Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1900-03-02
SIX NINETY SIX MAIN,

ITS strange" said Miss Nelson at the
central telephone office, that no one ever
calls up COG" She rang the bell.
Testing the wire," responded central
cheerfully.
"The wire responds" said the voice.
Miss Nelson was quite aware that she
had no right to continue the conversa-
ton, but she had held her curiosity in
check for months in the face of mys-
terry, and she could endure it no longer.
you do not use your phone much"
she said politely.
"No, no." responded the voice, some
what sadly. "Im not acquainted in the
city. | haven't much use for telephone,
it is true. But it's a great invention.
enjoy it very much when you call me up
In the morning"
There was something so wistful in the
voice that Miss Nelson made no apology
to herself for the tears that came in her
eyes.
1t was a monotonous life that she led
1t had not much happiness in it and no
romance. SO it was not surprising that
she endeavored to probe this, her first
mystery. She took the pains one Sunday
afternoon when she was at leisure to call
at the house of George Whitman Rum
ford tG9G) to make an inquiry about a
fictitious address. The house was new
and of red sandstone. elegant and plain,
and the yard. the walk and the steps
were in a condition of scupulous neat
ness. 4 young colored man answered the
door. Miss Nelson, blushng at her de-
ceit, made her inquiry in a loud tone Of
voice. As she had hoped and expected,
this brought an elderly gentleman out Of
the library.
"What is it the lady wants to know,
John? Can be of any assistance, mad
amp
Miss Nelson, hating herself for her du-
plicty. repeated the question.
The tall gentleman shook his head re-
gretfuly.
81 really can be of no assistance to
you" he said 81 know so few persons in
the ncighborhood But. if you will do me
the honor to come in and wait, will
send out to make inquiries"
"Oh, no, nor protested Miss Nelson.
81 shall have 10 give up trying to find
my friends, | think. 1t is evidently
mistake. 1t is sometimes hard to locate
ones friends in a city like this"
at is. indeed, suppose. Unfortunate
ly, have no friends here"
"No?"
mo; have recently come here.
have always lived in little town, but
thought ! would like to see what life in
the city was like"
yes"
81 have built this house. Won't you
step in n moment and look at IL? | take
great pleasure out OF It. The postman
kindly stepped in the other day and look
cd ut il, and he admired it much"
dence and amabilty, and then. casting
selfish caution TO the winds, she went in
A prim, expensive, eXqustely neat and
altogether unhomelike interior met her
view.
81 had to do it quite alone" explained
Mr.. Rumford. 81 dare say n lady can
discover many deficiencies in it. and
should be glad of suggestions"
you must find ii pleasant living on
the boulevard" said Miss Nelson.
ooh, very, very! So many people go
by. would like to ask some OF them in
at times. but they might think it strange
I'm much obliged TO you for coming in.
1t Inns made a very agreeable break in
the day. I'm little solitary. you know.
II il were not for John, | should be quite
dull"
Miss Nelson was moved to shake hands
in saying farewell. and the hand that
took hers was Unexpectedly hard with
ancient callouses. She could not make
the man out. He was more Of a mystery
than ever
She got in the way. after this, OF add
ing some little word over the phone after
the daily test OF the wires. and finally
she confessed that it was she who had
called. Mr.. George Whitman Rumford
was greatly pleased at this He laugh.
ed and chatted about it till Miss Nelson
was obliged to ring off. He wanted to
| send her n little gift, but she refused
very gently-to receive it. He asked to
take her to church Sunday evening. but
she felt it to be best to refuse that
| courtesy too. He inquired whether he
might not call for her and escort her
home. But she did not accord him that
| permission. He took these rebuffs sadly
One morning there was no response when
she rang the bell. and after many trials
she made out that John was making fu.
tile attempts to be heard 1t was John
who mumbled over the wires for -four
successive mornings
Miss Nelson grew anxious and called
personally at the house. John came &c
the door, weeping.
| -AioAhh lNulhAo u ut pass way uls
mohnin, ma'am. He ask me ovah and
ovah las night did you tes' the wiahs
yet. He mighty fon' oh answerin the
phone, Mistah Rumfo'd."
Ida Nelson suffered a pang such a:
she had never felt before. 1t was re
morse.
She went into the room where the un
dertaker and his assistants were, havinl
just finished their sorry task, and she
looked with penitence at the white face
of the loneliest man she had ever known
81 ought to have had less propriety
and more humanity" she said to herself.
1t was Miss Nelson, John. two or tire,
of the neighbors and Mr. Rumford's maj
of business who followed the black coffir
to the place of the dead.
And the next week Miss Nelson haC
all the mystery solved. The man o
business brought her a manuscript. 1
was written for her by the dead man
and it contained q simple story of a maj
whose money had brought him only iso
Iation. With the manuscript was a gift.
when You receive this" the donor ha,
written, II shall be where you cannot re
turn it to me-"
"My contemplate, selfish propriety !
sobbed Ida Nelson. my cowardly dis
cretionl It's the biggest chance I eve
had for giving happiness, and missed il
let it go."-Chicago Tribune