The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1908-09-03
A PARTY WIRE
MIDDLE.

1nOSe VINO use party wire tele-
phone need to exercise caution.
The party wire In certain location
took in four families, the Alstons, the
Hammonds, the Winstons and the
Chapins. 1t SO happened that all were
acquaintance and the first three
friends. The Alstons and the Win
stons were especially intimate. In
deed, Mabel Aston was engaged to
Herbert Winston. The Chapins and
the Hammonds were cousins. There
was also a growing intimacy between
Mrs. Chaplin and Mrs. Hammond.
One day Mrs. Aston wished to speak
with Mrs. Winston. Hello, central!'
she said. "Give me 372O Il"
"Your letter. please?"
"My letter is L."
| There was a good deal of buZZing
| and bur-r-r-ing, accompanied by airy
voices, then suddenly a well defined
woman's: II am Mrs. Winston. Who
are your"
ooh! Is that you, Clara Chaplin?
I'm Dora Hammond. I've been trying
to get you for some time. These party
wires are perfect nuisance. Yester-
day had to wait half an hour while
somebody was giving instructions to
her dressmaker."
Mrs. Alston's sense Of honor led her
to drop the receiver; but, recognizing
herself in this somebody" her sense
OF honor was not strong enough to
bear the strain. She listened.
| no otJ,a
ing to have our telephone taken out
It's singular how little regard some
people have for other peoples rights
what l called you up for was to
inquire II there Is any truth in the
report of the breaking of the engage
ment between Mabel Aston and Her
bert Winston"
II haven't heard such report"
Haven't your Everybody is talk
ing about it."
II always considered Herbert toe
good for her. She's nice enough little
body, but no style about her. Herbert
is one Of the best dancers ever saw
; mabel is very plain"
, Herbert is handsome as a picture
J What do they say Is the cause of the
} break?"
"Herbert's attentions to his cousin, {
5 Miss Meriweather."
, "You don't mean 1t! I've met her
) She's very pretty and stylish. You
9 see, she wears the right kind Of cor
set. No woman can have figure II
e the present fashion without modern
t corset. That's the trouble with Mabe
Aston; she wears some kind Of
e waist"
t "And studies Greek. Ha, ha! Jus
n think of it!'
e That's the folly of sending girls t
S college. 1t takes away oil desire TO
Il social advancement"
Y "By the bye, have you decided how
{, have your new pink silk made up?"
n "Only as to the neck, which is to b
II cut square"
Mrs. Aston listened for forty mil
d utes while the dialogue proceeded. BIT
J. since it was wardrobe discussion SD
l. became tired and dropped the receive
It She repeated the dialogue she ha
st heard pertaining to the broken engage
D. ment to her daughter. who assured he
a that there was no foundation for 1t, {
the same time gently Gliding her fe
f. eaves6ropping.
The next day Mrs. Aston. with
Or light in her eye and cold look abo1
Or her mouth. stepped to the telephor
7e and called up Mrs. Chaplin.
st as that you, Clara? I'm Dora.
De want to tell you that I've made inqu
is ries about the breaking Of the engag
I'd ment of Mabel Aston and Herbe
re Winston. 1t isn't broken at all"
Ill "You don't mean It! How did ye
ul find out?'
II went straight to Mabel's mother
err Ibid you tell her who told your
III Eyes. l had to. She said if didr
TO she'd never forgive me. It's very u
or fortunate She told me that the ne
ri time you met her you needn't troub
Mt yourself to speak to her, for she hs
en- no further use for your acquaintance
It "Dear me! Upon my
|ts Mrs. Chaplin heard no more, for the
No was click, and she was cut off. TIT
hit Mrs. Aston called up Mrs. Harmon
N. "Is that you, Dora? I've called y
av up to say that l was mistaken abo
lis that breaking of the engagement
of tween Mabel Aston and Herbert WI
nd ston."
"Yes"
II may as we'll confess that I ma
as 1t all up out Of whole CLOTH"
ne "For lands sake!'
oh "Afterward became conscien
ng stricken and went to Mrs. Aston a
told her what l had done; also Of o
conversation about it. She promised
forgive me II I'd tell her what y
- said. SO told her.