The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-02-01

and my bright lady looked very dull as
she sat in a prim black gown reading
what appeared to me to be the Bible.
| TAPPED on the window:
"For mercy's sake be kind and speak
to me-" waited in breathless anxiety.
She appeared to be looking for some
thing. At last she found it 1t was a
pencil.
s.What is the matter" she tapped.
What good will it do to have me speak
to you?"
81 am perishing of loneliness" re-
piled.
"Why don't you go see some oneP"
interrogated her pencil.
Il don't know any one-but you, "
said l.
Then smoke" suggested the saucy
pencil over the way.
Nonsense" said my pencil. "What
are you readingp"
"Thomas-a-Kempis," responded the
pencil.
'And what does he say?" inquired.
HE says: For l am better
pleased with humility and pa
thence, and deep contrition
of heart in disconsolate and afflicted
state, than with an eager zeal" replied
the lady. looking down at her book.
ITO whom are his remarks address.
ed?" / ventured.
TO young men," replied she.
But" objected my pencil. ''all the
young men he spoke to are dead"
He also says" went on the saucy
pencil across the way. "For this is
wisdom, indeed, when a man is not
carried about with every blast of air,
but stops his ears against the sirens
charms"
Really" returned ], 81 can't quite
make this learned gentleman Out--nor
you either"
HE says further" continued my
roguish one with her eyes demurely
fastened on the book, my methods
and dealings are to be admired and
held in reverence, not saucily criticized
upon. And what men can not compre-
bend they should not presume to take
into examination.
Enough" said !, 81 am reprovedL"
"Hush. hush," cried the other pen.
Gil, 81 hear my aunt coming"
why do you not cry anon, good
nurse?" I asked, but the curtains were
drawn and l was lett in desolation. The
darkness had fallen early and l could
see the lights flame up over the the way.
1t was about ten minutes after this that
the yellow curtains were parted again
and roguish face looked out.
"Are you there still?' tapped the
pencil.
..Of course l am" responded mine
with as much sulliness as can be put
into Geographic taps.
Il have found a new passage in A
Kempis'," tapped my lady. sparkling
out in a red glow that Lit up the black
street. ....
Here it is. Now that thy applica-
lions are come up into my ears and
thou hast cast thyself upon my mercy,
l will revive thy dropping spirits, and
thou shalt, after this dark and dismal
storm, rejoice again in the light of my
countenance.
CANCEL" / started to signal reck-
lessly, but the curtains were drawn
again and l came to the realization,
with start, that it was time for me to
put on my rubber coat and go down to
the Office, which did, in a spirit much
at variance with the gloom of the even
ing.
After this, never week passed
without our having at least two or three
little chats, by means of these wonder.
full signs, which | now appreciated for
the first time. Sometimes | would see
my lady at her window and would sig.
nal to her, and be met with blank 81.
lence. Then always knew that some
one was present in the room.
One day. however, when she had
consented to converse. tapped.
'.Do you know, think it is time you
let me call on you.''
Impossible. My auntr' protested
my lady.
"But 1 must see you"
"And so you do"
81 mean | must talk to you"
perhaps you will tell me what you
are doing now?"
81 want to hear your voice"
ut is frightful."
81 don't believe it."
''Why don't you get an introduc.
tion?"
81 don't know soul in the city,"
''Get acquainted, then"
with whom? Tell me, and I'll dc
it."
''Come to think of it, I'm stranger
myself. l don't believe you can get ar
introduction"
| Then I'll call without"
81 shan't receive you"
"Please do, Miss Grant"
Il shall not, Mr.. Millet."
/ ''Why did you learn telegraphy, Miss
Grant,"
THAT l might earn my bread and
butter, Mr.. Millet."
L .T ~