The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-11-29
OVER THE WIRES.
BY FLORENCE kIMBALL RUSSELL.

BY FLONENCE kIMBALL RUSSELL.
Hello. Central No. s1S. please.
Yes"
Hello! Is Mr.. Edward Peyton In the
officer"
oh. is that you, Mr. Peyton? This
Is Miss Van de Veer-"
You knew my voice, did your"
Thanks; but kindly refrain from
such fiattering remarks before your
clerks"
"Oh. you have a private Office? /
didn't know that
WHAT"
NO, l hadn't thought OF asking you
to dinner, Sir Impudence; but since you
seem to be hungry, I've several meal
tickets for the Rosemary One-Cent
Lunch Counter down in Broome street.
and II you can prove yourself deserving
charity"
CHARITY"
"C-h-a-r-i-t-y-"
mo, it doesn't spell love, Mr.. Peyton.
Your early education must have been
sadly neglected. and nothing betrays it
SO quickly as poor spelling"
Have called you up Just to quarrel,
then? Yes, and incidentally to ask il
you won't come around tonight about
half after ten for one OF my Welsh rare
| bits"
THANK you kindly. sir; you are very
complimentary; but Is rarebits are my
specially, having never failed me yet.
humility on my part would be ostenta-
| tious."
What did you say?"
THAT you can't come? Why not?"
"Oh! You're going to the theater, are
you? I'm very sorry. Some other time,
perhaps. Good-by-"
Il beg pardon?" -
you'll come up after the theater?"
But haven't asked you for II o'clock
or later; l said half after ten, and it's
not customary, I've been told, to invite
ones self or to change the hour set by
ones hostess"
AT what are you laughing?"
because | can't guess whom you
hope to take to the theater? I'm sure,
Mr. Peyton, it's matter Of utmost in
difference to me, though l suppose it's
Eyes, l said awful OF course, you
know | meant awe-inspiring-'fau
faultless Jelly regular and the rest Of
it"
NO, | didn't say 'splendicly null
You said it yourself, and moreover"
But It's not Miss Dwyer? I'm sure !
don't know who it is, then. Somebody
equally uninteresting, I'd venture"
What? You think I'd call her more
uninteresting
NO, Mr.. Peyton don't care in the
least to know about your old theater.
and as it may inconvenience you to come
SO Ter uptown after the play is over, |
shall withdraw my invitation and"
"What?"
1T isn't polite to withdraw an inyi-
tation without adequate reason? Ger
ta1nly not But l have a feason, MT
Peyton."
Pardon me? Did you asl. if I am
vexed at your going to the theater? How,
perfectly delicious. And pray. why
should care with whom you 70? |
have told you repeatedly it is a matter
of utmost Indifference to me. and
and"
But you hope l will 60 with you?
Upon my word! l suppose Miss Dryer
refused you
What's that? You never asked her?
And you meant to ask me all the time ?"
We'll. | must say. Mr.. Peyton. your
assurance is prodigious. And then you
said was uglier and stupider than that
that Dwyer girl
Eyes you did, and-and-"
mo, don't try to persuade me. You
should have asked me at the very begin
ming, and not made fun
You trapped me purposely into show
ing ill-temper. l can't go with ANYBODY
who shows such lack Of considera-
ton"
But you didn't show it."
"Of course, l don't know what you
feel"
But can't see your eyes, Mr.. Pey-
ton"
"Oh, never mind my eyes"
If I'd just see you for minute you'd
make me understand"
We'll, perhaps you can come I'D for a
little. but l won't"
1.-THE idea! Now you're going to the
other extreme. You mustn't say such
things
''Of course do"
Come to dinner this evening at
seven, and III tell you whether III go
or not"
you want to ask me another ones
tion?"
Perhaps you'd better wait rrdil din
ner for that too, since it's SO very i'm
portant-"
mo. shan't listen to you now. Mr.
Peyton. l may this evening, though.
and-come up early. In fact. you might
as we'll take flve-o' clock tea with me.
shall be all alone, and"
"Oh. don't, MIR. Peyton. some odyll
hear you"
please stop. and I'll say anything