The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1895-06-13
The JoneSeS' Telephone.
By ANNIE HOwELLs FRBOHETTB.
Copyright, 1895, by the Author.l

COHrlddcd.
'wvn, .,,u can senu nm word.
suppose in a surprised and oilendc,
/ voice, ''to obigo lady. 1t Is Miss Nor.
timer who is speaking" and there was
an impressive silence. Mrs Jones re-
mcubored 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 a 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 He responded with readiness,
for he was rather expecting call from
his partner and to his cheerful Hello,
old fellow, I'm herel' came in sput.
tering and wind tossed voice, "Will you
please tell Mrs. Goodson that as it is sc
stormy her daughter will not 20 home
tonight"
Jones turned and confronted his wife,
and for time words refused to come
well, this is q little too much Now
think of an unknown voice barking ut
| N n up 1nrn a 81 ILL.,. l.. ~
the Goodsons that their daughter will
not be at home tonightr'
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 90 ont into storm
like this; that they must send mes
senger?"
They shut me off without giving me
time to answer"
well, call them up. Call them up
at once. 4"
Jane, please have some sense How
do l know where Miss Goodson has
gadded off to? How do l know what
number to call up?'
well, just wouldn't 60"
"Oh, 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. F"
So Jones drove himself forth, clad in
righteous indignation and a 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 land he felt like adding land
too mad'D Il only came to tell You
that Miss Goodson won't DO at home to.
night. "
my daughter She is at home Don't
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 he home tonight"
"What:" demanded Mrs Goodson,
appearing in tho hall and regarding
Jones as if he were a mild sort of luna.
tic Julia is at home"
"Well, don't understand it," said
Jones plaintively, 81 was rung up half
IN hour ago and asked to come 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..
ut looks that way"
well, you are an ASST
'Don't compliment me too freely,
Goodson. / cant take in much more
I'm soaked as it is. "
Mrs Goodson stood thinking. "Who
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 daugbter-a typewriter down
town--and she has friends living in the
suburbs. She has doubtless gone there
to dinner and concluded to stay all
night But she lives just around the
corner from you"
Gondson laughed loudly and brutally
"A bonny sort of night for respect.
able family man like you, Jones, to DO
skylarking around carrying messages
for typewriting maidensP'
"Oh, come now, that's q little too
muoh"
"Well, old man, I'll show my graft
tude for your friendly intentions toward
me by going round to the telephone PEG.
pie the first thing in the morning and
complaining of you. You've no right to
be running opposition to the public tele-
phones in this way"
'lf you only would" and Jones
wrung his friends hand while tears of
thankfulness welled up to his eyes
Once in the street he longed for a
contemptuous enemy to kick him brisk
ly to tho door of the Widow Goodson
The latter was evidently about to setire,
as it was long time before she respond.