The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-11-18
HIS telephone
SWEETHEART
Hy cAR ..lr GRAHAM

versation when ste tested to see
whether some ore in one OF the
booths was still taxing.
Naturally, too. she became interest
ed In the young man no always call.
ed one address uptown
| His first name was FRI ( that much
| she knew, and she knew 70 that he
worked in the big office ling In
which she operated the publ station
/ switchboard
Most offices had their own wires
and the work was light, so graf ally
! she began to take especial interest
| in Frank and his calls Her avn
lonely little life contained no romance,
and she entered heart and soul INTO
| this strangers love affair.
Every day on his way in from lur 4
and again in the evening he called "
Dearest 1t was the only name ~,
ever used, and Edna wished that sol
| time some one would talk to !
like that. whether 1t was over the
wire or face TO face.
She hoped 1t might be some one
like Frank, with laughing, brown
eyes and a kindly smile that seemed
perpetual, and her hungry heart took
to itself the tender message shel
heard over the wire when she delib
erately cut in.
She had some share of his visits /
for he had always pleasant smile5
and a good afternoon for her, butt
she wanted more She used to whis- !
per very softly her own answers to,
his tender messages and she was gen
timely distressed when, some months
later, the messages were discontinued
She still looked for his pleasant
greeting as he passed her desk. and
wondered that he should take his dis
appointment so well. She sometimes
planned to call up the old number and
pretend that it was a mistaken call
Just to see if the girl was still
there.
Then there were other times when
she was selfishly glad that the calls
had stopped, for she was jealous Of
his telephone sweetheart and now oc.
casionally he stopped for word of
chat with her.
Then, one afternoon there came the
call. She recognized the voice instant
ly and her generous spirit rose supe-
rior to her selfish jealousy, and with
out thinking she laughed into the re-
ceiver.
I'm so glad you're back" she
cried then the voice at the other
end recalled her to her duty. For
the first time she knew his last name.
and the caller asked that Mr. Frank
Howard be sent for, and gave the
number of his room.
Presently he came down in the ele-
yator, his face beaming with glad
ness, and Edna fought down desire
to listen, She wanted to know that
he had won back his telephone sweet
heart, and yet she could not bear to
learn the fact.
Howard came out of the booth with
an odd look on his face. There was
no one there beside the girl and he
leaned against the desk.
What did you mean by saying
that you were glad?" he demanded. GU
riously. Edna's face grew red
did you say that?" she asked
Howard nodded.
"She wanted to know what you
were glad about She thought at first
she had the wrong number"
y was glad that she had come
back" explained the girl. Somehow
those brown eyes compelled the truth.
You didn't call her for so long l
knew that you had quarreled and
was glad that you were going to be
happy again"
Been seeming a romance?" he said
with a smile She's been my sweet
heart ever since I was old enough to
love anysne She's been out of town.
Just got back. and wanted to tell
me"
"I'll bet you're glad II was not
brilliant remark but it was the
best Edna could do. Howard smiled.
Il bet am" he agreed. You see.
don't go home until late and she's
all alone, so I call her up to cheer
her"
Then you're married?" asked Edna
IN dismay. Howard shook his head
That's hy mother" he said. with
a laugh. She's the best sweetheart
man ever had. want YOU to meet
her some time The night law class
comes to an end next week and after
that want 10 take you up TO see
her
"Me7 What for?'
i've been telling her a lot about
you. explained Howard. she said
before she wet away that she want
ed TO meet yC~ when she came back.
and I told her that would try and
get you to come up VIII you
Gomez"
Sure" said Edna. feeling her con
versational limitations. but too starr.
led To give expression 10 hes feelings.
Il can tell from her voice that shes
an awfully nice person. You learn
to tell voices when you hear so many
of them over the wire
I'm glad you Ike her shid How.
ard simply. for want YOU TO like