The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1907-02-05
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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
ly' Il have thought that | disIiked
people who play practical jokes and
now / know it is even worse. They
arouse a deadly hatred in mel"
You talk like cheap melo-
drama" remarked the girl with the
angelic eyes.
'Melodrama nothing!" remarked
the gil with the cabbage rose. 'It's
tragedy, nothing less! l suppose
Bert Randall thought he was iusti-
ned because l had been boasting that
was too sharp to be taken in by
any ordinary sell-and then he never
ala like the minister anyway! If
only l could lay my hands on him
a minute to find out"
I've often wondered which of the
two you liked the better" inter
rupted the girl with the angelic ewes.
Did the joke help you to find out?"
Don't be silly" said the girl with
the cabbage rose.
Il was called to the telepbone ves-
terday," she went on, land Curt
voice announced that the speaker was
newspaper reporter who desired to
verify a notice his paper had received
TO the effect that my engagement to
the Rev. Mr.. Fairman was lust an
nounced. 1 nearly choked i'm NV
hurry to assure him there must be a
mistake, that it wasn't so at all. and
Tor goodness 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.
/ broke in to explain that It
wasn't premature and then he broke
In to inquire in an injured voice why
IL 1t was so l objected to the publica-
zion. Then 1 had to explain in de-
tail that it wasn't premature because
IL wasn't SO at all and wasn't going
to be 50.
He said that sometimes one could
not tell and that he really could not
understand why such notice came
In II there wasn't some truth in II
30 there we stood and quarreled
ABOUT It, / was getting madden and
madden at the universe in general
at the reporter for his persistence. at
the Rev Mr.. Fairman for ever exist
ing on the same earth with me and
most OF all, at whoever had sent In
such dreadful announcement
Just when / was almost crying
there was a break in the even. polite
tone at the other end of the wire and
ike a flash 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 your" I asked.
with historical calm. But he wouldn't
give In. lie said he really couldn't
understand me. So I said neither
could / understand him. Then
hung up the receiver.
i wanted to cry and I wanted 10
iaugh-because It was so cleverlv
done Don't you think Bert is dread
fully bright?"
"Oh, horribly" cheerfulIy agreed
the girl with the angelic eyes.
Well. In a couple OF hours the
e"D"e Adhb again ana this ttmC the
voice announced calmly that the
speaker was the Rev. Mr.. Fairman
and he wished to inquire about some
thing rather odd Just hared at
out at that I thought Bert was
going rather too far I knew IL was
Bert because Mr. Fairman never
called me up on the phone but once
I'm his life and thet time # was about
the bazaar
/ determined to give Bert a little
excitement. so i answered fin a sweet.
smooth voice and said ] supposed it
was In regard 60 our engagement i
asked III he knew the papers we're to
print the announcement The next day.
Bert played his part to perfection.
He seemed politely troubled and MUIR
INJURED that he bad not been aware
of the fact called him dearest and
rallied him about his forgelfulness
That confused him SO ne couidu't say
g word Then piled it on.