The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-12-20
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| IHISLITTLE JOKE |
Il 4. -

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The girl with the hat that had a
huge cabbage rose on it permitted a
frown to gather on her brow. "Al-
ways" she said, slowly and distinct
y, Il have thought that I disliked
people who play practical jokes and
now I know it is even worse. They
arouse deadly hatred in met"
You talk like a cheap melo-
DRAMA" remarked the girl with the
angelic eyes.
"Melodrama nothing!" remarked
the gill with the cabbage rose. ITS
a tragedy, nothing less! suppose
Bert Randall thought he was justi-
fed because I had been boasting that
I was too sharp to be taken in by
any ordinary sell-aad then ne never
did Ike the minister anyway! If
only I could lay my hands on him
q E;nute to find c"t-"
q "I've often wondered which of the
two you liked the BETTER inter-
rupted the girl with the angelic eyes.
''Did the joke help you to find out?"
Don't be silly!" said the girl with
the cabbage rose.
II was called to the telephone yes
terday," she went on, "and curt
voice announced that the speaker was
newspaper reporter who desired to
verify notice his paper had received
to the effect that my engagement to
the Rev. Mr.. Fairman was just an
nounced. / nearly choked in my
hurry to assure him there must be a
mistake, that it wasn't SO at all, and
for godness' sake not to print any
such dreadful thing. He was very
nice and said if the announcement
was premature the paper had no de-
Sire to print it,.
Il broke in to explain that it
wasn't premature and then he broke
in to inquire in an injured voice why
If it was so I objected to the publica-
ton. Then I had to explain in de-
tail that it wasn't premature because
it wasn't so at all and wasn't going
to be so.
s He said that sometimes one could
not tell and that he really could not
understand why such notice came
. In if there wasn't some truth in it..
So there we stood and quarreled
about it, I was getting naadder and
madder at the universe in general
at the reporter for his persistence, at
the Rev. Mr.. Fairran for ever exist
ing on the same earth with me and.
most of all, at whoever had sent in
such a dreadful announcement!
Just when ! was almost crying
there was a break in the even, polite
tone at the other end of the wire and
like fash Of lightning it burst upon
me that no one but Bert Randall had
that particular little quaver when he
was trying not to laugh.
You think you're mighty clever
Bert Randall, don't you?" asked
with hysterical calm. But he wouldn'i
give in. He said he really couldn''
understand me. So I said neither
could l understand him. Then
hung up the receiver.
Il wanted to cry and I wanted tc
laugh-because it was so cieverlJ
done. Don't You think Bert is dread
fully bright?"
"Oh, horribly" cheeriully agreed
the girl with the angelic eyes.
Well, in coupe OF. hours the
phone rang again and this time the
voice announced calml.' that thu
speaker was the Rev. Mr.. Fairma1
and ne wished to inquire about some
thing rather odd. l just fiared a
out at that. I thought Bert wa
going rather too far. knew it wa
Bert because Mr.. Fairman neve
called me up on the phone but onc'
in his life and thst time it was abou
the bazaar.
Il determined to give Bert a littl
excitement, so 1 answered in sweet
smooth voice and said l supposed
was in regard to our engagement.
asked il he knew the papers were t
print the announcement the next day
Bert played his part TO perfection
He seemed politely troubled and mul
INJURED that he had not been awar
of the fact. ] called him dearest an
rallied him about his focgetfu!nes:
That confused him so he couldn't sa
q word. Then l piled it on.