Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-11

in one house it rang in ten others. The Admingtons, like every family on the line, had certain number of rings for their own particular call. but it took them some time to get over being startled when any other number was sounded.
 It bothered Mrs. Arlington less than other members of the family, and it gave her pleasure to talk about ring ing up" her friends, which she did with an accustomed air that seemed to in- dicate there had been telephone in every room in the Huntington house for years.
 It was different with her husband. He didn't like telephones any too we'll in the ofice, and he was sure one in the house would be an abomipation. He was confirmed in this belief the first night their phone was in commission by being awakened from a sound sleep by the dangling of the bell and being asked by an Impatient inquirer: .r Say, are you the undertaken" vi The morning after the phone was in- stalled Mrs. Admington started to put 1t to most practical use. that of ordering things for dinner from the market. She was thinking how pleasant 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 vexed to hear a mans voice and discover that the line was busy.
 "I'n 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 few moments. Her next try at the phone found the line still busy. Mors Huntington was tempt ed for a second to listen, but didn't think that would be quite fair. so again she hung up the receiver and sat down to wait till the line should be disengaged. She fidgeted in little chair for min- ute 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 de- cid ed young woman:
 Well. I don't care. I'm going to marry him, anyway"
 Mrs. Huntington knew that she ought to drop that receiver, but she couldn't let go. It was glued to her ear. And. anyway. the next instant she heard the voice of the man she had heard twice be- fore. and he had been monopolizing that wire long enough.
 But how long did you say you have known 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 ! pretty short acquaintance to marry on?" urged the man.
 "It would be in most cases. admitted the young woman. but with us it's diff ferent. He's awfully nice. and he likes ! me. and like him. and he doesn't want ; to wait. He doesn't believe in long en- agreements. and neither do T."
 well. you're simpleton." was Mrs. Adnington's mental comment. as she shifted from one foot tn the other and moved a 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 married conveniently on a days notice. If he likes yol so much. 1 should think he ] would give you a chance to get few I clothes toeether-a trousseau. you know. Won't he give you month or six i weeks for that7"
 | No was the answer Hes going away within a month. and he wants to be married SO can go with him"
 "Isnt he coming baehz
 "Tes. he's coming back, but he doesn't
 want to wait till then"
 Well if he likes you so much don'' you think that's little unreasonable7'
 suggested the man.
 "Urreasenable,- thought Mrs Ad
 mington- The fellows a perfect pig
 But the young woman at the otheI
 end of the wire evidently had diff
 ferent opinion