The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1922-08-04
Charlie Changes
Ills Evenings
By FRANK II. WILLIAMS

Of his dull evenings, and was de-
termined upon changing them into a
more lively, interesting time. OF course
he was a stranger in Brampton and
was rather shy and all that, but he
told himself, as he sat In his comfort
able boarding house room, that wasn't
sufficient reason to keep him for
ever penned In this room In the eve
ming or taking in a movie or q show
all by himself.
Yes, he most certainly was going
to change dullness to liveliness. But
howf
For several evenings Charlie
pondered this problem, which was
exceedingly important to him. Finally,
about 1880 o'clock one evening, his
face lighted up as an audacious idea
came to him. And once the idea had
flashed into his mind, he set himself
to carry 1t out.
Carrying out his ideas was compare
lively simple. All it commanded was
the looking up Of the Y. w. O. A..
phone number In the local directory
and then mastering up enough courage
to call up the institution and ask for
q girl.
But what gfrlf
Charlie didn't know a single girl
In the entire institution. But, he
thought he'd like to know a girl by
the name Of Mary.
So when feminine voice answered
his call for the Y. number, he hesitated
only moment and then said:
It'd like to speak to Mary" please.
Charles voice was husky and rather
indistinct. That is probably why the
girl at the other end of the line mis-
understood his last word
MARY Davisw the girl questioned.
"Yes" exclaimed Charlie instantly.
There was delay Of few moments.
Then sweet, clear, strong young
feminine voice came to Charlie.
Hello" said the voice.
"Hello," said Charlie, his heart beat
ing considerably faster than usual.
"Tm lonesomew
In very real anxiety Charlie waited
for the reply to this. 1t came, almost
instantly. He heard the girl laugh.
Then
"Who is this" Mary demanded
Listen" said Charlie "don't get
mad. 1 want to tell you something"
For just the barest fraction Of a
minute Charlie felt that Mary was
hesitating between ringing off and
listening to what he had to say. Final
ly her curiosity triumphed.
go head, I'll listen," she said.
"I'm a newcomer in this city," said
Charlie, "and l don't know any one
here except the people I'm working
with. I'm getting awfully lonesome
for some one to talk to. / wonder
If you'd let me call you up every
now and then and talk to your
"But you don't even know what I
look like!" came the girls voice In
something of a gasp.
"You must be Observation-Disclosures
by your voicel" cried Charlie fer
vently.
'You don't have to pay compli-
ments," laughed the girl. ''But-
you'd be surprised to see me. And
don't know what you look like"
"rn tell you" Charlie volunteered.
I'm one inch short Of elk feet, have
curly hair, blue eyes and smoke a
pipe"
"Oh." said the girl, noncommittally.
please, let me call you up" pleaded
Charlie.
For quite a long time there was
silence. After a while Charlie thought
that perhaps Mary had hung up the
receiver and he'd not heard her. Then,
at last, her voice came to him softly
again.
"Pll let you call me up If you'll
promise not to try and see me or
meet me-" said the girl.
"rn promise" Charlie cried. You
don't know what 1t means to me Just
to be able to talk to some girl, even
II it's only over the phone. I'll cali
you up again tomorrow night about
this same time
"AIl right" said the girl. Good
by"
"Good-by," said Charlie.
All during the next day Charlie
waited impatisntly for the evening.
How differently he viewed this ap-
preaching evening from the way In
which he had formerly viewed them
Now there was a sest In the days
work and real JOY in the thought Of
returning to the boarding house.
But when Charlie called up Mary
1t the appointed hour he was due foe
a disappointment.
"She isn't here" said the voice at
the other end Of the wire.
"Do you expect her soonT queried
Charlie, his heart feeling like lead.
81 really don't know. +"
At this point the voice at the other
end of the line stopped suddenly, then
as suddenly resumed.
"Here she Is now" came the voice.
And Charles heart began beating
furiously:
Hello" came Mary's voice breath,
lessly. II almost didn't get here"
"Hello." said Charlie, 81 sure am