West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-04-23
VIA THE TELEPHONE.
The Way by Which Love and Mar.
riage Came.


] am a physician, and, weary with
my round of professional duties. | had
thrown myself one evening upon
lounge in my private Office too tired
even to light the cigar that | held be-
tween my lips A winters twilight
was setting gray and sombcr over the
city; the tramp of many feet upon the
stone pavement was borne To my ears
IN wearying mOnOtOny; car bells lin
gled, carriages rolled by, andthc thou
sand and one things that go to make up
the noises of a busy street throbbcd and
thrilled through my aching head had
been "on the go since early morning;
two accidents had followed each other
IN quick succession, and difficult on
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. /
soon fell into deep slumbcr. from
which | did not awaken ion several
hours, and which would have. i'm all
probability, continued until morning.
but for the loud ringing of my telephone
bell, which startled me into sudden
wakefulneSs. Muttcring something
more torciblc than polite, | gropcd
my way to the Instrument and gave the
customary hello. / waited a full
minute for n 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 quaint melody, tremb-
Dllngly at hrst but gradually growing
purcr and stronger, until stood spell
bound listening TO the liquid melting
notes. Never had been 80 moved bv
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
j of losing one word or one note. At
last ii stopped, but stood long afte-.
listening in hope of catching again
those dc licious strains
At length called: WHO are youP"
and although repeated again and
again, ! received no reply. Somewhat
dazed and bcwildered went into my
bedroom, aud, 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 a busy one.
and ] did not have time to think of my
strange experience of the night before.
u was quite late when ! came i'm. /
bad just lighted the gas, and proceeded
10 cat the leaves Of Il 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 "a, before. and again
my heart beat wildly and my whole be-
ing thrilled 20 the melody; again il
ceased. and again / failed to receive
any response TO my inquiry What
could 1t mean2 Who could the vocal
ist be? Was the victim Of am hallu-
cination or of practical Joke? What
ever il was, | mentally voted 10 "a pleas
ant experience, and began TO picture
10 myself the being who possessed that
wonderful voice She was woman.
] thought to myself no girl could sing
in such round, full toncs-and fair.
Yes, she must be; it was impossible TO
fancy the pOsscs>or of such voice a.
any thing but beautiful. ! paced back
and forth, with the silver tones echoin0
through my brain aud IL was away
along in the "wec sma hours that I
sought my couch. and then only 10
dream Of deep, dark ewes. heavily
liddcd and fringcd with droopinV
lashee. ripe. red lips. revealing pearlv
teeth and raven trc.>cs. II is needless
tO add that all these charms belonged
TO my unknown cnchantress
month passed away, and night
after night that voice came 10 me over
thc wires. with all the pathoS and
passion Of which the heart is capable.
and gradually looked forward with
almost fcvcri~h cagcrucss TO the time
when ] could hear %, and If hap
pcncd 10 be- called away during the
night and missed the hour 10 came 10
mo, 10 seemed "a, III something was left
out Of my day that could not be- re-
placed
Gradually ! became nervous and
pale. and people began making i'm
quiric, In regard TO my health. and ono
old friend of mine in the profession
grabbed my hand one day. aud with
hi- finger ON my pulse, looked at mo
graYcly. and suggested 20 tonic. did ,
not tell him The cause Of all this lest he |
should take me for lunatic
cultivated the acquaintance Of mu- |
siciaus and singers, became regular |
church attendant all In the hope of |
finding that voice but I'm vain. I
would have given worlds to have found /
D. posseesOr, and the ideal 7 had /
formed Of her took possession Of my
heart Ne staid old bachelor. who |
had been welded to his profession theso |
many % year, ! tried 20 reason myself /
Out Of my strange infatuation. and con
lmed more than one box of prime |
'Ha7anas So 20 doing bur % uobval
5Nss " ! Top9a hpopi aesiae 70 give !