The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1915-09-02
Brought to a
Decision
BY LOUISE B. CUMMINGS

ferent persons Is by signal. For in
stance, Amos fuckers call will be two
short rings. the Widow Fowler's long
and short call. and so on, like the
Morse Geographic alphabet.
But those owning telephones are apt
to listen not only to their own but
to their neighbors' calls. If the An
dersons are called there is number
of clicks all along the line.
Now, it happened that Enoch Daw-
son. living in region supplied by the
Farmers Telephone company, took up
the receiver and called one of his two
best girls, Edna Perkins, whose signal
was a short, a long and Il short ring.
1t happened that all at the Perkins
farm were out milking or attending to
some other farm duty, but Sarah Short,
the other Of Enochs best girls, heard
the ring and went to the telephone.
rs that you, Edna"
Miss Short recognized Enochs voice.
Yes" she replied. What is 1t.
Enoch?'
"Oh, nothing much. l just called
you up to have little chin-chin. We
lost calf this mornin'-the brindle
one
You don't mean it! What was the
| matter?"
Don't know. Tux sick and died.
Say, Ed, how would you like to go
out with me Sunday afternoon in my
buggy? | just had it painted
Il dunno. But | reckon Sallie Short
wouldn't like to have you take me out
If she should see me she might git
mad"
THAT doesn't make any difference
to me. Let her git mad eff she likes.
Reckon | kin stand it."
Where would | come in? Sal Short |
when she gifts riled is terrible. She'd |
go round tellin' everybody that l butt |
ed in between you and her and tux |
you away from her. No, stree, don't |
do anything undetermined. If you want |
me to go ridin with you regular It's a
CO. but don't intend to keep company |
with a Teller as can't decide between |
two gals. Goodby."
There was a click, and Enoch was
left talking to nothing; at least nobody |
answered him.
1t so happened that Edna Perkins
came in while this dialogue was in |
progress and. thinking to call up Enoch,
took up the receiver. Hearing his
voice she said nothing, but listened,
hearing the principal part of the fore
going dialogue and recognizing, which
Enoch did not her rivals voice. When
the conversation ceased Edna hung up
the receiver. but later called Enoch.
We'll who is it?'' he asked.
I'm Sallie. What you goin' to do
Sunday afternoon, Enoch? Can't you
come round about 4 o'clock and stay
to supper"
Il don't think | can. I've got an en-
"Ohl'
Yes, I'll be occupied all the after
noon"
''Somepin goin' on between you and
Edna Perkins, | reckon"
''Well, yes. l dunno. l asked her to
90 out for ride with me, but | dun
40 if she's goin' to accept or not"
HIN! Well, you may as well I'M
now as any time that If you [
want to keep company with Edna and ,
ne both at the same time you can't
10 it. You've got to stick to one or
he other of us. You can accept my
invitation for Sunday or let 1t alone,
whichever you choose, but if you take
edna Perkins to drive on that day you :
leedn't trouble yourself to come to see
ne any more"
There was click, and once more
Snoch was left to talk TO nobody. But !.
lie heard a succession of giggles all
long the line and a succession of
ticks as a number of women, both a
Dung and elderly. hung up their re-
eivers. The ears of the eavesdroppers
we're much sharper than Enoch'S, and
hey knew that each Of the rivals had
aid that If he didn't give her up the II
Their would have nothing more to do h
With him. :
The next Sunday afternoon the road Il
etween the Perkinses and the Shorts n
yas lined with persons who had learn
either from eavesdropping or from
ne another that Enoch Dawson would
e forced to decide between two girls
, whom he had been paying marked
ttention. Enoch's farm was connect
i by this road with the main road
t the junction were many persons
-atching to see which way he would II
I'm on reaching the main road, wheth- "
: he would turn to Edna's or Sarah's !,
ONE. At O'Clock he was seen COM
lg in his spick and span buggy. He a.
oticed those waiting, but it did not f
,cur to him that they were interested \,
his movements When he reached y
lie main road he pulled up and looked j
rst in one direction, then in the OPP G
)site. Al
Get up." he said at last, turning his =
)rse's head toward the Perkins farm. "
He was astonished at a. shout from
e loiterers: Perkins has wonT "Bul-
for Ednar' "Short isn't long enough"
Id other such remarks. al
was evidently wrong, and Sc
colored. but drove on to the Perkins iii
rm, where he found another party In nc
aiting. They threw up their hats co
ID cheered when they saw him COM =,