The Democratic advocate., 1909-07-23
By Wireless Telephone

The old apple tree was one SOFT
cloud of pink; but the tramp who
rushed across the orchard and clutch
ed and clawed his way SO frantically
up among its beautiful blossoms out
of the way of the teeth of the W1ry
little fox terrier who raced so madly
after him never stopped to comment
on it's loveliness.
AS he climbed something glltter1ng
fell from his rags to the short young
grass; but the tramp didn't see it, and
when Bobs, tired of barking, ran OF
to the other side of the orchard to
dig for wood chucks, the tramp drop
ped down on the other side OF the
tree and silently stole away. When
he was safe out of sight and hearing
of Bobs, he searched anxiously among
his rags, and when he found that the
glittering thing was gone he swore-
Mysie Woodford sat on the wide
plaza, crying as if her heart would
break. When she went to make the
biscuits for dinner, she had laid her
diamond ring that her old Aunt Jane
had left to her on the pantry window
sill, and when she went to look for 1t,
it was not there. AS she raised her
head to wipe the tears away she saw
a nice young man standing at the
gate looking at her. He raised his
hat and asked leave to rest for
while on the piazza. She brought out
a chair for him, stopping on the way
to bathe her tear-stained face with
icy well water, and seating herself
gazed at him with frank amaZement
,e.+a amt hn
carried in his hand up to his ear and
began to talk, as if he were answering
someone who was at the other end of
a telephone wire.
"Yesi" he said briskly. Its a good
bit over a mile. They said it was a
mile at the last farmhouse" He turn
ed to Mysie. How far is it from here
to the postoffice?" he asked.
"A mile and quarter said Mysie.
The nice young man resumed his con-
versation with the little instrument.
"She says it's mile and quarter,
he said. Yes! She! Yes! I'm resting
on her piazza" Then his face flushed.
"Aw, quit your kidding" he said an
grily and put down the receiver. Then
in answer to Mysie's frank look OF
wonder It's wireless telephone"
he 0XDIdlu0u. MY IllC 1uNCh
tor. We're trying experiments to see
how far it will carry. He is in the
posto6ice" Mysie looked her utter
and disbelief so frankly
that he added: Wouldn't you like to
try it yourself?"
"Yes!" said Mysie promptly. "If it
really is telephone, I'd like to tell
the constable to be on the look
out for tramp who went by here to-
ward the village just before dinner.
He must have stolen my ring. l left
it on the pantry window while l mixed
the biscuits for dinner, and when l
looked for it it was gone"
Have you looked everywhere for
it?" asked the nice young man, SYM
pathetically, adding hesitatingly.
Was it-had it-any particular
value?"
Mysie blushed-she was only II.
MY Aunt Jane left it to me when
she died two years ago." she said
with dignity. The nice young man
looked abashed but relieved.
"Oh!" he said. Then he added
quickly. II thought-it might
be-
In spite of herself Mysie giggled.
mo! 1t isn't an engagement ring"
she said.
The nice young man looked his de-
light. To tell the truth, the first sight
Of that tear-stained face and those
yellow curls had wiled his young heart
quite away from him. Now he decided
that he had fighting chance, any
way.
Are you sure you've looked every
where?" he. asked again.
Mysie nodded.
Every where l can think Of" she
said Cant you think of some place
to look?" she added abstractedly.
Then she dropped the little instru-
ment as if it had bitten her and looked
up at him queerly.
What is it? What's the matter?"
ne asked anXiously.
"Why-why-tha thing said
when I asked if you couldn't think
Of some place to look-that thing said.
Just as plain: In the shade of the
Did apple tree"
ooh, that's nothing" he said. That's
only some of Jim's funny business.
That's the name of an old song, you
know"
But Mysie didn't hear him. She had
jumped up and was just in the act of
running down the steps.
Where are you going?" he cried.
Down to the old apple tree" she
said. 81 heard Bobs barking like mad
1own there this afternoon. Perhaps
hat tramp was there. Anyway, I'm
going to look" she added decisively,
as the nice young man tried to say
to prevent her. So he fol-
owed her meekly.
ItsWas quite a while before the nice
young man caught sight of the ring
and cleaning among the
short grass. He hesitated about pick
ing it up just then-they were having
such a delightful time. But at last
he did. Mysie put out her hand for
it with a cry of delight.
Let me put it on for you," said. the
nice young man. And when, blushing
and dimpling, Mysie put out her hand
be said very softly, but very decid-
edly:
I'm going to put the mate to that
on your finger just as soon as we've
put our wireless phone on the mar
ket."
And Mysie didn't say mo" She
just blushed pink-a pink as beautiful
as the blossoms on the old apple tree.
Josephine Bruorton.
Health i'm Hot Weather.
Fresh air is a cure for disease, be-
cause it purifes the blood and forti-
fiaS tbn system AGAINST tho attacks