Lower coast gazette., 1913-08-30

we'll, Miss Chloe says-takes no inter-
est in their new plans, and won't eat.
And that makes them all the gladder
about giving up the exchange, espe-
cially as they're going on with their
teaching and sewing just the same.
"And, MOTHER" Rachel continued,
81 already understand how to man.
age the switchboard, from helping
when they were sick over there, and
Miss Chloe says that a week or two
more. or practice will put me in good
trim. And after a while, l can be-
gin to say and save"
A family conference took place at
supper, and finally the great question
was settled in the affirmative. Mrs.
Mccoy would assist Rachel in the
work, and foufteen-year-old Linda
might prove a great help. Ashton
was ten miles from the railroad, and
although most of it's citizens and the
residents in the neighborhood owned
telephones, the exchange was not a
large one, and the three McCoys were
confident that they should succeed
with it. The future musician was
on fire with happy expectation.
The next day, ensconced in the big
front room at the Deane house, which
for fifteen years had sheltered the
local exchange, she began her train
ing. While she sat that morning
busily responding to calls it seemed
as if Ashton were suddenly all one
tongue; and from the next room old
| Mrs. Deane's monotonous arguing
with her elder daughter flowed or
like a vexing undercurrent. Into the
girls mind came. a vision Of the little
old woman perched at this same win
| dow, bent crookedly before the board
throughout the changing seasons.
Then the picture faded, and her abb
sorbing task went on, growing stead
lily easier and smoother, becoming
more truly her own as she mastered
it.
Miss Chloe thrust her head in at
the door. Rachel" she said, mas
Fostering me, with a dozen things to
tell you. Don't let Mary Watkins
talk to young Mrs. Green more than
ten minutes; she'll hold the line all
night if you don't cut her off. And
when Jasper Wright's house calls up
his store, ring long and hard, because
his children are forever falling into
wells and things, and he has to be
sent for in a hurry. And the Benson
number has changed lately; and
| Mercy, ma, isn't that all? She says,
| charge those Graham children, to
hang up their receiver, else it'll dan
gle all night and leak electricity"
She drew her head back like a turtle.
"The idea," remarked Miss Lydia,
"of her lying there fretting over the
telephone, when she's freed for once
from Shaving over it."
Miss Lydia was the younger Of the
Deane sisters, and had always re-
sented the presence of the exchange
in her home. While her sister sur
rendered it rather from a sense Of
duty, Miss Lydia felt that she was
bidding glad good-by to a loquacious
intruder.
Rachel was quiet at supper that
evening, and answered the questions
of her family so. absently that her
younger brother, Jimmie, commented
f~acetiously on the fact. Rachel re-
torted, and then the. little pricking
worry slipped away, and she was jolly
herself. again.
Miss Chloe came in the next day
to help in case there should be any
hitch. Johns in yonder trying to
make mother laugh with his jokes"
she observed, as a bass voice doomed
cheerily from the next room. ""The
doctor looks puzzled; but the fact is,
she's worn out with that switchboard.
And we never could have got her
away from it without Johns help"
"She used't to seem so well, always"
Rachel ventured.
eyes" replied Miss Chloe, "but this
reaction simply shows that she
That second day, the work was
troublesome. A thunderstorm had
interfered with the current, and the
seemed to twist and snarl with
every call. In the afternoon Miss
Chloe went downtown, and the clam
orous subscribers appeared to be tax
ing advantage of her absence to con-
fuse the young operator. Rachel was
repeating "Numebr?" in weary ere.
scendo, when she heard the wheels Of
Mrs. Deane's rolling-chair. A mo-
ment later the invalid was Deside her.
"Such goings on" complained a
~querulous old voice that never had
been very cross before. "Child,
you've put every call through crooked
for the past hour. It takes me to
mend the lightning's mischief; it
takes me-" She raised herself to her
feet by Rachers shoulder, and stood
peering down at her. The sharp
tones softened, wheedling.
Honey, let me get there a minute;
there's no reason why ! shouldn't.
Quick, before the girls come back!"
Not without .misgivings, Rachel
yielded. She helped the old lady gen
tly into the chair, arranged cushions
and brought a footstool. Mrs. Deane
went swiftly to work. The pathetic
droop left her figure; in the waning
light her face was as eager as a
child's.
"That you, Allie Burns? Scots
drugstore's busy now. How's little
Benjie's arm? Too bad. Well, rub
it we'll with the liniment I'm going to
send down; now do as ! tell you. Mrs.
| Wetherbridge, Charlie and MAJ
passed here, running, uptown, ten
minutes ago; heard 'en under my
window. You can head 'em off at the
courthouse. Listen, tell the Wares
their black heifer has strayed off; !
see her making for Denman's pasture.
No. The doctors gone down to Rlv-
erside, won't be back for an hour.
| NV mvi Emily. nut the baby in