The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-15
WITS AND WIRELESS
BY NJ. ]. PHILLIPS

BY NJ. J. PHILLIPS.
Copyright. 1910, by Associated Literary Press)
I am going to marry Nellie Armstrong;" ANNOUNCE
ed Harry Leclair.
He looked just as his name sounds: he hand
some with a very distinguished profile, large dark
eyes ana a well set UP figure. But his fingers were
cites He dressed gracefully. devoting considerable
I'M Q MS e~iothes-principally because he did moth
Are you - aneried Paul schmttz, quietly and UNI
capable hands, rough clothing and h.gh-laced boots
indicated considerable familiarity with hard work
Leclair, being a consummate egoist with no sense
NJ nI he loo hsSer r, knew sern he was being laughed al. and
man VINO was striding along beside him was very
grave.
Well. no" confessed Leciair. satisfied with his
scrutiny But I'm going to ask her-maybe to-
settle down. I'm Twenty-Five; it's time for me to be
se.tihs a nome or my own. And Nellie is the girl
~, You'll live with your mother, same as ever, I take
AGAIN Ieciair shot him a d%istrustful glance. "Ye-es,
4 suppose So he admitted. reluctantly "Motherd be
IN mat pig house all alone Or else
1oud live with your wifes folks" finished Schmitz.
That question can be easily settled after we're
schmitz always had exasperated him. They had
grown up together and the "square-head," as he had
privately termed Schmitz, refused to treat him with
Difference. schmitz would not be dazzled by the fact
that his old playmate was the village Beau Brummel
sehmitz he was still a worthless. lazy youngster. con-
tent to drift along, living on his mothers slender
ASpAaCE
ANYWAY, | thought I'd let you know" Leclair said.
with the slightest possible accent on the personal pro-
iy so-in Nellie Armstrong. But In the calm sure
ness OF better looks and more pelished manners he
rival.
And yet his heart misgave him when he turned In
at MS own gate. How embarrassing his position
would be had he overestimated his destinations. Or
suppose schmitz. warned by his foolish boastfulne.s.
were to propose first!
You told Paul you were going to ask Nellie to
marry you" ," echoed his mother. ~fretfuliy, as they sat
uOWn TO supper. she had once been handsounp hmt
bitter discomfort had marred her features. why.
Harry, l think you'd have better sense You know
no" friendly they've been ever since the three of you
were children
But 1T was only friendliness," urged the youth. "Hs
hasn't been near her home for a week"
He's always talking with her over the wireless"
retorted the mother, her fretfulness increasing. First
he built that machine in his own house; then he
rugged one up for Fred Armstrong. and taught him
how to work it. Next. of course. Nellie learned. 1t.
They talk with it every evening. You'll let that girl
and all her money slip through your fingers. as you've
Jet every other chance slip you lazy good-for-noth-
Hush" commanded her son. with a srown. Let
them talk over the wireless. I'll end all that. To-
night he'll be a mile away, and IN be there, beside
her. Do you see?"
He spoke SO confidently that Mrs. Leclair unwiu-
trgy- was Modified,
deai OF care But he hurried as much as possible.
Tor he mad been impressed in spite Of himself by
he left his own home and turned toward the Arm
he decided. When he passed the engineers home,
the fellow was sitting on the porch, enjoying an even
~" q NNhA "NP'h@ SA NhS Aa"h " IA
other pole on the highest point of the house the wire-
less antennae were strung. II he hopes to gain any
advantage over me with that rigging" thought Le-
clair, triumphant and contemptuous, he's badly fool
ed. he dawdled comfortably along the way. When
the wireless rigging at the Armstrong place came In
sight he smiled almost pttyingIy,
Nellie is in the wireless room" said Mrs. ARM
strong when Leclair inquired for her.
He knew the way to it and passed into the house.
up another stairway TO the attic.
The pig room, cut into queer sloping angles by
attractive apartment. Especially was 1t attractive
when graced by the presence OF Nellie Armstrong.
She was standing, a slender. girlish figure In white.
at the wireless instrument which took up one end
OF the atie; The receiving apparatus was strapped
a message that she seemed not TO notice Lecairs
Presently she reached forward and began opening
the key. Obedient to the trained, pressure. the big
spark leaped back and forth between the poles. snap
ping and cracking as 1t did SO.
The reply was brief. When 1t was finished, the
girl, with a gesture tndescribably joyous and light
hearted. removed the receiver and turned to Leclair.
The young man had never seen her more beautiful.
tune to her mood. Her cheeks were flushed. her lips
parted with a smile. and her eyes shone like stars
Leclairs brain swan with an intoxicating sense OF
victory. The proposal which he had secretly feared
easy.
oh. Harry" she said. giving his hands a little
friend. so you shall be the first TO know"
Leciair's brain steadied suddenly as though he had
heart sank forebodingly. He looked at her searching
ly. What is it," he managed to ask at last, with
The girl had noticed that a change had come into
his manner. but she was too engrossed In what the
wireless had told to see its true signihcance. Her
head dropped shyly, and the color In her cheeks
deepened.
Paul has asked me to marry him" she said soft
" And l told him yes, Wasn't it clever OF him to-
clair turned away, What; Paul is coming right
over"
II can't" said Leclair, lfelessIy. II just stopped
in for a minute to say goodby. I'm leaving town to-
morrow"
Supposed Exposition Booster Abuses, People of the
East.
San Francisco must have Eastern support to win
the Federal recognition that will decide which city
will hold the real Panama worlds exposition. in 1918.
The South will naturally side with New Orleans, and
If San Franciso's rival should, with the aid Of capi-
talists of the Gulf States. raise the $1,000, 900 guar
anty fund demanded by Congress, the votes OF East
ern Senators and Representatives would decide the
battle. That is as plain as one, two, three, and vet
a San Francisco newspaper goes out OF Its way to