The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1905-12-07
HOW SHE BUTT IN


her husband had not seen his way
clear to having one till recently. 1t
was a day of joy and triumph for the
little lady when, finally, the instru-
ment was fastened to the wall over
the Admington's front stair landing.
1t was on circuit with other phones
and when the bell rang in one house
it rang in ten others. The Aiming
tons, like every family on the line
had a certain number or rings for
their own particular call, but it took
them some time to get over being
startled when any other number was
sounded.
The morning after the phone was
installed Mrs. Admington started to
put it to most practical use, that OF
ordering things for dinner from the
market. She was thinking how pleas
ant it was just to ring bell and tell
the grocer what to send
She took down the receiver and put
it to her ear, but was somewhat vex-
ed toh ear mans voice and discover
that the line was busy.
I'll have to wait, and I'm in such
hurry" she pouted, but, remembering
an errand in another part OF the
house, she busted herself for a few
minutes. Her next try at the phone
found the line still busy. She fidget-
ed in little chair for a minute that
seemed ten and then went to the
phone again, saying to herself:
Those people must be through talk
ing by this time
But they were not, and as Mrs. Ad-
mington took down the receiver for
the third time to call up central she
heard the emphatic declaration of
very decided young woman:
well, l don't care. I'm going to
marry him anyway"
But how long did you say you
have know him." he was asking the
young woman.
why, I've known him only two
weeks" was the reply, "but I've seen
him an awful lot in that time"
WELL don't you think two weeks a
pretty short acquaintance to marry
on?" urged the man.
1T would be in most cases." admit
ted the young woman, "but with us
it's different. He's awfully nice, ana
he likes me, and l like him, and he
doesn't want to wait He doesn't be-
lieve in long engagements, and neither
do l."
why, you're a simpleton," was
Mrs. Admington's mental comment as
she shifted from one foot to the other.
and moved little nearer to the phone
just as the mans voice was asking:
Isn't he willing to give you time
to get ready? A woman can't be mar
ried conveniently on days notice.
Won't he give you a month of six
weeks for that?"
NO" was the answer He's go
ing away within a month, and he
wants TO be married SO | can go with
him
We'll, don't want you to think me
too much of meddler," came back
the voice of the man. Il only want to
suggest things that seem to be for
your good. Now, you say you've
known this man two weeks. Are you
sure you will care for him at the end
of two months? Wouldn't it be well
to wait that long and see?"
Made for the madhouse," muttered
Mrs. Admington to herself, losing all
patience.
And how old did you say he WASP"
resumed the man.
Forty"
'And you are twenty?"
well, I'll be twenty-one in a cou-
pie of months
And how old are his children?"
"The boy is fifteen and the girl
only ten, spoke up the young lady.
well" he began, hopelessly, "all l
can say to you is that if you marry
that man after having known him only
two weeks you will do very foolish
thing, and in looking after those chill
dren you will certainly have your
work cut out for YOU"
ct don't care if I do" came the
voice Of the young woman snappish-
ly. "Ive thought it all over and I'm
going to marry him anyway"
Mrs Admington wasn't able to con-
tain herself any longer. She had no
sooner heard the young ladys ulti-
matum than she broke into the con-
versatiOn with:
Don't you do it. If you do you're
perfect goose and you ought to
know it,
Mrs Admington heard gasps OF sur
prise from the other two, and then
the voice of the man:
"Well, who in thunder are you?"
I'm not in thunder anybody" snap
ped Mrs. Admington, "but I'm consid-
erably older than the young lady at
the other end of this wire and I've
learned a few things she ought to
know before she marries man twice
as old as herself and with two chill