The Prescott daily news., 1912-07-29
By Long
 Distance


 pride as she lifted the telephone re- ceiver from the hook.
 "Oh, just know it's Jane," she mur. mured, ecstatically, to her caller as she waited. You'll excuse me won't you? It won't take long, and we're go- ing to call each other up every single week while she's at college. You see. this Is her first week and I just know
 Yes, yes. Hello! Yes, this is Mrs. Adams. Oh, Jane, is that you. Your voice sounded just as natural. You poor child, you must be terribly lone ly!." lAside-"She's never been away before.~ -a- . - TIT, TT s s-w-7 (. r'',-.' '.
 "Oh, I'm so glad you like it!" Aside -"She's so brave")
 You're just getting settled? Haven't started your studies yet2 Don't know what you'll take? That's right, dear; be sure you're comfortable first.
 Yes, darling. I'll be glad to make 1t. Chocolate, you say? Are you sure 1t won't be crushed in the express? Oh, very we'll. Just a moment until l get a pencil and paper to put down the address.
 (Aside-"She's asking me to send her cake. They're to have a spread, and she promised to furnish the cake. Isn't that just like her, to offer to help right away? Jane is always so anx- ious to help others. You must excuse me-when I think of her away off there all alone. and no one to do things for her, 1t brings tears to my eyes! Oh, dear, where shall I find pencil and paper?")
 Here I am, Jane, dear It's so hard to find writing material in this house. There! Yes, have 1t. I'll make 1t to- night and take 1t right over to the express office. Yes, I'll make few of those rocks, too, and-all right, some ginger nuts, too. Oh, I'll put in lots of good things, to surprise you.
 "Is your bed soft, dear? Have you enough coverings? Oh, just a minute, dear, there goes the door bell (Mrs, Adams hastens to the door. returning in about five minutes)
 Hello, Jane It was your Aunt May, in the auto. She wanted to take me out. No, told her didn't want to go She said Jim Is engaged to that Smith girl. Yes, it's a shame. I'll never get over being glad that you were a girl instead of boy.
 50 you like the girls9 I'm so glad! Ones friends count for so much when ones away from home!
 Isn't 1t lovely to have the tele- phone, I've been counting, ever since you left, on talking with you! It al- most seems as if you were at home, here!
 Be careful won't you, dear, not to get your feet wet, and to wear your warm coat, if it's the least bit damp. And don't study too hard Ambition is all right, but don't overdo 1t, dear. You've got your whole life before you. What? You wish you had another party dress? Your pink is too plain? Well, I'll see if Mrs. Simmons can make another for you. Write me just how you want 1t made, and we'll have it there before the dance.
 'You want to join a sorority? All right. But be careful to get in with the incest girls, won't you? I trust you perfectly.
 Well, be good, and don't miss us too much-and write often-and call me up soon, won't you-whenever you're lonely? Goodby.
 "Why, central! It was not! The idea! Twenty minutes? Why. we talked only about three minutes. Five at the most. We'll, could help it if the doorbell rang, and l had to leave for a while? Why. I most assurediy did not have the wire when l was at the door! Very we'll, send the bill, and we shall see!" She dumped down the telephone receiver.
 "The idea! Charging for twenty minutes, when I just said hello to- Jane. I shall tell my husband! They think they can do anything they please, but he'll talk to them! Poor Jane! She's so lonely! And these selfish tel ephone people won't let me talk with