The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-09-29
From Lucille S
Diary


Mothers sman and perfectly unnec-
essary household economies annoy me
dreadfully at times.
said to her n day recently that
wished she would have our nickel
telephone taken out and replaced by
the unlimited service.
AS you nearly always use my nick.
DIS" laughed mother. Il don't see why
you should care which kind of tele.
phone we have. Seriously. dear. I
think that If even a little money can
be saved by using the nickel phone
We ought to do 1t cheerfully."
n 1t was useless to argue the
matter with mother any further at
that time. but l did not give up the
idea OF securing the unlimited service.
rarely abandon any plan on which
my mind Is set, for I think persistence
ls n of the important elements of
strength of character.
That evening just after dinner
Betty called me up and asked me to
come over and play cards.
"IFhope you haven't any engage.
ment," she said. for Bob has brought
= friend home to dinner tonight and
we would like to have a little bridge"
When got to Betty's / was sorry
| had taken the trouble to change my
dress. Her invitation was very mis-.
leading. had naturally supposed
that when Betty said Bob had brought
. friend home she meant a man friend,
and l a greatly surprised to be In
troduced to a plainly gowned and
quite ~uninteresting looking woman.
Miss Clyde went to school with Bob
years ago and now she teaches in q
western college," whispered Betty
while was removing my wraps. "She
Is very bright and charming"
Really" I murmured.
AS we Joined Bob and his old friend
In the drawing room l noticed the
telephone in the hall.
"Oh. l 9 you have the unlimited
service now!" l exclaimed. I'm try
Ing to persuade mother to have it put
In at our house,"
What's the use7" asked Uncle Bob,
good-naturedly. whenever you feel
an excess of telephone enthusiasm
coming on. drop in here and help
yourself to our phone"
That's awfully sweet of you, Uncle
Bob" I replied. II believe I'll avail
myself of your generosity now while
Betty Is getting out her cards and the
bridge table,"
slipped into the hall and rung up
MI. Owen, who has been Ill for a few
days. He appeared to enjoy a chat and
we visited for quite a while. Then 1
remembered that l had promised to
pass the evening at Louise Erwin's
house. SO l phoned her my apologies
for not going. There were several
others to whom l wished to speak and
[ was in the midst of q conversation
with Arthur Knight when Betty called
ne.
Just a moment. DEAR" l answered,
considerably. ignoring her petulant
tone.
Nov, you are surely through" Bet
ty said. coming into the hall a few
minutes later. "Bob's tuning for our
BRIDGE"
Poor Uncle Bob!" I laughed. He'll
have to be patient a little longer. for
I'm waiting for a long-distanee call"
Betty left me without another word,
and In a minute more I was listening
to the voice of Wisner Lee, whom I
had been lucky enough to catch at the
hotel In Cleveland where he is Just
low. I told him about the new tennis
club that some of cur crowd are or.
sanizing and I asked his advice about
the kind of racket I should buy. Wis
ner Is such a devoted tennis player
that he forgets all about time when
be is discussing his favorte game. As
be was SO thoughtful about the racket.
begging the privilege of choosing the
one for me. I had not the heart to
break of the conversation.
1t was rudely interrupted by Uncle
Bob, who asked me with uncalled-for
sharpness If I was going to talk to
hat chap all night"
"Of course not" I said. what time
8 it?"
ITS exactly 10:45 O'clock"
Mercy! l must go home at oncel"
exclaimed.
why, we havn't had any bridge"
protested Betty. 'and I was going to
make a Welsh rarebit, Lucille"
Well. I'll stay for a wee bite of the
'arebit." I. conceded. "Then I must
iy. You know how mother dislikes
having me remain out late"
Uncle Bob was extremely taciturn
all the way home. In fact, 80 short
and gruff were his remarks that I was
sorry l had bothered to go to his
house. l have not seen him since that
evening. but yesterday he told mother
that q large bill had come in for long.
distance telephoning which he thought
would want to pay out Of my allow.
M When mother spoke to me
about it I said that I was simply AZ.
tonished at Uncle Bob.
Why. he invited me to use bis
phone any time" I told her.
But he didn't expect you to talk to
Cleveland for over an hour" said
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