The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-10-24
GERALDINE'S REPLY
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

I'll have to, suppose. Is 1t Arthur
Wright
mo? Really II sounds like hi
volce-the way you jerked out tina
of course not sounded exactly like
him. too.
"Then-let me see--is 1t Fred Oak
ley7 Yes, I'm sure It's Fred-he prom
ised to call me up II he heard where
Jim's ship was. That's nice of you
Fred, and do tell me about dear jim
I've been so anxious about him. Real
~, I've dreamed about him for
What?
"Not Fred. Then who In the world
are you?
"Dlck--Dick Llppincott? Why the
idea never thought Of II being you.
Why didn't you say so in the first
placer
Thought I'd know! The very idea
AS though could tell anyone's voice
over the telephone!
Told me you'd call me up7 Well, I
can't remember that long.
"What? Why, Dick Lippincott.
didn't know you could use such lam
guage. II you're not careful, you'll
have your telephone taken out. That's
what ID says in the book--no profane
language.
"Well, I'd like to know what 1t is,
then, IL It isn't swearing.
'Yes, think you'd better beg my
pardon.
"I-know what you called me up for7
How should know? Say, is this going
to be another guessing affair? II it is,
I'm going to hang up. Besides, I'm
busy-awful busy.
Sewing!
"M-hm. Mending my dress that
got torn on the rose bush last night
when we were taking a walk. I want
to wear 1t to the Aliens tonight. 1t
got torn fearfully, the ribbons off the
net ruffie for whole yard, and have
to sew it by hand.
'.What do want to wear 1t for?
ooh, because. What do you want to
know for? Can't l wear it again IL /
want to?
Because you said you liked it?
"Why, didn't remember Did you
say you liked it7 Well, told you be-
fore can't remember things so long.
"What Is it? You think it's long
time. too, only for different reason,
Don't I remember anything you
said last night? Why. let me see. Wait
just minute. I'm thinking. Yes, you
said Betty Harlowe looked like wood |
nymph in that gauzy white dress she
had on, and that Laura Seaton was
the wittiest person you'd ever known
Don't say thunder 1t sounds al |
most like swearing over the phone.
mo, I can't remember anything else
you said.
"You don't believe it?"
Here the receiver went up with
bang, but Geraldine wisely waited on
the stool. In an instant the bell jim
gled furiously. She watched the phone
curiously for a full minute, smiling
over each ring. Then she took down
the receiver calmly.
"Hello!" she said, In a far-away de-
tached voice.
Eyes, this is Geraldine" she went
on coldly.
mot through I can't conceive why
you should wish to talk to me when
you don't believe anything say.
you're sorry?
0you don't sound ike n
"All right, If you're really, truly
sorry, I'll forgive you.
Something very important to sayf
1.-THE same thing you started to tell
me last night when ran away? /
II didn't run away. Someone was
falling me. had to go. /
mo, / haven't an idea, honestly. !
"Please don't have me guessing c
lgain. 1 really must get back to my a
sewing.
why. Dick Lippincott, do you know
What you're doing? You are actually
to me over the telephone. :
might hear you. I'm sure r
Mrs. Cartwright has been trying to call 7
lp her grocer for a half-hour. She's
on the line now. e
Cant wait-think I'll run away g
gain If you wait till tonight7 t.
won't give you a chances Well, g
'ou don't suppose I'm going to throw u
myself into anybody's arms, do you? u
"Oh. Dick, don't say such things :,
yer the telephone. Besides, you can't !,
ossibly think I'd say yes, do you, even q
I had mind to, with the whole town n
stening?
"No, I can't forget II, you can say O
S you like. But won't say no either, n
Or it's none of their business, is 1t, Ii
hat l say? So I'm just going to be m
eutral-and not say anything at all.
"Why. Dick, you did say all that be. D
pre-, about caring so much and flowing D
lie so long and everything. Do you o
link you need to say II so many Ia
mes? ~
"Going to say II until answeri u !,
Suppose I don't answer and leave N
lie telephone? What would you do?
Come right over?
"oh, no. you mustn't. look per-
city awful.
Then I'd better answer, you say? Il
"Oh, Dick. ] can't. with the whole
wn listening. Besides / mast have
me 10 think.
How long? Oh. fifteen minutes at IT.