The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-03-01
THE PROVIDENCE NEWS TUESDAY. MARCH I.

chan. with a sweet innocence OF express
sion and demeanor, who posed a 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 l occasionally snubbec him
rather severly, but she always interceded
for him.
"He was such little fellow--and then
he was SO lovely! Was he not ones ideal
of n boy?"
Agnes had been at Wandsworth a few
weeks, when one morning, the telephone
bell, in our Office rang sharply. This was
of frequent occurrence, and Clarksons
Zone of my fellow -clerks) desk was sta
toned near 1t to save time I'm answering
the call. The rest OF us scarcely looked
up as the familiar Hullo!" was shouted,
or the concluding: "All right! Pll tell
Mr.. Grufiand. Good bye!" But this
morning Clarkson turned to me with:
"This Is for you, DixonV Accordingly
shouted Hullol" and in return / heard
Miss Georgie's voice:
"Is that you, Mr.. Dixon? Agnes is here,
and wants TO try 10 speak 10 you."
Then i heard her giving directions.
"Stand a little nearer; press this close 10
your ear-so."
"Good morning" i called.
In return l heard giggle, and my
Agnes's voice exclaiming: "Oh, oh! 1t
tickles my earl" then more directions
from Miss Peyton, and at last the sweetest
voice in the world began in as nearly as
might be a stentorian roar:
"Is that really you, Harry? Isn't this
perfectly sweet? Are you sure they can't
hear In the Office, Georgie?"
"Well," from Georgie, 81 should say
they certainly could, if you shout like
that"
Harry" in a half-whisper, "if you are
sure it's really you, and that no one else
can hear, want TO tell you something.
Do you remember that queer Miss Blaken,
OF Maidenhead? Do you hear me, Harry?"
EYES," returned.
Then another little giggle. "Isn't it
too funny? Do you know, Harry, now
that see how TO use it, Pm going to talk
to you ever so often? Won't it be fun?
But where was l? Dear me, how stupid!
Oh, know; Miss Blaken. Well, she has
sent me the loveliest-"
Here Clarkson mutterrd. Old Gruff's
coming" and knowing that he would ask
an explanation of my receiving the tele-
phone messages, was obliged TO inter-
rupt "I must go nov" ~ had almost
said "my darling" Tell me the rest
this evening"
"But Harry" heard in grieved little
voice but Mr.. Gruffiand's footsteps
were too near, and hung up the receiver
upside down and hurried back to my desk.
| All day worked in nervous despera-
ton. Would she try to resume the con-
versation? Every time the bell rang l
| glanced at Clarkson. The thought that
| it might be her voice whispering in his
great red ear covered me with cold per-
| spiration. The fear that in Mr.. Gruff-
lands hearing might be called upon to
answer some of her chatter was still
worse. made up my mind that / must
make Agnes understand that very night
| that she could not amuse herself in that
way, and so / did, gently, but resolutely
| i described Clarkson's ear, and / took
! some liberties with it. 1t would be just
! like the wretch to receive all her little
condolences, and retail them for the
amusement of the clerks.
Old Gruff was an orge, capable of dis
missing me without warning, IL / did not
attend every minute to my business. Our
hopes of happiness depended upon his
! good pleasure. Miss Peyton was cool and
| dignified. / suppose she knew was ex-
| aggerating. Agnes looked hurt. He;
sweet lips trembled little and her eyes
were suspiciously dim. i longed TO have
her alone for little while to comfort her,
as I knew i could; buS there was no
chance; for, though Miss George relented
sufficiently TO go upstairs to write an
important letter." Raphael was there,
resting his elbows on the table, and look
ing up at Agnes with an expression of
deep pity on his beautiful but sleepy dark
eyes.
And yet the next day the same thing
occurred. Mr.. Gruffland was there, and
looked up from his papers with a glance
OF disapproval as took Clarksons place
at the telephone. My "Hullo" was
rather savage.
| "Oh, Harry! do forgive me! Indeed,
indeed, felt sorry last night, and wanted
to tell you SO; but, you see, Ralph was
there. Pm all alone now. oh, Harry,
won't you forgive me?"
"Of course" returned, feeling Gruff's
eyes burning unpleasantly on the nape OF
my neck.
"Oh, Harry dear, don't talk like that to
me. Do say you love mel"
Was there ever such a child? i felt like
a cold blooded wretch, as l hurriedly re-
Piled:
"All right. I'll come up as soon as
can. Very busy now. Good-by"
felt, rather than heard, little sob at
the other end OF the wire. Gruf said
nothing, but I was doomed to another
miserable day. / managed to ask Clark
son, IL was called again, TO say, l could
not attend, and five times j heard him
give this message, and each time he turned
away with a mighty grin. What might
not Agnes have said TO him!
or course j hurried to the Peytons, de-
termined to sec her alone She came run
ming into the hall to meet me, bright and
loving; but the annoyances OF the day
had made me cross, and ! said, curtly:
Really, Agnes, it is very strange you
don't understand that a man cannot take
his business hours to talk with his
friends. After all said last night, must
say was surprised TO be called up again
to-day?"
Agnes stopped abruptly, and said with
dignity
81 do not understand you"