The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-10-07
A THOUGHTFUL DOG.


been her admirer since her debut.
He went so far as to offer to supply |
the aching void in Paula's heart by |
supplying a pup of undoubted pedi. |
gree in place of the lost.
'Oh, l could not put another in his |
place so soon,' was the fearful reply. |
A day or two after he was at work I,
over brief which was marked 'Ur- |
gent when tinkle of the telephone |
bell reused him from a deep fit OF re-
Election into which he had fallen over
the presentation of some technical
point in the case before him. Indeed,
so lost in thought was he that although !
he heard the bell, he gradually awoke
to consciousness of the fact that it had
rung more than once before he had ap-
piled his ear to the tube.
Are you there" Mr.. Rivers?" asked
an impatient voice.
"All right" replied Aylmer, not at
first observing any difference between
the accents he was answering and
those that were in the habit of reach
Blank G. Dash. What dye want?"
"Oh, | want 10 speak to you, Mr..
Rivers" reiterated the voice.
W til, 81 OlAs LlAN-Ls lCBllCN ny llAlCA,
impatiently, anxious to return to the
papers which were scattered all over
his table
It's me-Paula," he distinguished
out of the reverberation Of the dark
tube.
Delighted, I'm sure" replied Ayl-
mer. Il never expected such a pleas
ure. What can l do for YOU, Miss Lor-
raine?"
There was a moments hesitation;
then he could hear sigh, and little
nervous laugh.
'Ch, l don't know quite how to tell
you. Do you think anyone can hear
u.s. asked the voice hesitatingly.
Certainly not Pray go on; I'm lis
tening intently," was the reply.
There was another pause. Then the
words came with rush.
Il wanted to tell you that l have
been thinking over what you said to
me the other night, Mr.. Rivers" the
voice said, 'and that I-er-I accept
your kind offer"
Now Aylmer had completely forgot
ten all about the dog and It's loSs as
well as his offer to replace the lost
idol with one of his own selection The
important case upon which he was en-
gagged held possession OF all his think
ing faculties. The word offer" in
connection with his thoughts of Paula
could have for him only one meaning.
He dropped the tube and gasped for
breath as the words fell upon his lis
tening ear. To him they bore but one
Interpretation
But how reply to such a declaration
through medium? Why could he not
annilate the obstacles that intervened
and clasp his Paula 10 his heart? While
he paused to put together words which
should fifty acknowledge his happiness
in receiving SO unexpected an an
nouncement, the bell rang again vo-
ciferously.
You won't forget, Mr.. Rivers, will
you and come up soon to tell me about
it. | shall expect you this evening"
Thanks, thanks, awiully," was all
Aylmer had time to reply before he
heard the telephone shut off. / will
not fail, though It's twenty years till
thence, he murmured to himself as he
sank back in his chair, bewildered at
what had happened.
He pushed his books from him and
piled them one on top of the other,
closing them without any care as to
the refe.e ences he had been seeking
when his meditations had been SO un-
expectedly broken in upon. He was
possessed by natural feeling of pleas
urable surprise at SO extraordinarily
an attainment of his most cherished
hopes, but, strange to say the pleas
ure faded more quickly than the sur
prise.
He set himself TO analize the reason
OF this, and could not conceal from his
inner consciousness the fact that, in
acting as she had just done, Paula did
not seem quite to realize that lofty
idea which the average man is apt tc
look for in the ordinary woman whel
he has set the seal of his choice upor
her. Yet he endeavored to persuade
himself it was, after all a very easy
If unusual way of intimating her pref
erence, and for him that was the mar
point at issue.
The modern maiden, he argued
could not always be expected to follow
the traditions of her maternal ances
tors, and the love affairs of the presen
day were bound to be affected by tn
environment of the age. And was no
after all, such means of communica
tion more prudent than writing lei
ter, which his legal instincts warne
him might not always be read withou
prejudice, and which might be pre-
served as proof of indiscreton?
Go tonight? OF course he woul
Was ever time so laggard in it's flight
If she had not specially named tn
hour he would have rushed to he
then and there. But he knew she live
in whirl of social engagements, an
had to content himself with the rt
fection that she would probably |
mot at home" were he to call earli
than the time appointed.
Unable to stand the confinement
his rooms, he went for a walk
work something off his exotemer
Returning he dressed himself wi