Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-04-14
BY TELEPHONE.

One morning Jack Eldredge brought IN
friend and introduced him to Percy Al
d.rson. Over cigars the three men became
laxative, and Anderson entertained them
with his varied chat.
ssBy the way" he said suddenly, II
have . new fad"
st is about time" Eldredge retorted
Iaughingly. You haven't had new one
Cor Mt least three weeks. What IL 1t this
times"
"well, learned friend gave me Lat
In name for II, said Anderson. 'Tve for
gotten the Latin, but the idea IA that be-
lieve a mans cbaracter--or woman's ei-
ther-can be unerringly judged by the
subjects voice, not by hearing few
words, perhaps, but after short acquaint~
ance claim that can give you mans
leading chsracteristics,
Lets have mine" urged Eldredge.
Certainly: you're an easy study--care-
Iess, idle, luxurious, joyial, fonder Of wo-
mems society than business; shrewd in
business when industrious, but seldom in
ciined 10 be industrious, loyal, exacting,
aggressive e.
"Hold on, protested Eldredge; "this IL
too long. Try your skill on my friend,
whom you have never seen before today"
III he viii take no offense 49,
"None, I assure you answered the
other
''Well. then. should say that You are
something OF woman hater, a clever man
OF business, slow TO make lasting friend.
ships, honest, but rather inclined to ba
suspicious Of Others You like brief inter
walls Of leisure, but on the whole prefer to
devote yourself 10 hard work. You are fond
Of horses and probably attend the races,
but you are too cautious To bet. After a
longer acquaintance with your voice can
tell you more about yourself. y
$50 far as you've gone you've hit his
case to a T - said Eldredge. still ! ad-
Wise you not to let this new theory OF yours
carry you too far
"An odd fellow that, said Eldredge's
friend as they went out together.
"Ies, full Of facts and fancies. II would
take me weeks To tell you all Of his pecul-
lar notions one Of them is that he will
not marry aawornau his equal ia wealth
When he gets ready TO marry, he intends
10 mate with a working girl He says that
II all rich men and women would marry
poor partners there would be twice ns
many well to do people in the world, and
It would be better place to live in
"Give me No 1904. Cortlandt. - Alder
non was Mt that moment saying Mt the tel
ephone.
mine, nine, naught, four queried the
girl Mt central.
ayes. Nice voice. that, he added &c
himself Denotes gentleness and amia
bility."
"Tha number il busy, " came from cen
trail
"She's generous, charitable and forgiv
ing OWNED Anderson
"Ninc nine, nnught four has just switch
ed of, " called central. ''lIere he is"
Energetic and loyal" communed Al
dersca. "Intelectual. too. full of wit and
quick Of perception ian unusual cir"
After that Anderson made IL thorough
study Of the new centrnl's voice. Work
ing upon his theory of voice reading, he
gradually discovered that this feminine
unknown was possessed of nearly all of the
lovablc virtues, while her few faults were
of the kind that made her piquant.
One day a thrill of discovery went oven
him as he listened to centrals few words,
and he muttered
glove, she is beautiful too Such an in.
tonation could not belong to an ordinary
looking woman
From that moment Percy Anderson knew
tsat he was in love with central. His
passion grew so that Is or 90 times day
he called up this unknown Charmer and
asked her to Connect him with some per
son with whom he had had trivial bust.
ness at least IL was 70 hear the voice that
was opulcnt Of goodness and beauty.
Somehow-the means need not be record
cd here.-~he learned that the telephone
girl $ name was Ada Cummings.
Anderson was not able TO keep his secret
all to himself Eldredge learned it.
al know the manager said the latter
"Let us go up aud see him
Anderson accepted with alacrity, The
manager showed them through the big
room, where the girls sat at the switch
boards and phones,
"By the way" said Eldredge careless
~. "you have u girl here named Cum
mings,
Yes; that is she over there.
Anderson gsged his heart in his mouth.
His friend gazed too Then the latter turnI
ed his head choking with laughter Miss
Cummings was Il thin, angular woman,
not less than 40, with face that would
seem to indicate a viuegary temper
Anderson got out Eldredge chaiTea him
numerically. The story spread, and other
friends chaflcd him too.
Two months later Percy Anderson sailed
suddenly for Europe. Upon his return his
friends received cards indicating that he
had turned Benedict. The cards also con
~eyed the information that he had mar
ried Miss Cummings.
But his friends when they called, were
struck by the queenly beauty and sweet
womanliness Of Mrs. Anderson
Her husband led Eldredge aside and
whispered;
This little woman Is the one with
whom talked over the phone. She was
out the daSwe called ct the central office.
and il was her cousin who was pointed
out to us. by the way, find that my
uivination OF mr. wife's character by her
voice was entirely correct. am now more
devoted than ever 10 my fad of voice read
ing, ~ stige leighton in NewYork Jour
nal
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