Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-08-31
Wits and Wireless
CODyright. 1910. By Associated Literary Pres.
By M. J. Phillips

it. They talk with it every evening.
You'll LEI that girl and all her money
slip through your fingers, as you've
let every other chance slip. you lazy
good-for-nothing."
''Hush," commanded her son. with
a frown. Let them talk over the
wireless! I'll end all that Tonight
he'll be a mile away. and I'll be there.
beside her. Do you seer"
He spoke so confidently that Mrs.
Leclair unwillingly was mollified.
Leclair dressed himself that eve
ming with a good deal of care But
he hurried as much as possible. for he
had been impressed in spite of ain-
self by his mothers prophecy. The
SIN was just setting when he left his
own home and turned toward the
Armstrong residence.
His fears of Schmitz had been in.
vain, after all. he decided. When ne,
passed the engineers home. the fell
low was sitting on the porch. enjoy
ing an evening smoke. From a tall
fagpole on the lawn to another pole
on the highest point Of the house the
wireless antennae were strung. IF
he hopes to gain any advantage over
me with that rigging" thought Lee
clair. triumphant and contemptuous,
hes badly fooled" He dwadled
| comfortably along the way When.
the wireless rigging at the Armstrong
place came in sight. he smiled almost
pityingly.
Nellie is in the wireless ROOM"
said Mrs. Armstrong when Leclair
| inquired for her.
He knew the way to It, and passed
into the house. up the broad stairs
to the second story and thence up.
| another stairway to the attic
The big room, cut into queer
| sloping angles by the roof and lighted
| by dormer windows, was an attrac-
tive apartment. Especially was it
attractive when graced by the pres
ence of Nellie Armstrong She was
| standing, slender, girlish figure in
white, at the wireless instrument
which took up one end Of the attic
The receiving apparatus was strapped
over her fsiT hair. So intently was
she listening to a message that she
| seemed not to notice I4eclair's coming.
Presently she reached forward and
began opening the key. Obedient
! to the trained pressure, the big spark
| leaped back and forth between the
| poles, swapping and cracking as it
did so.
The reply was brief. When 1t was
| finished, the girl with a gesture in
| describably joyous and light-aearted.
removed the receiver and turned to
Leclair. The young man had never
| seen her more beautiful, and his
heart beat quickly as he started for.
ward, in tune to her mood Her
| cheeks were flushed, her lips parted
with smile. and her eyes shone like
! stars.
Unconsciously she gave him both
her hands and Leclair's brain swan
with an Intoxicating sense of victory.
! The proposal which he had secretly
feared was going to be easy. after all.
| She was making it easy.
"Oh. Harry" she said, giving his
hands little shake, I'm so happy!
And you've always been a friend. so
you shall be the first to knowi"
Leclair's brain steadied suddenlf
as though he had been drenched with
bucket of water; his bounding
heart sank forebodingly. He looked
/ at her searchingly. What is it?"
he managed to ask at last, with dry
/ lips.
The girl had noticed that a change
| had come into his manner, but she
was too engrossed in what the wire
less had told to see its true signif-
canoe. Her head dropped shyly, and
the color in her cheeks deepened.
Paul has asked me to marry him."
she said softly. "And I told him yes.
| Wasn't 1t clever of him TOTO ask by
wireless? Why. you aren't going?"
as Leclair turned away. Wait; Paul
| is coming right over"
II can't" said Leclair, lifelessly.
Il Just dropped in for minute to
say good-by. I'm leaving town tomor-
row."