The Princeton union., 1893-09-28

will overcome every scruple, and you
Will yield at last, and let me cherish and
shield you through life, as my dear and
honored wife,
He drew her to him in one fervent
embrace, and was gone, while Miriam
sunk pale and painting in her chair
He will--he will!' she murmured in
an accent almost Of terror. He will
prevail against my resolution, at last,
and then have Z lifetime perhaps Of re-
gret! must leave here at once and
hide from him, until bis better judg-
ment comes to his aid. / will go to my
old school friend, Annie Snow. He will
not deem that am hiding so close by
and ask her to keep me until l can de-
eide what next to do"
Late as it was she collected some few
necessary articles of clothing, summon
ed her landlady and told her she was
going away for Il month, paid the rent
out of her little hoard to secure her
rooms for awhile, and leaving the house
went rapidly to that Of her friend.
She found her lying on a sofa, pale
and ILL, but rousing Annie listened to
her story with interest
Stay here? OF course you can,'' she
said when Miriam had finished. He
will never think of seeking you so near
home. But was thinking if you could
not do something for me as we'll, The
doctor says unless / go away for a few
weeks rest L shall break down, and
yet am afraid to consent to a substi-
tute lest she should usurp my position
entirely-there are 50 many always
waiting for vacancies. Now, if you
would take my place for a few weeks,
you could live right here, and I could
go away and get some needed rest, and
1T would be q mutual benefit
'Certainly l will, if it is anything I
can do," answered Miriam; what is the
WOrkY'
Down in one of the large telephone
offices, giving and receiving messages,
and connecting the various wires," re-
piled Annie. 1T is quite simple to,
learn. A few days will give you the
idea"
Il do not need that answered Mi
ram. Il worked in a telephone station
Tor little while. and know all about
IL. You can get ready for your outing
tomorrow and 1 will take your place.
1t seems as if Providence had led me to
the right place.
ing, and the next morning Miriam set
out Tor her new field of labor. leaving
Annie to pack for her trip. Provided
win a note to the superintendent, she
round no difficulty in obtaining her
Irlend S position temporarily, and got
along all right. until toward afternoon
tnere came a peremptory ring, and a
NUMBER IL fell down, while at the same
yyNySor
ear:
Hello, Grcenwich!''
Hello!' she responded promptly.
There was brief silence, while it
seemed to Miriam that she could hear 4
strange, 1abored breathing at the end
or the wire, then the voice, but shaken
and tremulous this time, spoke again:
"Who are you? Who is it that an
swers me?"
No is. Greenwich replied Miriam.
NO, no. your name-for the love of
heaven, your name!!" came the earnest
response in a tone Of strong emotion.
You are no one that has ever spoken
to ME before y
why do you ask my name?" Miriam
replied, quite bewildered, and not IL lit
tie frightened. You are right-I am
no one you have spoken to before. 1
am simply substituting My name can
not De a matter of any consequence to
you"
Miriam seemed to hear some one say,
That voice! that voice!' AMI then
strangely enough the interrogation runc
on, and as she received another call i'm
medlately, she forgot the incident for
the time
The next day, however, IS rung up
again, and before giving her the desired
connection. managed to hold quite a
conversation with her, in which she felt
sure more than one was interested, al
though no voice but the one spoke to
her. W
The next day. however. a strange
voice greeted her. and later in the after
noon, two others, ending with the first
that had spoken. Nv
Puzzled and not Il little vexed. she
would have liked to have consulted An
ME, or asked her advice, but her friend
had gone on her vacation, and Miriam
must remain at her post until she came
back. O'''A1o
The day following, however, as she
was at her duties after having answered
q call from IL, a message came from
the superintendent. summoning her to
the Office. Going to the room, she was
confronted by a handsome man of tifty
years. while another somewhat Older.
with Il shrewd face, and keen gray
eyes, sat near him.
Are you the young lady that has an
sw~ed Is for the last few days:, the
older man asked
'Yes, SIR" Miriam answered simn1v
but she saw his companion start and
turn pale
My dear child" he said, addressing
her, Il can see this conduct SURPRISES
and disturbs you, but let me assure YOU.
we mean nothing to your harm. Your
voice is ike-so wonderfully like-one
L never thought to hear again. Won't
you tell me your name, and who your
people are?''
Miriam cast one look into his face,
then some impulse she could never ac-
count for made her answer:
Until Il week ago, sir, supposed my
name was Miriam Dale, and although
l retain it, have NO right to it,
. And Still obeying that strange impulse,
she told her whole simple story, even
producing the little trinketS. which she