The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1898-01-20

detail iof the charming summer
costums worn by a young woman
who was standing at the telephone.
Just now she was bit out of temrer.
"ExpTess 2S04," she called impatient
ly. And as she waited for the desired
number she turned and looked at Vir-
giniaj who, quite overcoms by the
heat44 FOR was it for some otl er reason
had seated herself AZ no great dis
tanee off and was welding palm leaf
fam an'energeticaiiy.
The pretty woman turned abruptly
to the phone in response to a call. ''Is
this Express 2S04?" she said.
cit is Byron's NUMBER" Virginia
Huttered to herself. '.I thought SO. I"
The woman at the phone spoke
again:
] 'This is Mr.. Curtis, is it not?''
Virginia ceased tanning and scarcely
disguised the fact that the converse
ton interested her.
eyes, I am Miss Cleayebrook, /" con-
tinued the woman in the linen gown.
Then, eyes, please"
A short pause ensued. The drug
store cuckoo clock struck two. Vir-
ginia excitedly imagined what Byron
Curtis must be saying at the other
end of the phone IN. his Office, high
up in one OF the downtown buildings
Miss Cleavebrook interrupted her
thoughts. eyes," she said, and Vir.
ginia fancied perhaps that her voice
took on more tender tone. "Same
place." she continued, with little
laugh. did you? I'm so glad.
Thanks so much for the flowers. You
really mustn't send them so often. It's
too extrayagant of you."
Virginia gave q little start. tTheatre
again this week?" questioned Miss
Cleayebrook doubtingly. 81 really
think twice week is too often"
But the man with whom she was
talking seemed to overcome her
scruples, and after agreeing to go with
him on Friday evening of that week,
she said:
"Why don't you ask me why I
called You up?" Then, seeming to for
get that she was in public place, she
laughed merrily at the response that
came back over the phone. Finally
she said:
''No, it wasn't that. / want very
much to see that book of AFTER Dim
ner Speeches you spoke of. Can't
You bring it to me this evening? No?
Well, tomorrow, then. What are you
going to do to-night?" Sex
The fair questnner seemed but lit
tie pleased at the answer she received.
She tspped her foot impatiently, and
it was full minute before she spoke.
Virginia fancied she heard Byron
saying: 'I am going to call on Miss
ALE Nto;night." For had he not asked
if he .ght come over to see her Tues
day?
Miss Cleavebrook recovered her tenn
per, if indeed she had lost it, and said:
II thought I told you to drop that?"
Virginia arose hurriedly and walked
to the front of the store. eft is in
supptGtable, she muttered to herself.
"Shc speaks as if she owned him
when.
Her thoughts overcame her as the
memory Of all that had happened be-
tween her and Byron Curtis rushed to
her mind.
The sharp ring of the little bell re-
called her to herself and she looked up
to see Miss Cleavebrook leave the store
and go slowly down the street with
happy smile dimpling her pretty face.
Virginia took an impulsive step to-
ward the telephone, needless OF the
clerk who stood behind the counter
and who began to gaze at her rather
curiously.
'tHe need not t'come to see me" shef
thought fercsly. ':He would rathef
be with her." Her voice nearly choked
her as she answered. Express 2S04,"
to the inevitable Number, please% y
The moments which followed Were
agony to her. Her thoughts ran wild.
cit was only last week that he told me