Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-11-29

one was Agnes nliler anu, uhAuS Tue
hint. offered to introduce me. l &C.
copied and was introduced
| 4 don't think l ever chuckled SO in
my life as when found myself incog-
uito chatting with the girl whom
had been saying soft things to over
the wire. made up my mind to stave
/ or the denouement as long as possible
/ Not for the world would l give her
/ any clew to my identity by the slight
I est reference TO what had passed be-
| tween us. And as to letting her know
even that I was a telegraph operator.
nothing would tempt me to risk giving
away the whole thing by doing SO.
Il danced several times with Agnes
I Miller and once with her friend FL
len Ormsby. 1 concluded to 60 slow
with Miss Miller, but I got In num-
Der Of compliments and several looks
indicating my admiration for her.
When l left her to catch my train.
which did before the dance had end
/ ed, pressed her hand and received
/ slight pressure In return.
Very soon after this l received a
shock at the return Of Sam Atkins.
/ The Spanish war was over. and Sam
| had come home In excellent health and
I handsome as ever. What disconnected
me was that In some way--I having
sent my girl his photograph-he might
1 spoil my fun. But on second thought
/ 1t occurred to me that there was no
/ likelihood OF this since she was so
! far from both OF US.
/ On my return from @. ! resumed my
| telegraphic chat with her. enjoying 1t
far more than before from having
Z made her acquaintance. 1t was very
amusing to talk with her. having seen
/ her. while was still unknown TO her
except through Sam Atkins photo
graph. She continued to complain of
the dullness of g.. so ! concluded TO
ask her TO come to town and 90 with
me to the theater. This would let
her into the secret Of my having sent
her another mans photograph. but
must LET that out some time. and there
was no especial reason for delay.
/ She accepted the invitation with
! aiacrity and appointed night. pro
4 cured a couple of seats and 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 buttonhole.
To keep up the fraud till her arrival
! asked her 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
buttoneole she stood still for a mo-
ment; then. simply remarking that we
had met before and had deceived her
about the photograph. we left the sta
ton. 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 teiegraphic correspond
ence and watching the audience come
In. Suddenly my heart stood still.
Who should enter and take the two
seats In the next row in front Of US
but Sam Atkins and Miss Miller's
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 we're endeavoring to
companion and saw her eyes fairly
dance with a mingled delight, mischief
and triumph.
l knew at once that the game l had
been playing had not only been dlscov-
cred, but had been turned against me,
Sam, you rascalw exclaimed
You're a traitor to your own sexw
My remark occasioned a burst Of
laughter from the whole party except
myself.
Come" 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 me an explana-
don: then my companion said:
Nellie Ormsby is telegraph op-
orator at the G. station and has been
your correspondent She sent you my
photograph. with my consent instead
Of her own. and, having no more con-
hdence 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 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
emit Then Mr.. Atkins returned from