Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-03-13
AT THE TELEPHONE.

/ was the Happlest udh III tue Ot'y 80
folded and laid away in my pocket
book letter from the dearest girl in
the world, and jumped on the horse
car, en- route for my office!
Some months had passed since l saw
my Agnes, for the first time, at dinner
at the PeytoDs. l had frequently met
Miss George Peyton in society, and
had been several times invited to her
receptions, so / was not surprised to re-
ceive one day an invitation to dine with
her "informally," to meet young lady
from Aiken. S. g. or course presented
myself at this informal dinner In full
evening dress, where | met some other
gentlemen ia similar attire-Clarkson
WINS one of them-and a few young
ladies, and was introduced to my Agnes.
If could only make you see her rs she
appeared to me that night-so fresh ana
blooming; the blue of her clear, peace
full ewes; the delicious curve Of the del
icate lips! But enough that then and
there yielded, and became her ardent
adorer.
From the first she distinguished me
with her favor. was her e.vort TO con-
cert and opera. / was allowed to claim
the best dances; they were always my
flowers she carried, and finally, before
she returned to Aiken, was heI ac
cepted lover!
The year had flown swiftly, and now
a brilliant prospect seemed to be open
before me. My firm were about to es-
tablish branch department in another
part of the city, and proposed to make
one of their clerks Il junior partner and
manager Of the new concern. l had
been the longest I'm their employ, anu
had reason to think was regarded win
favor by "Old Gruff''- as Mr.. GruH'
land, the senior partner, was called
and he would Je the one TO make the
promotion, and settle the question OF
salary.
Indeed, for some wee&s | had seen
that he WIS working the management
into my hands, so | felt Justified III
writing to Agnes, urging our immedi-
ate union. The dear girl consented,
and In the letter received that morning
she told me she was coming again to
make long visit at the Peytons, to 10
some shopping" Enhancing words
What did they not imply? And that
"if all went well''-if l got the pes.tion
of course-'we might be married be-
fore very longr" / was the happiest
man in the world as | folded the dear
little letter away, resolving, If it was
in the power of man to earn promotion,
| would make myself Indispensable to
my employers.
Well. she came. There was demure
but delightful meeting at the station,
and an enchanting twenty minutes, un-
til | delivered her to Miss Georgie's
arms at the Peytons' door.
Then followed days of devotion to
work, followed by evenings of unalloy-
ed bliss. l say "unalloyed," but there
was one drawback. The Peyton family
were very considerate, Miss George es-
pecially so, but my darling Agnes was
haunted with the fear that they would
think her visit to them was only to en-
10Y my society, and was constantly sug-
gesting that we should "join the family
in the sitting-room. Old Mrs. Peyton
was a bore, but mild one-paterfamil-
las an unmtigated one; Miss Georgie
was benlgnant, but slightly tiresome.
There was only one other member of
the family, a pretty little fellow named
Ralph, but the girls had taken to calling
him raphael" from some fancied re-
semblaRce TO one OF the Sistine cherubs.
He seemed quiet little chap, with "A
sweet innocence of expression aud de-
meanor, who posed good deal of the
time with his cheek on his hand after
the manner of the cherub aforesaid. He
was devoted TO Agnes, and hung round
her more than was pleasant, for which
| occasionally snubbed him rather Sc
verely, but she always interceded for
him. "He was such little fellow-and
then he was so lovely. was he not ones
ideal of boy:"
Agnes had been in the city few
weeks when, one morning, the tele-
phone bell In our office rang sharply.
This was of frequen. occurrence, and
Clarkson's desk was stationed near il to
save time in answering the call. The
rest Of us hardly looked up as the famil-
lar "Hullo!" was shouted, or the con-
Gliding: "All right! I'll tell MIR.
Gruff1and. Good. by - But this MORN
ing Clarkson turned to me with: ''This
is for you Dixon!'' Accordingly l
shouted "Hullol" and in return heard
Miss Georgie's voice:
sis that you, Mr. Dixon? Agnes is
here, and wants to try to speak to you"
Then l heard her giving directions.
"Sland little nearer; press this close
to your esr--so."
"Good morning." called.
In return / heard a giggle, and my
Agnes voice exclaiming: "Oh, oh! 1t
tiotloa nny aarf,, Than mora diraefione