The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-04-26

AN+@-S ~ JCNAS A14Stl WAOSO cOlO
claim on Mrs. Jones was that they had
once met at a party was left to be heal
cd by time.
He had for company in his fate tho
enthusiastic Sennis player, who, in the
midst Of "a little summer shower"
summoned Mrs Jones.
II want to speak to Flanagan, the
gardener. -
"This is not Flannigan's telephone.
And who is speaking?"
Mrs. Jones. -
"Oh, we'll, Mrs. Jones, can give my
message to you just as well. Iwant you
to tell Flanagan to come and roll the
tennis ground at once. He will under
stand. Tell him right away, please.
Flanagan does not live here"
"Well, you can send him word, I
suppose, in surprised and offended
voice, ito oblige lady. 1t is Miss Nor
timer who is speaking" and there was
an impressive silence Mrs. Jones re-
membered Miss Mortimer as high
stepping young woman whom she had
met at friends house, and who had
given her the impression of taking an
inventory of her. So Mrs. Jones took
pleasure in replying: Miss Mortimer
probably does not know that she is ad-
dressing private telephone. Good
day"
But it was Jones, the luckless Jones,
who seemed set aside for the cruel buff
feting of the telephoning public. One
night, which he will ever point to as
the widest and wettest night he has
known, he had settled himself into his
most comfortable chair, with pile of
new magazines beside him, when he
was disturbed by summons from the
telephone. Heresponded with readiness,
for he was rather expecting call from
his partner, and to his cheerful '.Hello,
old fellow, I'm herels came in sput-
tering and wind tossed voice, "Will you
please tell Mrs. Goodson that as it is SO
stormy her daughter will not go home
tonight?'
Jones turned and confronted his wife,
and for time words refused to come.
'Well, this is little too much Now,
think OF an unknown voice barking at
me to go into storm like this and tell
the Goodsons that their daughter will
mot be at.home tonightp'
The Goodsons lived just six squares
away.
"And what will you do, dear? Why
didn't you say plainly that you would
not and could not go out into storm
like this; that they must send a mes
senger?" n. -.
81 "They shut me off without giving me
time to answer"
t'Well, call them up. Call them up
at once
''Jane please have some sense. How
do know where Miss Goodson has
gadded off To? How do I know what
number to call up?''
''Well, just wouldn' go. I"
ooh, I'll have to- They are friends,
and if they are expecting that girl of
theirs home tonight and she doesn't
come Mrs. Goodson will go out of her
mind"
So Jones drove himself forth, clad in
righteous indignation and waterproof
coat. The cold rain dashed him, and the
wind belabored his umbrella, and he
was more than once obliged to pause
under friendly porches to get his breath
At last the home of the Goodsons was
reached, and spent and weary he stag
gered up the steps. Goodson himself
opened the door.
"Hello, Jones, you re no fair weather
friend indeed. Come in, come in"
''No. I'm too wet, he answered
pointedly (and he felt like adding land
700 mad"). 81. only came to tell you
that Miss Goodson won't be at home to-
night"
''My daughter! She is at home. Done
you hear her playing on the piano now?
Come into the vestibule anyway"
Jones walked in, with the rain stream.
ing from his coat
''Katey!'' called Mr. Goodson to his
wife. 'Here is Jones come to say that
Julia won't be home tonight
"What?' demanded Mrs. Goodson,
appearing in the hall and regarding
Jones as if he were mild sort of luna
tic, "Julia is at home"
well, don't understand it," said
Jones plaintiyely. 81 was rung up half
an hour ago and asked to como and tell
you that your daughter wouldn't be at
home on account of the storm :"
''And do you mean to say that you
stand ready to turn out at all hours and
deliver messages free of cost?" cried
Goodson.
''It looks that way"
"Well, you are an assl''
"Don't compliment me too freely,
Goodson. I can't take in much more.
I'm soaked as it is. -
Mrs Goodson stood thinking. "Whc
could have been meant? Oh, I've just
thought! 1t must be that Mrs. Goodson
who sews for Mrs. Jones and me- And
she has daughter--a typewriter down
town-and she has friends living in the
suburbs. She has doubtless gone there
to diner and concluded to stay all
night. Bat she lives just around the
corner from you"
Goodson laughed loudly and brutally.