Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-10-09

the initials &c. NJ"
Maude looked very pretty and be-
witching as she handed her massage
through the operators window
Il want this sent to Philadelphia,
please, and Immediately re-telegraph-
ed to this address," and she gave the
address of George May, care of Mrs.
NJ. Leighton, ia Paxton Street."
While the operator was reading the
telegram, Maude said, by way of ex-
PLANTATION:
ut is only little ioke-just for
sport. What is the charger
After she had paid for the duplicat-
ed telegram, she walked out of the
office. feeling that, without commit
ting any serious sin, she had quite
effectually prevented any intercourse
between Sydney Elvinly and George
May.
"Of course she'll think the dispatch
is from her brother, this Cal whom
she talks so much about, and she'll
rush off home posthaste. Once there
a hundred miles away, Miss Georgia
WIN tStuih w liulsu ILS WISH " NILS.
leighton, while well, the sun will
shine, and will make my hay. will
win Sydney ElvinlN!"
And she went leisurely on home,
quite content with her contemplate
! little game.
Several hours later, the telegram
from Philadelphia came to George,
alarming her, as kilograms have
trick of doing, and in this special in
stance adding to itself by its vague.
ness and terseness.
81 do wonder what can be the mat
ter? It's from Cal, of course, and
something terrible must have hap
pened, or they would never have sent
for me. Oh, dear! you don't suppose
anything can be the matter with
mammal"
The sweet, quivering lips were very
piteous in their appeal to Mrs. Leigh
ton. and Mr.. Elvinly, who had been.
there when the message came, felt
how blessed pleasure it would be to
take the girl to his heart and try to
comfort her.
you can't go before tomorrow
morning, at any rate, George; SO be
patient, and hope for the best"
But it is such long, long time to
be in suspense-to be wondering and
fearing! Mr.. Elvinly, don't you think
might telegraph to know what is the
matter?"
Mr.. Elvinly sprang to his feet at
once.
Certainly, Miss George. There is
no need for you to be in state of
suspense all night and until you reach
home tomorrow. l will run down to
an Office where an especial friend Of
mine is operator, and he'll send a
message and insist on speedy an
swer. Give me your brothers address,
please
!. And he took It from her eager,
trembling lips.
Gall Calvin May, 1217 Grad.
dock street, Philadelphia I'll be
back as soon as possible"
| He saw the thankful look in her
1 lovely, wistful eyes as he took her
cold little hand. r
ut may be only trivial matter,
after all, George. At any rate, fret
ting won't help it."
1 He had never called her George"
before; nor had he ever pressed her
hand SO warmly, and even amid the
| fear that was numbing her heart she
4 thought. with a great thrill of happi-
,tness, how. splendid he was. i55', g..
/ And Mr.. Blvinly rushed off down to
the very office where, few hours be-
fore, Maude Trevelyan had written
and had dispatched her sham mes
sage.
4 The same young fellow sat there,
reading an evening paper, when Ell
vinly dashed in.
"Heigho, Brace! Busy? Wires clear
for this?"
He penciled his words on the blank,
and thrust it in the window"
That's all right, sgd. I'll go right
on. Funny, isn't it? The last message
! I sent was duplicate telegram, sign
ed C. M and was addressed to a
person whose name is the same as
that you have signed here-'Georgie
May 1t was addressed in care of
Mrs. NJ. Leighton
"a telegram from here, signed C.
NJ and photographed back to Miss
George May! Who sent it,"
ut, was Miss Trevelyan who sent
it, to be photographed back from
Philadelphia here sent the dispatch
down. Didn't the young lady get it?"
Mr.. Elyinly was looking at his
friend while he spoke, with quiet,
stern expression on his face. He was
surprised, somewhat bewildered, and
indignant at the poor joke he began
to understand had been played on
George May. He remembered her
piteous, wistful face, her eyes bright
with tears, her sweet, pleading voice;
and he grew almost desperately angry
with Maude Trevelyan.
"A thousand thanks for your kind
ness, Frank. You have explained
away trouble, and frightened things
considerably in general. l won't send
my telegram. Goodnight, old fellow!"
When he returned to Miss Leigh.
toms parlor, George was there alone,
waiting in nervous eagerness for the
news from home. She sprang to
meet him, all her heart in her eyes.
"oh, Mr.. Elvinly! Please tell me at
once-please tell me! No matter what
it is, want to know"
He linked his arm in hers, and led
her to chair.
There has been mistake, George,
There has come no telegram for you
from your family. Everything is all
right with them. Everything will be
all right with me, my darling, If you
will only tell me you can love me!
George, little girl, have 1 surprised
you? Had you no idea / meant to try
to win you for my own little wife?
George, will you be my wife. darl-
ing?"
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