The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1918-04-11

| the hall and were bowed to by the
hall attendants in proportion to their
most recent gratuity were to her
among the favored ones of the earth.
She did not know that her share
of one of the farms at home would
put her into the possession of a bank
account several times as large as that
held by any of these cliff dwellers.
Abby knew none of the tenants
well. Why. should they bother their
heads about the switchboard operator,
anyway? But with the curiosity and
powers of observation bred in the
country, she had made for herself
vivid pictures of each individual in
the house. Sometimes there were
weddings or receptions, dinner par
ties, or even little dances in the apart
ments, and then Abby's eyes would be
even brighter than usual and her
pulses would quicken as she felt the
proximity of so much merriment and
gaiety.
One of the personages that came un-
der her constant observation was
young Yates Barlow. To her he SEEM
ed, as the owner of all this grandeur,
veritable modern prince. Whenever
he came to the apartment he stopped
and chatted with her in a rather shy
but friendly way, asking vague ques-
lions about her work.
After each of his chats with Abby
Yates Barlow was more than ever
convinced that she was overworked.
Not that she ever gave any indication
of this state of affairs by anything
that she said. But how could
charming girl like Abby, he thought,
sit for nine monOtonOus hours making
connections for thoughtless tenants,
without feeling overworked?
Yates took to calling up the apart
ment on mythical business matters,
just to make sure that Abby's voice
sounded as fresh and unfagged as ever
Then spring came. After a hard
week at law school, Yates was getting
ready one Saturday morning to motor
out to a weekend house party in
the country. The day was one of
those warm and tempting days that
sometimes come SO early that they
seem to be out of season. All his boy
ish hatred of indoor work made Yates
look forward to the two days in the
country with enthusiasm. And then
he thought of Abby-country bred
Abby---used no doubt to wandering
about the fields and hillsides at will
tied to that monotonous switchboard.
"I'n stay home myself" thought
Yates. "That girl certainly deserves
Saturday half holiday. / can't ask
any of the elevator boys to run the
switchboard, but can do it myself,
and i am going to-"
Yates concocted hurried telephone
excuse to his hostess and then with
light heart started uptown to Kings
Castles. He could visualize the happy
smile that would come into Abby's
eyes when he told her that she could
take the afternoon off. He looked for
ward, too, with no small pleasure to
the ten or fifteen minutes of instruc-
ton that he knew must take place
while she showed him how to work the
switchboard.
'"And if l do make Mistakes" he
thought, land the tenants get mad,
nobody can fire me-"
He got up to the apartment house
about eleven o'clock and found Abby
as fresh and smiling as ever.
IT have nothing to do this after
noon, Miss Sarter," he began, "and it's
such corking day, / thought perhaps
you'd be wanting an afternoon off. SO
1 thought I'd stay here and run this
switchboard and you could have a
| little vacation. don't just know how
but think maybe you could show me,
couldn't your"
Abby looked at him in amazement.
"Why, 1 don't want q vacation, Mr..
Barlow. 1 couldn't possibly do any
thing that would give me as much fun
as running this switchboard"
"But / mean chance to go some
place-out In the country, you know
or something like that" said Yates.
"But I've lived in the country all my
life, Mr.. Barlow. And this-she waved
her hand inclusively about the spacious
hall-this is so wonderful. should
think just to own a place like Kings
Castles would make you happy"
Barlow looked at the girl before him
with new interest. For months he
had been growing fond of her, but
mixed with his liking there had been
feeling of pity that she should be
forced to do uncongenial work. Now
he felt new admiration for her. She
was doing the work she liked and
getting a full measure Of happiness
from each day at the monotonous
switchboard. "Just to own a place
like this"-her words rang in his ears.
Well, why shouldn't she own Kings
Castles? He could give it to her for
wedding gift if that would make
her happy. He knew now that it was
Abby who could make him happy and
perhaps he with Kings Castles thrown
in could make her happy.
"Well," said Yates, "let me stay
with you this afternoon. anyway, and
let's go some place for dinner together.
I'm going to ask you if you'll help me
run Kings Castles all your life?"