The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1917-01-13
BY OSCAR cox

necessary to your purpose. The sound
Of your voice Is pleasant to the
ear"
A slight chuckle informed Mr.. Hard
ing that he had not given oirense. The
chuckle was the only reply. but 1t en-
coura ged him to so on.
I'VE are frequently called to answer
calls of $40 r. suppose 1t Is very
easy for an operator TO make mis-
take In n letter."
quite So"
Are you on party wireT
After some hesitancy the lady an
swered In the affirmative.
DO you have the same letter as IT.
MY letter is M"
"And your NUMBER"
Again the chuckle. but no other re-
ply.
beg pardon. My question was
thoughtless."
This was not true, as the girl well
knew. II he had the number and the
letter 1t would be possible for him to
learn her identity.
at wouldn't be proper for me to I've
chatting over the phone with strar-
ger" said the voice, "if he knew who
| was, but since l am unknown l sup
pose it's no harm"
How do you know that I'm not n
very disreputable person." asked Hard,
ing.
"By your voice. There is nothing
that bespeaks refinement or the want
OF 1t so surely us the infection of ones
words. defy any one not born and
brought up In the highest class to as
sumo the accent Of one of that class"
"Thank you. You are repayins me
for what | said to you with inter
est. Isn't 1t strange that l can hear
you speak as plainly us If our lips were
only an inch or two apart?"
Another chuckle
But. not being able to see you. am
Obliged TO rely on my imagination for
Il picture of you"
What do you think am likeT"
Zone of Titian's pictures-fair skin.
dark eyes and tinge of mellow sun
set in your hair
I'm not like that ut ALL"
well. then you're II brunette"
There being 10 reply, Harding asked
II lie was getting warm" us the chill
drcn say In hide and seek games. But
the lady, who was evidently guarding
herself against Identification. declined
to favor him with n reply.
81 wish you would give me some
thing by which could find out who
you are" he said.
Il am n lady"
"And. while lady may talk to a
strange man unknown, she would cease
to be Il lady II she became known. |
suppose"
Exactly"
VERY we'll there Is chance. &c.
cording to your definition Of lady. OF
your ceasing to be one"
How is that!"
III ever | meet you and you say q
word to me | shall know you by that
voice of yours, which has melody in
it | have never heard In woman's
voice before
oh my good gracious!'
"Thcrefore pray that | shall never
meet You
81 will. You're simply fattering me.
don't believe you could tell me by
my voice at ALL"
We may test that, and without your
giving me any clew to your identity
except what l have, your voice"
How"
I'll tell you my name and where
live and give you any other Information
OF myself that will enable you TO meet
me. you remaining unknown to me. BY
this You may cOntrtve meeting with
out my suspccting it. II l don't rec
ogniZe you by your voice l am much
mistaken. Is II n go?''
She did not say whether it was n
go or not but he gave her his name
and address. She asked him TO name
some persons he knew. and at his Civ
ing certain name she said he need
not 20 any further. thereby giving him
point. and he resolved to be watch
full whenever at the home of the per-
son named. Then they said "Goodby,
there were two clicks. and fate had
arranged for a wedding.
Some months later Harding was in
vited to dine at the house of friend
not the one the girl of the telephone
| had given him reason to suspect as a
mutual friend. Before going in to din
ner. hearing voice behind him. he
turned. looked girl In the face and
said:
II am pleased to renew our acIuaint.
nncc begun on the phone"
The girl bIushed to the ROOTS Of her
hair.
The wedding took place ten months
later.