The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-06-11
WHAT EDITH HEARD
Conversation Over the Wire That
Had Its Effect on
-Four Lives.

please Iy again nave ali hppOiHt
ment to call this party at $50, and !
am sure he will answer near this
time The operators voice gave q
hurried assent. then silence.
Edith Harrington leaned wearily
against the side OF the booth. Suppose
he should fail her now? But what was
the use OF getting such foolish Ideas
IN her head? She was tired, over
wrought; TOO much night work had
made her pessimistic After all, the
thing had gone too far, and she really
and truly cared-she realized this now
with ell the force Of her nature
Suddenly name spoken in a trem-
ulous girlish voice In the next booth
arrested her attention. II was such an
unusual name, and the manner in
which 1t was spoken, so familiar, al
most caressing-what did II betoken?
"Laddis. is that you? Don't you think
you can make it In time to get home
tomorrow? There was pause, during
which Edith sensed, although she
could not hear, the reply that was be-
Ing made. Then came the trembling
voice again
Edith Harrington felt her breath
coming In quick. short gasps, A sud
den heat seemed 10 enyelop her with
sitting embrace. Involuntarily, she
tried to push open the heavy door Oh
the booth to relieve the oppression,
but 1t slipped from her nerveless hand
as she heard the tones continue.
But surely, Laddis. they viii let
you of tomorrow II 10 three weeks
since have ssen you, Mother has
been III, and | have been tied down
with Jamie until the last day or two,
and | thought we could have a little
outing together tomorrow. No, am
not trying to detail all the worries Of
the household Oh. Laddis, don't you
want 20 &Dmeg"
The last few words we're almost
tragic in the depth of feeling they be-
trayed.
Edith could divine the answer, for
she heard the receiver hung up and
muffied hysterical sob follow Shortly
after. she heard the door OF the booth
open, and looking up, saw a slender.
girlish figure. heavily yeiled, pass
quickly, as though anxious to reach
the fresh air For one wild moment
she let her sympathies rush out TO this
unknown woman. whose heart was eyi-
IDENTITY full to the breaking point;
fought the temptation to follow the
forlorn fellow-sufferer in an endeavor
to give what aid she could. Ihen q
sudden revulsion OF feeling surged
through her as she thought OF
the man. Could it be possible Sud
denly crowding into her mind came
tiny bits of convicting evidence.
A sudden, sharp ringing Of the phone
bell started her In trSmor OF agita-
ton. she grasped the receiver In her
hand.
Hello, Edith. 10 that youg Awfully
sorry to keep you waiting. but have
had an unusual rush OF business TINS
evening have not thought OF getting
away vet You are coming down on
the first train in the morning, aren't
you. DEAR
Edith listened to his almost incoher-
ant outpouring without comment A
sudden nausea had swept over her at
the sound OF hia voice that deadened
every other sense for the time being.
Al length. she regained q certain
amount or composure and tried TO an
swer him. bur the words she most
wanted 10 say would not come.
What's the matter. Edith? Soar
voice doesn't sound natural. You're
NOT sick. are you. dear? Tell me ! VIII
see Won tomorrow must see you.
What has come over you, Edith Ills
voice bore q note OF real alarm
Edith made another brave efiort to
control herself. but the note Of real
suffering was there as she replied:
~only that bitterness has come over
me I.addis. which, | suppose, every
ona feels when faith has been de
struyed in one in whom she lad 70 pai
perfect trust ! accidentally overheard
your wife's conversation little while
ago. as she Occupied the next booth
and perhaps ii is not necessary foE
me to say anything further. Good-oy
For few moments the man at me
other end OF the line gave vent 70 ms
feelings in strong phrases but shan
had been sent By Edith Harrington
that had gone home and which was
destined to work for good In the
mans nature,
The next morning an unexpected
telegram frightened : dropping wife
10 the point Of transformation. and
sent her flying down on happy wings
OF expectancy with her tvo-yeAr-olc
boy TO meet husband whom she
scarcely recognized. 50 tender vas his
rnanuer toward her ant genuine -
toy with the child BUFFALO Express