The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-06-27

nerselI III that way, and l. did SO gently,
but resolutely. 1 described Clarkson's
car, and / took some liberties with it.
1t would be just like the wretch to re-
ceive all her little condolences and retail
Them for the amusement of the clerks.
Old Grutf was al ogre capable OF dis
missing me without warming, if / did not
attend every minute to my business.
Our hopes of happiness depends upon
his good pleasure. Miss Peytor was
cool and dignified. suppose she knew
| was exaggerating. Agnes looked hurt.
Her sweet lips trembled a little and her
eyes We're suspiciously dim. j longed
to have her alone for a little while to
comfort her, as | knew I could; but
there was no chance, for although Miss
George relented sufficiently to go up
stairs to write an important letter, .
Raphael was there, resting his elbow on
the table and looking up at Agnes with
an expression of deep pity in his beanti-
full but sleepy dark eyes.
And yet the next day the same thing
occurred. Mr. Gruf' was there. and
looked up from his papers with a glance
of disapproval as / took Clarkson's
place at the telephone. My "HulloT
was rather savage.
ooh, Harry, do forgive me! Indeed
l felt SO sorry last night, and wanted to
tell you So; but, you see, Ralph was
there. I'm all alone now. Oh, Harry,
won't you forgive me?"
"Of COURSE" [ returned, feeling
Grutfs eyes burning unpleasantly on
the nape OF my neck.
ooh Harry Iaor ,Jo,,+ 4o11, lilo +lot
to me. DO say you love me-"
Was there ever such a child? [ felt
like a cold blooded wretch IS Hurried
" replied:
"All right. I'll come up as soon as /
can. Very busy now. Good byw
l. felt, rather than heard, 8 little sob
at the other end of the wire. Gruffsaid
nothing, but l was doomed to another
miserable day. I managed. to ask
Clarkson, il / was called again, to say
l could not attend, and five times / heard.
him give this message, and each time lie
turned away with a mighty grin. What
might not Agnes have said to him?
OF course, 1 hurried to the Peytons,
determined to see her alone. She came
running into the hall to meet me-, bright
and loving, but the annoyances of the
day had made me cross, and said curt
~
REALLY, Agnes, it is very strangeyou
don't understand that a man cannot take
his business hours to talk with his
friends. After all 1 said last night, I
must say l was surprised to be called
up again to-day"
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said,
with dignity:
II do not understand you'll"
"Why, my dear little girl" 1 said
sobeced by the change in her manner,
II do not mean to be cross, but how
could 1 talk to you about my affection
and forgiveness through the telephone,
with all those fellows listening, to say
nothing of old Gruff?"
"Bnt 1 have not touched the teIe-
phone to-day, Harry"
"Georgie?' called Agnes, stepping
back to the sitting room, andI followed
to tell the story.
1t is very strange" said Miss Pevton,
''but of course it is some mistake. The.
lines are out of order or crossed in some
way. But mamma and Agnes and I
have been out shopping all day, and.
we lInched down town, so we can
prove an abb"
1t certainly was very strange, but We
all concluded. that it might be as Miss
George suggested; and the pater Mt
once began to SPIN long yarns about
queer messages till at last I coaxed
Agnes into the conservatory alone, and
the close of. the evening was all the
brighter for the shadow with which it
began. Thedear- girl sympathized with
me and forgave my impatience, and was
so sweet that before l knew. l found
myself telling her the one event of my
life | had Determined to keep secret
the little ENHANCEMENT [ once had with
Lucretia Chase. OF course, she had
been to blame, and Agnes thought her
very horrid and forward, so I had to
admit that Cretia had misunderstood
some things L had said to her when a
mere boy, and'tsen Agnes asked me if
/ really. really lSved her best, All me!
what q happy evening it was!
Again the next day the telephone an
noyance began, but I felt sure of my
ground, and tuM Clarkson he could re-
fuse to listen. Imagine my surprise
when he turned,to me with clever imi-
tation of Agnes Voice, saying:
"She is %quitesure Harry will coroe
when he ~knowsshe wants to talk to HIM
about Cretia4,m
] was thundArstruckl Lucretia Chase
lived in Vermont; I was morally sure
no n in the city knew of her exist
ence-no ONE but Agnes. I. rushed to
the instrument. 1t was the. sapl girls
clear voice. How could n one have
know that Chetia possessed some idiotic
lines [ hadtonce written har-any one
but Agnes2 Yet now I heard them rel
peated:
oh, Crctfa! fairest valensne!
Wilt thou accept this hand of mine!
A smaller gift my soul fcrbids;
But ton ! the number of1ry kids!
I turned away in anger and surprise. |
only to meet old Gruff's grim glanaa.
eff this thing goes on. Mr.. Dixon, it
might be we'll for you and Mr.. Clarkson
to change desks!
II knew what that implied, and my
heart sank to my boots.
81 de,raot understand. it myself, 'aT re-
piled. Il assure you,. sir, that o am
exceedingly %annoyedS l will not an
swer it sgain."
81 viii, myself, sir" he growled,
and. | went back fanny desk to- upset
my ink bottle, to make mistakes in my
accounts, and toralre myself with the
conviction that since no one bit Agnes
could have sent the, message, she was
teasing me without realizing the fatal
consequences 10 oar Happiness. And
sdI day Mr.. Grufiand world answer
that c~onfoundad telephone. That some
Of the messages were mea,lt for me I
could tell, and that they must be utter
nonsense | eould conjecture from his
occasional comments: /" By Jimminy.
Icbpcon y Il. a ~ 4, Z, a ,.J,IaT1 a.,>>,,.a,