in a hurry-"They' d never get
it here in time" put in Lulu, who
seemed sulky-Or to invite any one we
might want unexpectedly, All the time
we were talking we were interrupted at
intervals by the sharp tap of the bell,
and we would stop and count eagerly,
hoping for our number; but four never
came, and we would begin to talk
again, when-"H ark.n some one would
say, and ting ting ting -ting-ting-
ting-ting' would 90 the bell, Ting
ting" a pause, and the same thing re-
peated; silence for while; conversation
resumed; then, with suddenness which
made us Jump, one sharp stroke.
"Ah, the line is clear said Missy.
with an air of superior wisdom, and
Lulu laughed. They seemed busy that
evening. We sat up late, but the little
bell kept up its rapid strokes, and the
last sound we heard as we went laugh
ing and chattering up to bed was the
single stroke which denoted the close
of a long conversation '23' had been
holding with some one.
We afterward found out that "23''
was Dyke House. That night we could
hardly sleep for thinking of our new
inmate; it seemedlil sort of friendly
live thing, and we almost regretted
having to leave it alone downstairs in
the dark. Indeed, auntie suggested
leaving the staircase lamp burning, but
when mother rather sharply asked her
"What for?" she did not answer. But
ne knew, and shared her feeling, Jane
and |, though Lulu went into fit of
laughter which necessitated her sitting
down ON the. second step from the top,
where we lett her in the dark. She
thought she would stay, she said, to
keep the telephone company. She was
u queer child. Jane and | lay awake
a long time talking about the telephone
and the wonders of science, until, be
coming possessed with the idea that we
heard the bell, we got out OF bed and
went tiptoeing to the top of the stairs.
At the foot we saw another light and
another eager face-aunY's. 20, my
dears." she said, II thought | heard
the telephone call. "
NeNJ IuOIuIuS CdInG inc Important
moment. Mother had decided to do
the marketing by telephone. Missy
came down, and with reflection of
mothers stateliness took her place at
the transmitter. Jane, Nan and
crowded around open-mouthed. Auntie
lowered nervously in the background;
to her the thing had something I'M
canny. Her feelings had undergone a
change since the previous night. Not
for worlds would she have been alone
with it in the dark.
"Call the Central office, said mother.
(She could never be induced to say,
"Ring up Central Oi1ice.') Missy rang
twice and listened, the receiver at her
ear. Presently her face frightened;
she heard something: "Hellol' she
said. lis that Central Office? This is
Mccartney of Dannemora. She lis
tened again. "What?" she said, with
a puzzled face. 81 don't hear" A
pause. Hello" said Missy. Pause
again; the bell rang furiously. "Hel-
loco" said Missy.
"Ring again said mother.
This went on for ten minutes, mother
directing. Missy ringing, helloing,
getting red in the face, and losing her
dignity, with no result. At last the
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