The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1918-07-13
eERALDINE's REPLY
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

.No7 Really 1t sounds like his
voIce-the way you jerked out that
of course not sounded exactly like
him, too.
'Then-let me sce-is It Fred Oak.
ley7 Yes I'm sure It's Fred-he prom
Used 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 10 anxious about him. Real
ly. I've dreamed about him for
Whnt1
"Not Fred. Then who in the world
are you?
"Dick-Dick Lippincottf Why. the
Idea! never thought of 1t being you.
Why didn't you say SO In the first
place?
Thought I'd knowi The very Idea
as though could tell anyonc's voice
over the telephone!
"Told me you'd call me up7 Well.
can't remember that long.
"Whnt? Why Dick LIppincott, I
didn't know you could use such lam
guage. II you're not careful. you'll
have your telephone taken out. That's
what II says In the book-no profane
language.
swell, I'd like to know what II Is,
then, II 1t isn't swearing.
"Yes, I think you'd better beg my
pardon.
"I-know what you called me up fort
How should knowf Say. Is this going
to be another guessing AFFAIR." II 1t 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 walk. want
to wear It to the Aliens tonight. 1t
got torn fearfully. the ribbons OF the
net rufIle for whole yard, and have
to sew 1t by hand.
"what do want to wear 1t fort
"Oh. because. What do you want to
know for7 Can't l wear 1t again II !
want tor
Because you said you liked 1T
"Why, didn't remember. Did you
say you liked it, Well. I told you be-
fore can't remember things 80 long.
"what is IT. You think It's long
time too. only for different reason.
"Don't remember anything You
said last nighti 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 It sounds al.
most like swearing over the phone.
mo. can't remember anything else
you snid.
"You don't believe itf'
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
ruriously for a full minute, smiling
over each ring. Then she took down
the receiver calmly.
"Hello!" she said, in q far.away de-
tached voice.
ayes, this is Geraldine" she went
on coldly.
"Not through! I can't conceive why
you should wish to talk to me when
you don't believe anything say.
you're sorry?
"You don't sound like II.
"All right If you're really. truly
sorry. I'll forgive you.
Something very important to say7
'The same thing you started to tell
me last night when I ran away?
81 didn't run away. Someone was
calling me. had to go.
"No. I haven't an idea, honestly.
"Please don't have me guessing
again. I really must get back to my
sewing.
"Why Dick Lippincott. do you know
what you're doing? You are actually
p-proposing to me over the telephone.
Anybody might hear you. Tin sure
Mrs. Cartwright hrs been trying to call
up her grocer for half-hour. She's
probably on the line now.
Cant wait-think I'll run awny
again II you wait till tonight
won't give you chancel Well,
you don't suppose I'm going to throw
myself Into anybody's arms. do your
"Oh. Dick, don't say such things
over the telephone. Besides. you can't
possibly think I'd say yes. do you. even
If had mind to, with the whole town
listening?
"No, can't forget 1t, you can say
as you like. But won't say no either,
for It's none Of their business, is 1t,
what say? So I'm just going to be
neutrnl-and not say anything at all.
"Why, Dick, you did say all TINT be-
fore, about caring so much and Flowing
me SO long and everything. Do you
think you need to say 1t 30 many
times7
"Going to say It until answeri
Suppose don't answer and leave
the telephone? What would you dot
"Come right Overt
ooh, no, you mustn't. look per-
fectly awful