The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-06-24

brunette could speak SO softly"
II will be sttmis6d from our friends
admiration Of blondes that he himself
was a brunette. His reveries were
interrupted by another call through
the telephone. This time it was from
a young friend who was in the hos
pital suffering with broken leg. II
say, Ward, old boy" said the poor
fellow, cant you do something to
cheer me up little"
Cant talk bit, Charley" roared
Ward hoarsely, "but I'll wind up the
music box for you" So the box was
wound, and began playing its CHEEKY
melodies to the hospital patient, who
apparently was charmed by the sweet
tones, for after time came the call,
''Good night, Ward, I'm just going oil
TO sleep"
Several times during the next day
or two did the sweet voiced telephone
operator assist Ward in his efforts to
Communicate with distant friends and
customers. and it may safely be i'm
agined that his delight in hearing her
melodious repetition of his own words
was SO great that his eonvalescenoe
was consequently delayed. But the
tantalising thing was that she persist
ed in declining oil thanks and in clos
ing the conversation as soon as it
came to be between her and Mr.. Ward
alone. He was not satisfied, and when
he once persisted, after she had broken
the circuit, and called her back to
thank her, she said, "If you feel un-
der obligations, you can repay me by
letting your music box sing to me.
Ward did not wait for further
words, but instead OF winding the box
he seated himself at the piano and
poured forth his thanks in m impro.
visation, He was skilled musician,
but his chief delight for years had
beer to give expression to his own un-
premeditated thoughts upon the pi-
Nno. and this silvery voiced girl was
an inspiration,
He had never played more brill
iantly, and he was therefore disap-
pointed to find, as he ended his rhap-
sody and went to the telphone, that
no word Of acknowledgment came for
his efforts to please his Unseen friend.
"Coquettish, l fear, after ell, "
mused Ward, and he was surprised to
see how much this thought grieved
him. Unconsciously to himself he had
endowed this unknown telephone girl
with ell the sweet womanly qualities
her voice had seemed to indicate, and
he could not bear to have the illusion
destroyed. Yet why should he caro-
anything about girl whom he had
never seen, of whom he knew nothing,
save that she had musical voice and
worked for her living? That last
thought was not wholly agreeable to
him. He had not outlived the old
idea that woman must be supported
by some one, and that to labor for her
own subsistence was in a degree lower
ing to her dignity. She was ignorant,
perhaps, of the necessity of making
any acknowledgment for his music,
and yet she had seemed to know what
belonged to good manners. He had
been very foolish to think of her at
all. No doubt if he should see her
the disillusion would be complete.
With these thoughts he tried to dis.
miss her from his mind, and was pro-
voked at himself to find that it was not
altogether possible. After an hour or
SO there came ring of the telephone.
1T this Mr.. Wardp p asked the well
known voice. ayes" was the reply,
rather gruffiy given.
"I am afraid you thought me very
ungrateful for your magnificent
music, said the girl, "but there came
a very urgent call which took me away
before You were through, and pre-
vented my saying how good you were
to spend SO much time and skill on
poor me.
The words were enough to prove to
Ward that his improvisation had been
fully appreciated, but as here was a
chance for a little conversation Will
her. he determined to improve it
"You have never allowed me tc
thank you for your kindness to me,
he said. "Why should expect you tc
thank ms for Tthat which was only Z
paymeut oGja debt?P ES 500
';If yon did not expect it OF me,
said the girl somewhat falteringly, 81
cel tainly expected it of myself" I"
Our friend felt that his remark had
not been quite kind in tone, anG
hastened.to say, "Please do not misun
derstand what was lame attempt at a
pleasantly. 1 acknowledge that
feared Fhad bprel or offended you by
my long winded musical communica
tion, but now that know I was mis-
taken l am well pleased. 1 have only
one wish now, and that you can easily
satisfy"
"And what is that wish?"
go know the name of the young
lady who has proven herself OF sucl
great assistance to me-"
There was a sound of laughter il
the voice that now asked, 'Why d(
you call me young?"
1t was II thought thatihad not befor,
suggested itself to him. To be sure il
was not inevitable that she should b,
T. young. He felt his face flush hotly il
thus bstraying himself But he col
lected his thoughts aud replied gal
lantly, "Youth is not a matter of years
and both your deeds and your voic,
p-aye that you have n young heart
The laughter was not now subduod
but rang out in a clear, sIlyery peal
that was even more musical than he
speech. After waiting moment h
asked, "Are you not going to tell m,
the name of my assistantY'
ooh, replied she carelessly, 81 an
Number Five,