The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-04-21

Cut, cut, cut cut pehind!'
--Chdrles +. Adams, h, Hdrpers Magazine.
VIA THE TELEPHONE.
The Way by Which Love and Mar
rage Game.
1 am a physician, and, weary with
my round of professional duties, had
thrown myself one evening upon a
lounge in my private Office too tired
even to light the cigar that l held be-
tween my lips. A winters twilight
was setting gray and somber over the
city; the tramp Of many feet upon the
stone pavement was borne to my ears
in wearying monotony; carybells jim
gled, carriages rolled by, and the thou
sand and one things that 60 to make up
the noises of a busy street throbbed and
thrilled through my aching head. Ihad
been ION the 60" since early morning;
two accidents had followed each other
in quick succession, and difficult OPP
Grafton had to be performed after each;
then, one call after another had kept
me going from one side of town to the
other, until now, my first breathing
spell, found me almost exhausted. l
soon fell into deep slumber, from
which l did not awaken for several
hours. and which would have, in all
probability, continued until morning,
but for the loud ringing of my telephone
bell, which startled me into sudden
wakefulness. Muttering something
"more forcible than polite" l CROPPED
my way to the instrument and gave the
customary "hello." l waited a full
minute for reply, and, none COM
ing, was just about to repeat my
challenge, when, sweet and soft, a
woman's voice echoed through the
wire, singing a quaint melody, tremb-
blingly at first, but gradually growing
purer and stronger, until stood SPELL
bound listening to the liquid, melting
notes. Never had / been so moved by
a human voice; my whole being thrilled
as it fell upon my ear; now joyous and
triumphant, now almost sob of
despair. My heart beat wildly; my
blood bounded through my veins, and
/ almost held my breath, so fearful was
l of losing one word or one note. At
last it stopped, but l stood long after,
listening, in hope of catching again
those DE- licious strains.
At length called: "Who are you?"
and although repeated again and
again, l received no reply. Somewhat
dazed and bewildered l went into my
bedroom, and, hastily undressing, was
soon in bed, only to hear that voice
singing all through the restless, troubled
sleep that followed.
The next day was also busy one,
and l did not have time to think Of my
strange experience of the night before.
1t was quite late when l came in. !
had just lighted the gas, and proceeded
to cut the leaves Of a new magazine,
when "ting-a ling-a-ling" went the
telephone, and, to my response, that
same voice began to sing again. ]
stood and listened as before, and again
my heart beat wildly and my whole be-
ing thrilled to the melody; again il
ceased, and again l failed to receive
any response to my inquiry. What
could it meanP Who could the vocal.
list bep Was the victim of an hallu.
cination or of practical joke? What.
ever it was, mentally voted it pleas.
ant experience, and began to picture
to myself the being who possessed tina,
wonderful voice. She was woman
l thought to myself-no girl could sing
in such round, full tones-and fair
Yes, she must be; it was impossible tt
fancy the possessor of such a voice al
any thing but beautiful. l paced bach
and forth. with the silver tones echOins
through my brain, and it was away
along in the "wee sma'" hours that
sought my couch, and then only t.
dream of deep, dark eyes, heavily
lidded and fringed with dropping
lashes, ripe, red lips, revealing pearly
teeth and raven tresses. 1t is needles,
to add that all these charms belonged
to my unknown enchantress.
A month passed away; and nigh
after night that voice came to me Ovel
the wires, with all the pathos an(
passion of which the heart is capable
and gradually l looked forward will
almost feverish eagerness to the tim,
when l could hear it, and if hap
pened to be called away during tn,
night and missed the hour it came t
me, it seemed as if something was lef
out of my day that could not be re
placed.
Gradually became nervous ant
pale, and people began making in
quiries in regard to my health. and ont
old friend Of mine in the profession
grabbed my hand one day, and will
his finger on my pulse, looked at me-
gravely, and suggested tonic. die
not tell him the cause of all this lest h,
should take me for a lunatic.
cultivated the acquaintance of mu
sicians and singers, became regular
church attendant, all in the hope o
finding that ''voice," but in vain.
would have given worlds to have fount
its possessor, and the ideal l haC
formed of her took possession OF m.
heart. Me-a staid old bachelor, wht