The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-03-23

vut ehe always h4d rcmlrk1hle
control Of her temper.
He tried twice to heal tie breach.
but received no cnc0nragement,
md finally forced 10 tie
conclusion TINT Mildred. while hay.
ing d good time on her visit, mad
met some one she considered more
desirable. Unable TO live IN the
same town with Mildred after the
( change in the situation, he obtained
a transfer to Sparta, where be
worked so earnestly, In order to
keep his mind of his lost love,
that he climbed rapidly to the
managershlp. Now he called him.
self a woman hatsr."
All this passed in review in Hats
mind as he sat in his bachelor
apartments that night, but finally
he cast thoughts OF Mildred aside.
shrugged his shoulders, smiled Bit
terly, knocked the ashes from his
pipe, and retired.
The next evening his experiences
with the wrong number was re.
pcated. Furious, he called central
land said abruptly:
This Is Mr.. Goldens the telephone
manager. Four times this week you
have given me the wrong number,
and It will be necessary for you to
explain in my office at 10 o'clocl:
tomorrow morning"
At 10 in the morning Hal was
busy with some people when there
came a gentle knock-nOt timld.
Just gentle-on the door. Without
looking he called, Come In"
"You wished me to call at this
hour. Mr.. Golden" he heard a girls.
voice remind him.
YES" he said shortly, without
looking up from the papers. "Hav6
ia chair md I'll attend to your case
In q moment"
After he had coughed signiti.
cantly twice he turned In bis chair.
He fixed his gaze on the girl and
could not remove 1t. He was trem.
bling with some strong emotion,
and he knew what 1t was, although
he tried TO gaInsay It. For the girl
he had summoned for a rebuke was
She sat there demurely in q
straight-backed chair. lingering a
pleat in her dress, and asked:
What was It you wished to see
mo about?"
Her voice broke the charm. He
rose and insisted that she take his
easy chair, but she declined. He
cleared his throat and said, halt.
"There are some things l dom.
understand-why you are here, why
you persistently gave me the
wrong number when / called from
my home, why-well, the mysteries
extend back three years. 10 a night
when you returned a ring. Hang 1t,
Mildred! That never seemed just
right to me-"
She smiled and sighed. ran her
fingers along the pleat and began
speaking slowly.
I'm a little town people are queer.
II they see a boy and girl walk
elong the street together, folks I'M
mediately scent a desperate love
affair. The story circulates and
i grows like any other.
when I returned home from my
visit that time l was told by several
different persons that you and IneI
Walton were furiously in love and
that / was standing between you.
at once decided to step aside and
let IneZ have a clear path. I tried
TO make 1t easy for you by doing II
suddenly and not asking embarrass-
ing questions. 1t was not easy.
either. because-welis fl cared a
lot. But It seemed my duty.
when you went away instead OF
becoming engaged TO Inez, It set me
thinking, and ] began TO wonder
whether ! had been too hasty. !
believe I should have written to
you, but l had no idea where to
find you. A month ago father died
and I was placed on my own re.
sources, because his business AZ.
fairs were badly involved. want
cd to get away from DEPRESSING
surroundings, SO I came to spartn
and took the first Job 1 could find.
which was this switchboard job. ]
had had some experience at home.
YOU will remember. The same day
l learned YOU were my-my boss.
met lnez Walton on the street, and
she gave me her telephone mum.
Der. | had always been puzzled
about you and her. and I saw my
chance to find out II you really
cared for her. That is why I con.
nected you with her number every