Morgan County democrat. (Versailles, Mo.) 1900-1906, 1904-10-14


stare. end COW, regularly at Mae
o'clock each morning. Miss Maher
sounded the jingling signal which m
nolr.sG to Sltter 1851 that A party"
WAS on the line.
They usually discussed some APP
pcintment for the day. Listening to
these plans for pleasure, Miss Maher
come to have a keen appreciation Of
the blessings of Suffer 1851. Miss Ma
her liked big men with grave, sim
cere voices. She also liked outings
outings such as these as she heard
p~lanned-to the cliffs, to the sea, or
to- the shaded woods among the keen,
rcsinous smell of the pines. Main -
didn't seem to care for theaters, or
teas, or balls, although the girl was
always trying to get him to go with
her. Sometimes, when they had ar
ranged TO drive, Miss Naher would
picture them in the light English dog
cart he used because the girl al SUIT
ter S69l liked it; the horses lifting
their feet high, and their hOof-Deats
ringing on the hard roads. Oftrner
she pictured them in the moonlight.
Miss Maher was fond of the pale gilt
ter of the oOn Her favorite heroines
all looked their best by moonlight.
She could not help wondering how the
| girl at Suffer 1851 would look. She
was sure that she was fair--slender
and { II. She thought she wore white
lace about her throat. Miss Maher
sighed a little as she switched OF her
jangling bells.
1t was generally eleven before Red
1901 had sounded his signal and Miss
Maher had connected him somewhat
perfunctorily with the other end of
the wire. Suffer S69l's answers in
these conversations were rather short
er and more to the point than they
We're at the earlier hour, Yet on sev-
cral occasions Miss Mahcr heard her
make engagements for drives or
box parties to the theatre. When she
made these engagements so easily and
Carclessly, Miss Maher's soul a
troubled. She knew she ought not to
listen to these on' rsations. but she
was interested, and human, and so
-. But she wondered what Main
- would say.
The weeks vent on, and the calls
came as usual, until a certain day
when having rung up Suffer SG9l
and opened the switch as now was her
daily custom, Miss Maher heard the
steady tones she liked to listen to say:
"How's the world this morning.
nExiy,inn gn,,,un' - ,,tnrpnl ~.
voice with "A subtle reflection hal
Miss Mahrr instantly recognized "a
displeasure. Il saw your picture o.
JOY last night
You did? The paint isn't even dry.
Are you going to give me a telephone
dictum on it?"
ITS rather pretty, | think, but
pretty" Main ass voice was just
a little rutilcd. "Wcll go on. But
WHAT"
81 don't see how a dark person car
represent Joy"
con, that's all right. Intensity OF
lceling-strength Of omotiOn-unior
Of heart and head, and so on. Don't
you scc?"
Him" was Suffer SG3l's brief 6oT
.snt. Her hA's's so black she looks
like a. Indian, and Aer eyes Al
expressive 2i!ahce followed this, anC
Miss Maher feit !ae smile at Main as
"They're gray. Don't you like
them"
you do. That's evident"
81 like them in the picture
sr'I-., t.,,, ,,. ,.,
shouldn't like them out of it. Perhaps
you do"
Perhaps | do what? Like gra,
eyes? They are uncOmmonly rare"
you'll like them all the bette
when you find them, Don't despair
Il hate to doubt it, but she doe.
not seem very kind just now"
I'm sorry. Would You pardon M
il | hung up? I've an engagement il
a few minutes"
please wait a second. ="
Miss Mahcr heard the decided LITTLE
click. So did Main A.. His half-fn
ishcd sentence remained suspended II
air, and only the telephone operate
r heard the amazed exclamation Of three
words which followed the closing o
, the wire.
When the rush was over, Miss Ma
: her, casting a swift glance about he
l to see that she was not observed, wen
l quickly over to the unframed squar'
T of glass hanging blanlly on tn
! w~hitewashed wall, and looked bold.