The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-03-31
LOVE BY WIRE.

1t is not at all certain who first discover
ed it, probably the housemaid at 3030-two
rings Whenever the bell rang, no matter
what number of rings, and the housemaid
was within hearing distance, it was her
habit to get to the telephone as soon as
possible and put the receiver to her ear,
and she did it SO deity and noiselessly that
the persons talking over the wire never
knew they had a listener. The girl at CEN
trail knew it early also, as it was her duty
to weld the wires over which Cupid shot
his darts back and forth between 1862 and
303O-five rings But if she knew it she
paid no attention to it and only felt q
slight annoyance ut the frequency of the
service demanded.
The discovery refer to was the affair
between the girl at 3030-five rings and
the young man at 1862, and the only pub
licity it had was over the telephone wires
The conversation that must necessarily
and frequently have taken place between
the young persons in private has, OF
course, no place in this story. The wire
that conveyed the conversation herein set
down was party line. That is to say, it
connected jointly four telephones in q
south side neighborhood The number o
the joint line was 3030, and each of four
subscribers had a designated number of
rings by which they might be called. /
know none of the subscribers personally,
and the story came to me from person
who learned it from another person to
whom it was told by 3030-four rings, who
was described to me as widow of 20 or
thereabout, who has strong lcanings to-
ward the romantic side of life and who
dearly loves love affair.
Next I learned it from the feminine
cousin of 3030-three rings, who is describ-
ed us spinster of uncertain age, who dotes
ON the Duchess novels.
Thirdly, learned it from Miss Warwick
Bool Evard, whose maid had received full
particulars from the housemaid at 1890
two rings.
That surely should be evidence sufficient
to warrant its further publicity, if that
indeed were necessary. In fact, it may be
an old story already.
No telephone ON the party line had more
calls than five rings Where the other
telephones had one demand five rings had
q dozen. This was enough to convince
the other subscribers that there was an
attractive young woman at the one end Of
the wire and a man at the other. Follow
ing is the first conversation between 1863
and 3030-fTe rings reported to me. 1t
comes from the housemaid ut 3030-two
rings, SO infer that she was the first dis
coverer. Subsequent conversations came
from all three sources and must therefore
be approximately correct:
Time, 1890 a. M. Four violent rings
ON four telephones.
I662-Hellol Hellol Is this 3O30-fivo
rings? Yes? Good morning. Very softly
and sweetly)-Do you know who this is?
Five rings-Yes, of course, know who
it is. Good morning, Mr.. Hunter. (Vio-
lent agitation ut the other end of the
ine.)
I662-It is not Mr. Hunter. Qn an
offended tone) Guess again.
Five rings-You old goose, I knew IT,
was you. 1 just wanted to tease you
Good morning, Arthur-(pausc, then COO
ingly)-dear.
l662-Ah, precious! Are you quite well
this morning? 1 could not sleep last
night thinking of your headache. Are
you sure you are quite well again? You
must take good care of yourself, dear, for
my sake, you know.
Five rings (plaintively)-I am just q
little better. Don't worry. 1 shall lie
well soon. What are you doing now, dear?
You must not lose sleep because of me- l
expect such great things of you. You
must be president of the bank some day,
Just as have planned it,
1662-Ah, Mabel. v hat couldn't man
do for your Did you really mean what
you said last night
Five rings-WHat vas thatp (Teasing
iy) said SO many things. you know. You
can't expect this little head of mine to re-
member everything. 1 say SO many fool
ish things.
1869 (anxiously)-Surely you haven't
forgotten already?
Five rings-Oh, about that-why, 1
don't know whether 1 meant it or not
Did say it as though 1 meant it?
1662-Well, you did last night, and
when you put your
Five rings-Hushl Somebody may be
listening. What was that? (The house
maid had almost exploded with laughter
Perhaps some one is listening Twill SEQ
you this afternoon. Four o'clock. I'll be
at the table right near the soda fountain.
Goodby
1869 ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
Five rings (aiso ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
1859 (still more ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
Five rings with decision)-Goodby
Give telephone receivers are hung up,
three Of them very noiselessly.)
Second conversation at o'clock q. m.
of the same day:
1662-HelloI Hello!
Five rings-I knew your voice at once.
Where are you now? Where? WhereP Oh,
Arthur. how could you? Only place openP
Won't some one hear you? Oh, well, it's
Pill right II the box is closed. Who is with
you!
1662-Billy Tinker
Five rings-That horrid little thingl I
don't like you to go with him, Arthur. He
Smokes and drinks beer. No; he's moi I'LL
right. If am to be your guardian angel.
you must do what say Have you smok-
ed today, Arthur? You know what you
promised me.
(Sound of cigar being dropped on the
floor
1662-No-well, yes Mabel, Just Whit
or two, just to taper off. Didn't we have a
lovely time this afternoon? How mad
Charley Birms looked when he saw usl
Five rings-I think Charley behaved
lovely. He was just as dignifled as he.
could be.
1862 (crossly)-I think he's a chump. I
can't imagine what you see in that fellow.
He works in a store and has no right in