Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-04-02
TELEPHONE
ROMANCE
BY AMY DUPREE


Two hundred thirty-four don't an.
swer." said central. ringing OF. but be
fore she could lean back for an In.
stants breathing spell 7i9 " called her
NJ again.
Central, why can't get my housef'
I'm sure I don't know" she answer
ed. with a suspicion Of laughter ln her
voice
"Tn bet those confounded servants
are gosslplng down In the basement.
Ring 'em again. and ring 'em like
thunder"
Central obeyed his orders energetlcal-
ly. but without results.
Il can't get any answer" she said
gently 20 the lrate man at the other
end OF the line. "but I'll try them again
in a few minutes. and II get an an
swer I'll call you up. No. won't for
get" she said. almost before the man
had uttered his warning. Il know you
call the house every morning from your
Office"
Thank you" said the man. much
mollined. Those servants are so care
less. and my niece, who looks after the
children. Is confined TO her room by
Illness"
Circleville's telephone system was
not very complicated. The three girls
who presided In the central office were
u.f L.pt a,.uvF.I - O., q. g.rw.r ott,-
because this was a new institution In
the pretty inland city and subscribers
were not coming Ia fast enough 20 sat
lsfy the telephone company. Only one
OF the girls hailed from Clrcleville.
The other two were from Chicago. and
II was Margaret Baxter. one OF the
Chicago girls. who had answered Mr.
Dickson's imperative calls
For the next few minutes she was
kept busy plugging In and out on her
board. But all the time a queer little
smile lowered about her lips and a
light almost tender shone In her eyes.
"lt would be very funny" she said
90 herself. III IL should all be straight.
ened on; by telephone, and would
not be rt all surprised II that Is just
what Jack hoped for" Then she turn
ed suddenly aud rang up 234 J.
A rather thick voice with distinct
brogue answered this call with n sui.
len Hello" Margarets face turned
grave and frm lines showed about her
mouth 4
.ayk-b,. bas ,,e ,,,., ,,,s,,.,,,.s "a. ell
phoney" she said rather sternly. III
have been ringing you on and Of for
fifteen minutes"
"Sure I've sOmethin' 10 do beside
runnln' up them stairs 10 answer this
bell. It's a wonder a woman can't eat
her breakfast In peace"
Margaret connected 234 with 7iqI
NJ. signing softly 20 herself. Poor
Charley and his babies az the mercy
OF that woman"
The conversation az the wire claim
ed her attention. There were reasons
why she felt she had a right TO listen
Hello, Mary. Is this your"
Yes. sir"
How Is Master Reglnaldy
"Fine. sir"
"What did he eat for his breakfastY'
- peach. a bowl OF rice and milk
and Eve cakes"
Now. Mary. I've told you repeated.
ly not TO let him have hot cakes"
Then. sir. you'll have 20 stay al
home and keep him from Il. It's a
cook am and no nurse"
well. we'll" said the man anxious
ly as one who realized he was In a
and needed the good will
Of every one I'm sure while Miss
Ellen Is sick you will look after the
and | will not forget IL when
| pay you next week"
This bit OF diplomacy ELECTED no
reply from the other end OF the wire.
Has Miss Bessie gone TO schoolg"
''She has not Sure the strings on
her hood and one OF her rubbers Is
lost entirely. and told her she'd best
stay home tlll her Aunt Ellen could
get about"
Dear. dear" said the man. and a
prodigious sigh seemed 60 choke his
utterance.
rs that all, sirT' said the woman
II guess So" he replied reluctantly
md hung up his receiver
At her end OF the wire the woman
slammed up the receiver with crash
which made central flush Just n bit
lngrily. Clump. clump. clump. she
went down the basement stairway TO
meet look OF inquiry on the face OF |
Ter husband. gardener and man OF all
work for Henry Dickson. president OF
he Excelsior Hardware company.
Sure IT'S the same old thing" she
aid snappishly as she tossed the soap
nto the dish pan. "Frettin his soul
'ut about those two children. It's no
,lace for me and you. Tim. Either the
I'D man or the young un ought 20
marry. What with church and par.
HES and fly be night nature into the
,argain. Miss Ellen's no good at all, at
N. When she's In the house she's IN
,ed. and when she's not in bed she's
'ut Of the house"
Tim shook his head and marched out
o the stable, and Mary turned 20 face
shrinking little figure In the door.