Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-05-11

!l!l llll! had not seen his way clear
I9l@94 to have one till recently.
1t was day of joy and
triumph for the little lady when, final
ly, the instrument was fastened to the
wall over the Admington'S front stair
landing. 1t was on a circuit with other
phones and when the bell rang in one
house it rang in ten others. The Adj
mingtons, like every other 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.
1t bothered Mrs. Admington 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
Indicate there had been telephone in
every room in the Admington house for
years.
1t was different with her husband.
He didn't like telephones any too we'll
in the office. and he was sure one in
the house would be an ahomination.
He was confirmed in this belief tn"
first night their phone was in commits
sion by being awakened from a sound
sleep by the ianglng of the bell and be-
ing asked by an impatient inquirer:
"Say, are you the undcrtak"r:'
The morning after the phon" was
installed Mrs. Admington started to
put it to most practical use. that of
ordering things for dinner from th"
market. She was thinking how pleas
ant it was just to ring bell and tell
the grocer what to send.
She took down tho receiver and put
it to her ear, but was somewhat vcNcd
to hear a mans voice and discover that
the line was busy.
"rll have to wait, and I'm in such n
hurry" she poutcd but remembering
an errand in another part of the house.
she busted herself for Il few moments.
Her next try at the phone found the
line still busy. Mis-. Admington was
tempted for 4 second to listen. but
didn't think that would h2 quite fair.
so again she hung up the receiver and
sat down to wait till the limo should
be disengaged. She hdgctcd in Il little
chair for Il minute that seemed ten ana
then went to the phone again, saying
to herself:
"Those people must be through talk
ing by this time
But they were not. and rs Mrs. Adj
mington took down the receiver for
the third time to call up central she
heard the emphatic declaration of a
very decided young woman:
"Well. l don't care. I'm going TO
marry him anyway
Mrs. Admngton knew that she ought
to drop the receiver, but she couldn't
let 90. 1t was glued to her ear. And.
anyway, the next instant she heard
the voice of the man she had heard
twice before, and he had been monopo-
llzing that wire long enough.
"But how long did YOU say You have
known him." he was asking the you'll
woman.
w lls We Nil'NIl hlIll ''ll' WV
weeks" was the reply. "hut Eve seen
him an awful lot in that ;lmc.'
"Well don't you think two weeks q
pretty short acquaintance to marry
on?" urged the man.
at would be in most cases, admitted
the young woman. "bnt 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 engagements, and neither do L.
"Well, you're simplcton," was Mrs.
AdmingtOns 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 little
time to get ready: A woman can't
be married conveniently OH a days
notice. If he likes you so much |
should think he would give you a
chance to get few clothes together
a trousseau you know. Won't he give
you a month or six weeks for thaty'
mo" was the answer. Hes going
away within month, and he wants to
be married so l can go with him."
isn't he coming back"
"Yes, 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.
unreasonable" thought Mrs. Ad-
mington. "The fellows perfect pig"
But the young woman at the other
end of the wire evidently had differ
ent opinion.
81 might think he was unreasonable
If things were different" she said, but
l can get ready and don't mind if 1t
is q little sudden"