Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1918-12-12

Ing the merits Of the Dawson chopping
bowls into his dIctaphone. No stenog.
rnpher could keep up with him.
Now. temperamentally Tom was not
fast talker. 1t was an acquired habit.
ana his idea of n happy home 10 go to
after working hours was home where
there were not five sisters and nunts
and things, and where one could tnlk
~ slowly or rs little as one chose. II
was because he had so often thought
how restful such n bone would be that
he begin to think about matrimony.
and with mntrimony on his mind and
so thoroughly delightful young wom-
IN MS the new telephone operator In
ones office. no one with Toms prefer.
ence for round blue eyes and smooth
brown hair and gentle. persuasive
feminine voice could long stay out Of
love. But though Tom could talk
chopping bowls and other business
matters fluently enough, when II came
to telling this young Indy of his stnte
Of mind and heart his lingual talents
| fOrsOOk him. But he went on dre,lm-
| Ing and even priced household furni-
ture and consulted n real estate agent
or SO regarding small apartments.
| Sometimes he got some small cOnso-
lation In telling other people what .
wonderful telephone operator he had.
and exDounding his theory that II paid
to have II really first-clnss girl on that
end Of the work. He even told the
presidents son. Mr.. Dawson, Of this
theory.
But you know" began Mr.. Dawson,
that young woman didn't come from
the agency; lyon see" te
"She didn't come from the ngcncyT'
NO" said Dawson; "you didn't give
me chance to explain. md you didn't
| give her chance. either. You see,
| Mrs. Dawson"
Tom swallowed hard. and 1t seemed
as II the sun went into a temporary
eclipse. II congratulate you on rare
treasure" he gulped. "She Is wonder
full"
"She has high opinion Of you. too"
said Mr.. Dawson. and somehow Tom
thought this was an especially innppro-
pirate remark. He didn't want to be
thought well Of by the woman he had
loved in vain. He would rather hive
her detest him. now that he knew she
was married.
"We'd like to have you come to din
ner some time-make up little fam
lily party" said young Dawson. and
| somehow the conversation closed here,
ha IN, 10
talk chopping bowls to his dictnphone.
| but the words would not come. In fnct
for days and even weeks Tom lost his
power Of CAB. and snles went down
and business began to slump. He was
working his ingenuity overtime trying
to think of Il way to get the charming
Mrs. Dawson out OF his office. Instead
Of seeming like n nice, strnlghtfor-
ward, round. blue-eyed girl rs she had
| seemed, she was II vampire in dis
| guise to him now. and every time she
beamed on him MS he came and went,
he imagined cruel thoughts lurking be-
meath the sweet charm of the smile.
"Bllly wants me to get you to come
home for dinner some time with U.S."
she said to him one day. you hive
been so cross lately wouldn't nsk
you. Only we were such good friends
to begin with before you knew ! was
Dawson. and don't approve OF let
ting Observation-Disclosures creep up be-
| tween friends in that way"
| And poor Tom accepted for dinner
| TINT very night and the blue.eyed
young woman telephoned home to
some one named Nora-the cook. Of
cOurse-thnt she would bring him
home for dinner and please have mush-
rooms and beefsteak. for she had heard
him say once that ne liked them.
When s 80 came and 1t was time to 60
Tom waited for young Bill Dawson.
wont your husband call for us
here" he said. and then MS the blue
| eyes drew up in quicker of question
| ing-"Yes. Mr.. BIZ Dawson. your hui
band"
"Why. Bits my brother" said the
girl, and though 1t was late on n dull
afternoon. the sun came out of cloud
and the whole world was suffused with
happiness for Tom.
"You see. you didn't. give me
chance to explain. Nora, Bill's wife.
backed out, and ] took the Job instead.
came TINT day to ask II I'd do. but
you didn't give me chance to say
word" She looked him frankly out
of those round eyes. tom, you've
been so blue and miserable lately"
and she actually took his hand in her
two and he had to hold on to the desk
with the other TO keep from floating
into the seventh heaven. "Tom, has 1t
been because you thought ! was mar
ried-has II been because you cnred?"
And Tom, the MIN with the tongue
that was hung In the middle. couldn't
do more than gasp meager yes"