Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-05-13
A Wireless Lovemakinr.
TOriginal.1

some fad-is boys. Any boy from two
to fourteen interests her, and Frank
Kimball, aged thirteen, is her best
friend. Frank lives half mile down
the road from Hester's. Franks fad
is electrical knickknacks, of which his
little bedroom is full. You can't get
into it without ringing an electric bell.
Franks latest acquisition is one of
those new short distance wireless tele-
graphic machines. He has it rugged in
lOunging space on the top of the
house. where there are chairs, table
and wicker sofa, all under an avn
ing. He has learned to send messages
to Hester Temple, half a mile up the
road who also has machine-he put
it up for her-and she replies to them.
MY automobile will be here next
week. Father says so. It's dandy"
Frank telegraphs. what lovely rides
we shall havc!" Hester replies. 1--WE
can run away together" And get
married. Won't it be splendid?' "How
old will you be when Pm twenty-one?"
"1'll be twenty-eight." That won't be
so much difference as there is now,
will it," No. it won't be very much"
And Hester smiles at the boys inter-
est in the matter.
One fine summers day recently
Franks grownup cousin, Clarence Day.
export, an electrical engineer-science
runs in the family-came to his uncle's
to spend his two weeks vacation. In
the morning he went up on to the roof
to lounge and smoke. The first thing
that caught his eye was the wireless
machine. He went up to it and ratified
the key bit. In moment there came
message. lis that you, dear boy?'
Davenport replied that it was. II un-
derstand that your cousin has come up
from the city," "He has" us he
nlce?" mice doesn't express it; he's a
Jim dandy" "Handsome?" "a per
feet Apollysn" "Whats that?'' Il
mean Apollo "Oh" How long is
he going to stay" 1.-TWO weeks. What
makes you take SO much interest in
him." Don't be jealous. dear; l won't
desert you for any one else" There
was a pause. Clarence, who wondered
as to the age Of Franks sweetheart,
asked. "What's your birthday" "Why
do you ask?' I've got present for
you" "NeXt December" How old?"
''Twenty do you know what
I'm going to do?' "What?" Pm go
ing to marry you before that next birth
day" II it had been telephone in
stead Of telegraph Clarence Daven-
port would have heard merry laugh.
What he did hear was, every well: I'm
agreeable" ''Is it promise" Ger
tain, sure" ''See that you don't go
back on it."
Frank" said Clarence a little later,
show would you like to go to the city
and spend week or so with your
aunt?"
"And go to the shows and such
things?'
eyes"
I'D like it bully"
The next day Frank was sent to
town. Before leaving he tried to say
goodby to Hester. but there was a
connection in his machine missing. and
he failed After he had gone Clarence
called up Hester and conversed with
! her for an hour. PersOnating Frank.
he told her that his Cousin Clarence
was regular crackerjack. Clarence
| was going to take him to the city and
show him all the sights. Hester told
! her correspondent to be sure not to
go without saying goodby. whereupon
Clarence asked her if she would give
him a parting kiss. Hester replied that
she never kissed boys after they were
thirteen. and he being thirteen and
half she must decline. But he pleaded
hard. and she promised to give him
| just little bit Of a one.
Every morning for ten days Clarence
called up his correspondent. She ask
ed him why he never came over to see
her, and he always had good excuse.
Finally he told her he was about to go
to town with Cousin Clarence and
| would go over the next afternoon to
claim that parting kiss. At the time
| appointed after n glance at the mirror
he strolled up the road. On reaching
the Temple home he sent up his card
to Hester. She came down somewhat
surprised at seeing him instead Of
Frank He said that he had intended
to give himself the pleasure of calling
before. but had been resting.
"And where is Frank?" she asked.
Prank went to the city nearly two
weeks ago"
'YOu must be mistaken. He has
been talking with me by wireless every
| day"
I'm sure he has not been at home
| for ten days"
The lady looked puzzled.
POSSIBLY" said Clarence, you may
have friend in the spirit world or in
the flesh who has been talking to YOU"
Hester looked half frightened and
blushed.
Have you promised him anything?"
Hester blushed some more.
"A kiss?''
She Redeemed like rose.
ITO marry him?''
Her face grew positively scarlet
Heaven grant that you have not a
ghost lover who has been talking to
you through the ethereal blue and who
| will carry you off to spirit land"
Suddenly an idea came to her. Her
eyes snapped ominously. Then she
| turned, Juno-like, and swept out Of the
| room.
There is sequel to this story which
would require far more time to tell. 1t