Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-22
"Is he at home?"

a-a frien t- In the throf
 ping quiet of he
 "Is he dt homcf room she hear the fingers of the prying rain busy a her windows, the ticking of the sma French clock, very dull, very far ava or was it her heart?
 "Who is it?'
 Her voice left her for an instan, Her dry lips made no answer,
 "Who is it?' he repeated in hi steady, pleasant voice.
 Tt is l."
 There was absolute silence. so lon that it frighteA~ llore sht could speak again his voice was sound ing in her ears, patient, unconviuced:
 'I don't recognize your voice. Who am speaking to-"
 Sylvia"
 There was no response, and she spoke again:
 T only wanted to say good morning It is afternoon now. Is it too late to say good morning"
 No. I'm badly rattled. Is 1t you Sylvia?"
 Indeed it is. am in my own room I-I thought
 Yes; am listening"
 q don't know what I did think. Is 1t necessary for me to telephone you a minute account of the mental proc esses which ended by my calling you up out of the vasty deepT
 The old ring in her voice, limiting of the laughing undertone, the same trail. ing sweetness of infiection-could he doubt his senses any longer?
 "I know you now" he said.
 q should think you might. should very much like to know how you are if you don't mind saying"
 Thank you. seem to be all right Are you all right, SylviaT'
 "Shamefully and outrageously well. What season too! Everybody else is in rags-makeup rags! Isn't that dis agreeable remark? But I'll come to the paint brush, too, of course. We all do. Doesn't anybody ever see you any moreT"
 She heard him laugh to himself un- pleasantly-then, Docs anybody want to?"
 Everybody, of course! You know it. You always were spoiled to death." "Yes-to death."
 stephen"
 "Yes?"
 Are you becoming cynical"
 "I? Why should IT"
 You are! Stop 1t. Mercy on us! If that Is what Is going on in a certain house on lower Fifth avenue. facing the corner of certain streets, it's time somebody dropped in to-
 "To-what?"
 "To the rescuei I've a mind to do 1t myself. They say you are not we'll. either"
 "Who says thatg'
 "Oh, the usual little ornithological rather, cantatrice. Don't ask me, because I won't tell you. always tell you too much anyway. Don't Ir
 Do your "of course I do. Everybody spells you, and so do l." "Yes-T am rather in that way,  "what wayf" "Oh-spoIled." "Stephen!" "Yesf" And in a lower voice. "Please don't l Iay such thlngs-will youT" "No." Especially to me" Especially to you. No. I won't. l Sylvia" [ And. after a hesitation. she continu- ! d sweetly: "I wonder what you were doing. all . Hone in thst old house of yours. when called you upf"
 '11 Let me see. Oh. I was superin- ending some packing" Are you going of somewhereT' q think SO"
 "wherer' "I don't know. Sylvia T decline to be snubbed. I'm shame ess. and I wish to be informed. Please ell me-
 ~I'd rather not tell you ~very well Goodby! But don't ring fl just yet. Stephen. Do you think aat some time you would care to see Hy peopIe-I mean when you begin to Q out againT- ~who. for exampleT- ''why. snytcdy-7 "No. l don't think l should care to. m rather tcO busy to zo about. even ! were inclIned to- ~Are you really b1sy. StsphenT- ~Nes-waitiug That is the verT ardest sort of occupstso7- and rm alired to be oa hand sveTT Ufrute- -Bgt you said that you were going 2 It 0f town -DSd If Vel. I did not say 1t exact- !. bzt an r7lzE tO leave tov1- Fer ug lsngT sbe Rsked