The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-09-11
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TWAS BY TELEPHONE
BY cLARlssA MAcKIE.

Dick Fellowes' arrival or the sharp
whirr of the telephone that might de-
fer his coming.
Something he had whispered last
evening had limited at his errand, and
she was aglow with her honest love
for him; and charming in her favorite
pale blue gown with pink rose at her
waist.
The telephone bell whirred and she
heard Biddy's light step as she went
through the hall to answer it. Then
she heard the girls musical Irish
voice.
You? What-never Mick Doolan,
| not If l never married all my days!"
and Biddy slammed up the receiver
and Lydia heard her heels clicking
oward the kitchen.
A little smile crinkled the corners of
Lydia's red lips She had heard from
Biddy of the opportunities of Micky
Doolan who was wild to marry the
Ford's pretty maid. Biddy was quite
fascinated by Andre, the chauffeur
Who fiirted outrageously with her, and
poor Micky who was elevator start
er in big Office building had been
| relegated to the background.
But Lydia soon ceased to think of
| 3iddy and her love affairs. 1t was a
oleasanter pastime to dream about her
own. But where was Dick Fellowes
with his story, now?
At ten O'Clock Lydia went softly up
| stairs and sat with an open book be-
ore her which she did not read. Her
eyes were more often fixed on the bed
| side telephone.
THAT is all over" said Lydia tragic
ully as she snapped out her electric
| light and crept into bed That she cried
| herself to sleep no one knew but her
self
Up in Biddy's chamber under the
mansard roof, another girl was weep
| ng into her pillow. The cook had told
3iddy that Andre was keeping steady
company" with French manicurist.
Yes, old Dicky went to Canada on
hat hunting trip he talked about" bab-
oled Willie Blair in Lydia's pretty pink
| ear the very next evening.
Went today?" asked Lydia with a
dizzy look in her brown eyes.
"Yes-grouchy as bear. too. Flem-
ng said Dicks girl had given him the
mitten-you know he was some sweet
on little Alma Raymond"
mo, | didn't know it," answered
poor Lydia with a pitiful attempt at a
smile.
YES" went on the gentle gossip
amiably. 81 put two and two together
and the sum | make Is that poor old
Dick has been put out of the game,
and that explains his sudden depar-
ture."
"How could he leave business at
this timer" asked Lydia indifferently.
| Prescott is taking his place-isn't
this our dancer" and Mr. Blair changed
the topic as they circled the ball room
in time to the dreamy music of the
palm screened orchestra
When Lydia reached home that
night Biddy let her into the house and
followed her upstairs to her pretty bed
| room. Lydia sank down in a soft
chair and extended one little slippered
| foot.
"Oh, Biddy, am so tired" she said
with little catch in her voice.
"Im sorry, Miss Lydia. Shall bathe
| them? I'll have the basin ready in a
moment" Presently Lydia was COM
Portable in dressing gown with her
pink feet in Biddy's capable hands.
Biddy rubbed vigorously while Lydia
sat there with closed eyes thinking of
what Willie Blair had said about Dick
Fellowes and Alma Raymond.
1t couldn't be true, she told herself.
not after what Dick had whispered to
| her the night before last A muffled
sob startled her and she opened her
| eyes to see Biddy's hot tears falling
on her feet.
why. Biddy, what is the matter?
Are you in trouble?" asked Lydia SYM
pathetically
Biddy wiped away the tears and lift
| ed her Redeemed eyes. Excuse me,
Miss Lydia, didn't ought to break
| down before you but" her voice
quavered into silence.
| Dut Whdl, oiuuy dohOu Lyuid Scu-
| tly.
Biddy drew a long sigh.
Men is deceivers. ma'am." she
sobbed.
81 am sorry you have found them
so," faltered Lydia, startled at this
voicing of her own troubled thoughts.
yes, ma'am."
1T isn't Micky Doolan?"
Partly, ma'am."
"And-Andre, Biddy?"
Biddy's face went into her hands,
Redeemed and rough with honest toll.
Her shoulders shook with her deep
sobs. TITS him mostly, Miss Lydia,
begging your pardon for telling you
my troubles. and you that tired after
your dancing all night-but there's no
body but c-c-c-cook to tell. and she
warned me against him!"
Tell me all about 1t, Biddy."
There amt no more to tell, ma am
Andre was married this afternoon to q
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