The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1905-04-15

in one house il rang in ten others. Inc
Admingtons. like every family on the
line. had a certain number OF rings LOT
their own particular call, but II TOOK
them some time to get over being
startled when any other number was
sounded.
II bothered Mrs. Arlington less than
other members Of the family, and II
gave her pleasure to talk about ring
ing up" her friends, which she did with
an accustomed air that seemed to in
dictate there had been a telephone In
every room in the Arlington house Tor
years.
II was different with her husband. He
didn't like telephones any too well IN
the Office. and he was sure one in the
house would be an abomination. He
was confirmed in this belief the first
night their phone was in commission
by being awakened from sound sleep
by the jangling of the bell and being
asked by an impatient inquirer:
Say. are you the undertaken"
The morning after the phone YVES in
stalled Mrs. Admington started to put
It to most practical use, that of ordering
things for dinner from the market. She
was thinking how pleasant it was just
to ring a 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.
"I1l have to wait, and I'm in such a
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. Admington 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 a 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-
cided young woman:
''Well, don't care. I'm going to
marry him, anyway"
Mrs. Admington knew that she ought
tn drop that receiver, but she couldn't
| let go. 1t 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 4
pretty short Acquaintance to marry on?"
urged the man.
1T 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 wan.
| to wait. He doesn't believe in long en-
gagements, and neither do l."
| well. 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 married
conveniently on days notice. If he
likes you so much. l should think he
| would give you chance to get few
| clothes together-a trousseau, you
| know. Won't he give you month or six
| weeks for that?'
no" was the answer. Hes going
away within month, and he wants to
be married SO can go with him."
| isn't he coming back?"
| Eyes. he's coming back; but he doesn't
want to wait till then"
| "Well. If he likes you so much don't
you think that's little unreasonable"
suggested the man.