The Ordway new era., 1911-10-20
His Telephone
Sweetheart

heip over HeaflHS SnatcneS OF cOnVef-
sation when she tested to see whether
some one In one of the booths was
still talking. Naturally, too, she be-
came interested in the young man who
always called one address uptown.
His first name was Frank. that
much shc knew, and she knew also
that he worked in the big Office build.
Ing in which she operated the public
station switchboard. Most Offices had
their own wires and the work was
light. 20 gradually she began to take
esn rial interest in Frank and his
calls.
Her own lonely little life contained
no romance and she entered heart
and sOul into this Stranger'S love af.
fair. Every day on his way In from
Il nch and agrin in the evening he
caltd up dearest" 1t WAS the only
re he ever used, and Edna wish d
THAI sometime some one might talk
to her like that. whether 1t was over
III" wire or face TO face. She hor"'
II might he some one like Frank, with
lHurnirg, brown eyes and kindly
81 i. thnt seemed perpetual. and her
hurEry heart took to itself the tender
n age she heard over the wire,
wi. II he deliberately cut in
%h" had some share of his visi's
ro' h" had always pleasant smi'r
and "gucd Afternoon" for her. bu'
suC wanted more. She used TO. whis'
per very softly her own answers tC
hi tender messages and she was
g"'rurrIv distressed when. some
Il Hh$ later. the messages were dis
"ourinucd. She stl!l looked for his
~ --ant greeting as he passed her
!,.h and wondered that he shon'd
ale his disOrrontmcnt so well. She
, H."ti'ncs Planned to call up the old
nU.rhcr and pretend that 1t was a mis-.
taken call Just to see II the girl was
still there.
Then there were other times when
II" WAS scliish'y glad that the call.
had stopped. FOR she was jealous o!
his telephone sweetheart and now oc
cnsionnlly he stopped for word OF
chat with her. Then. one afternoon
there came the call. She recognized
tn" voice Instantly and her generous
spirit rose superior to her selfish jcal
Dusy and without thinking she laughed
into the receiver.
I'm so glad you're back" she cried
then the voice Mt the other end re.
called her to her duty. For the first
tines he knew his last name. for the
caller asked that MIR. Frank Howard
be sent for and gave the number oi
his room.
Presently he came down In the ele-
vator, his face beaming with gladness,
and Edna fought down desire to
listen. SShc wanted to know that he
had won back his telephone sweet
heart and yet she could not bear &c
learn tho fact.
Howard came out Of the booth with
an odd look uron his face. There
was no one there beside the girl and
he leaned against the desk.
"What did you mean by saying that
YOU wer. glad?" h" demanded curl
ously Edna's face grew red.
did she say that?" she asked
Howard nodded.
"Shc wanted to know what you
were glad about. She thought at first
she had the wrong number"
81 was glad that she had come
back" explained the girl. Somehow
those brown eyes compelled tho truth
"You didn't call her for so long !
knew that you had Guarrclcd and !
was glad that you were going to be
happy again"
"Pccn seeming n romance" he saiH
with n srIlc shes been my sweet
heart ever sine" I was old enough to
'ove anyone. She's been out OF town.
Just got back and wanted to tell
me-
"In he, yon'rc glad" 1t was not n
brilliant remark. hut II was the best
Edna could do. Howard smiled.
81 bet am." h" agreed. You soc
I don't go home unit! late and she's
all alone, so call her UP to cheer
her"
"rhcn You're married." asked Edna
in dismay. Howard shook his head
That's my mother" he said with n
laugh, shes the best sweetheart n
man ever had. | want you to meet
her some time. The night law class
comes to an end next week and after
that I want To- take you up to see
her"
"Mc? What for" Edna's eyes
grew large.
i've been telling her lot about
YOU" exp'nincd Howard. SHE said
before she went away that she want
ed to meet you when sh" cam" back |
and I told her that | would try and |
get you to come up. VIII you Gomez" I
Sure" said Edna. feeling her con.
versational limitations. but too |
clarified IN rive CSpTCgSion TO hCr fCcl. /
ings. 81 can tell from her voice that
she's an awfuly nice person. You |
learn to tell voices when you hear SO |
many of them over the wire"
II am glad you lik" her" said How.