Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1906-08-22
TELEPHONE
ROMANCE
By AMY DUPREE
Copyright, 1901, by 7. @. Mcclure

Ssaessssass;s'sas;ss;asisss
1.-TWO hundred thirty -four ] don't an
swer," said central ringing off, but be-
fore she could lean back for an in.
stant's breathing spell 7l9 NJ called her
up again.
+ Central, why can't get my house?'
"Tm sure don't know" she answer.
ed, with suspicion Of laughter in her
voice.
'I'll bet those COMPOUNDED servants
are gossiping down in the basement
Ring 'em again, and ring 'em like
thunder"
Central obeyed his orders energetical-
ly, but without results.
81 can't get any answer" she SAID
gently to the irate man at the other
end of the line, "but I'll try them again
in few minutes, and If get an an
swer I'll call you up. No, won't for
get" she said, almost before the man
had uttered his warning. II know you
call the house every morning from your
uffice."
Thank you," said the man, much
modified "Those servants are so care
less, and my niece, who looks after the
children, is confined to her room by
illness"
Circlevilles telephone system was
not very complicated. The three girls
ytyhn x1r0ciInI In, ha Hoo
not kept occupied as in a larger city
because this was a new institution in
the pretty inland city and subscribers
were not coming in fast enough to sat
isfy the telephone company. Only one
Of the girls hailed from Circleville.
The other two were from Chicago, and
it was Margaret Baxter, one of the
Chicago girls, who had answered Mr..
Dickson's imperative calls.
For the next few minutes she was
kept busy plugging in and out on her
board. But all the time a queer little
smile lowered about her lips and
light almost tender shone in her eyes.
1T would be very funny" she said
to herself, IF II should all be straight
ened out by telephone, and would
not be at all surprised if that is just
what Jack hoped for" Then she turn.
ed suddenly and rang up 234 j.
A rather thick voice with a distinct
brogue answered this call with sui
len Hello" Margaret's face turned
grave and firm lines showed about her
mouth.
why has no one answered the tele-
phones" she said rather sternly. II
have been ringing you on and off for
fifteen minutes"
Sure I've somethin' to do beside
runnin' up them stairs to answer this
bell It's wonder woman can't eat
her breakfast in peace"
Margaret connected 234 with 719
NJ, signing softly to herself, poor
Charley and his. babies at the mercy
of that woman"
ed her attention. There were reasons
why she felt she had a right to listen.
Hello, Mary, is this your"
Yes, sir"
''How is Master Reginald2"
Fine, SIR
What did he eat for his breakfastT
"a peach, bowl of rice and milk
and five cakes"
Now, Mary, I've told you repeated
" not to let him have hot cakes"
Then, sir, you'll have to stay at
home and keep him from it. It's q
cook / am and no nurse"
well, WELL" said the man anxious
iy, as one who realized he was in a
predicament and needed the good will
Of every one. I'm sure while Miss
Ellen is sick you will look after the
children, and 1 will not forget it when
pay you next week."
This bit OF diplomacy ELECTED no
reply from the other end of the wire.
Has Miss Bessie gone to schoolY
"She has not. Sure the strings of
her hood and one of her rubbers is
lost entirely, and I told her she'd best
stay home till her Aunt Ellen could
get about"
Dear DEAR" said the man, and a
prodigious sigh seemed to choke hts
utterance
lis that all, sir?' said the woman
impatiently.
II guess So" he replied reluctantly
and hung up his receiver.
At her end of the wire the woman
slammed up the receiver with crash
which made central flush just a bit
angrily. Clump, clump, clump, she
went down the basement stairway to
meet look of inquiry on the face Of
her husband, gardener and man of all
work for Henry Dickson, president Of
the Excelsior Hardware company.
"Sure, it's the same old thing" she
said snappishly as she tossed the soap
into the dish pan. "Frettin' his soul
out about those two children. It's no
place for me and you, Tim. Either the
old man or the young un ought to
marry. What with church and par
thies and a fly be night nature into the
bargain. Miss Ellen's no good at all, at
all. When she's in the house she's In
bed, and when she's not In bed she's
out of the house."
Tim shook his head and marched out
to the stable, and Mary turned to face
a shrinking little figure in the door
way.
'I want to sit behind the stove, Mary.
Thero'a no fire I'm the library and I'm