The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-03


staid young woman whom I found
rather hard 10 talk to. l asked her
who was the girl she was with when
was introduced to her, and she said
she was Agnes Miller and, taking the
hint offered to introduce me. ac-
cepted and was introduced
don't think / ever chuckled 30 In
my life as when l found myself ineog
nito chatting with the girl whom |
had been saying soft things TO over
the wire. made up my mind 10 stave
of the denouement as long as possible.
Not for the world would give her
any clew to my identity by the slight
est reference to what had passed be-
tween U.s. And as TO letting her know
even that l WAS telegraph operator.
nothing would tempt me to risk giving
away the whole thing by doing 30.
/ ! danced several times with Agnes
| Miller and once with her friend e.
len Ormsby. concluded TO go slow
! With Miss Miller, but / got In a num-
Der of compliments and several looks
indicating my admiration for her
When l left her to catch my train.
which I did before the dance had end
cd, pressed Der hand and received q
slight pressure In return.
Very soon after this ! received a
shock at the return of Sam Atkins
The Spanish war was over, and Sam
had come home In excellent health and
handsome as ever. What disconnected
me was that In some way-I having
sent my girl his Photographic might
spoil my fun. But on second thought
1t occurred 20 me that there was no
likelihood of this since she was so
far from both of us.
On my return from G. resumed my
tesegraphic chat with Der. enjoying it
far more than before from having
made her acquaintance. 1t was very
amusing 10 talk with her, hav wing seen
her, while | was still unknown to her
except through Sam Atkins photo
graph. She continued TO complain OF
the dullness Of g., so I concluded TO
ask her 10 come to town and go with
her into the secret of my having sent
her another mans photograph. bat
must let that out some time, and there
was no especial reason for delay
|. She accepted the Invitation with
aIacrity and appointed night. pro
cured a couple of seats aud wrote her
that ! would meet her at the station
and take her from there TO the thea.
ter: she would know me by bit Of
orange ribbon worn in my buttonbole.
To keep up the fraud till Der arrival
asked Der TO carry a few violets in
her left hand
When Miss Miller alighted from the
train and saw me- whom she had met
before. with the orange ribbon in my
buttonhole she stood still for a mo-
ment; then, simply remarking that we
had met before and had deceived her J
about the photograph, we left the sta
tion. and. since 1t was summer even /
Ing and an hour must elapse before /
the play would begin. we walked TO a
park or central square and sat down
on one of the benches. She then re-
proved me mildly for sending her the
wrong photograph, but said she didn't
mind that since she had made my
acquaintance at G.
When we entered the theater and
took our seats but few people had
arrived. We enjoyed ourselves chat.
ting about our telegraphic correspond
enee and watching the audience come
In Suddenly my heart stood still.
M ClN nj col 81
seats In the next row in front of us
but Sam Atkins and Miss MIXERS
friend, whom l had met at G., Ellen
Ormsby.
The expression on their faces was
TO say the least, peculiar. Smiles
were struggling to assert themselves
which the three were endea voring TO
suppress. | cast hasty glance at my
companion and saw her eyes fairly
dance with a mingled delight, mischief
and triumph
knew at once that the game had
been playing had not only been discov-
eyed, but had been turned against me
sam, you rascalw | exclaimed
You're a traitor to your own sexr
My remark occasioned burst OF
laughter from the whole party except |
myself.
Come" l said. explain the matter"
At this moment the orchestra struck /
up the overture, and in ten minutes
more the curtain rose. My tormentors
forced me to wait till the end of the
first act before giving De an expIana-
tion then my companion said:
Nellie Ormsby is a telegraph OPP
orator at the G. station and has been
your correspondent She sent you my
photograph, with my consent instead
of her own, and. having 10 more con-
adence In you in such matter than
herself, did not believe the likeness
you sent her was your own. She went (
to NJ, taking the photograph with her,
and a mutual friend of hers and Mr.. |
Atkins there told her that 1t was his |
picture Before leaving town she saw
you at work at your instrument and
knew that you were her correspond
ent Then Mr.. Atkins returned from
the war. She went again to NJ, made
his acquaintance and told him the
secret
Meanwhile you had gone TO g., and
the moment you entered the ballroom
Nellie recognized you. She saw your
attention fiyed on me and introduced
you Your enjoyment In the part you
were playing gave US double what was