The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-04-19
THE DAILY
Isl io } ! STORY; 81 I
Charlie Changes Hi
Dull Evenings
~ FRANK H. WILLIAMS.

wen Urea OF ulb JUL SNeAlubsI
and was determined upon
changing them into q more lively,
interesting time. OF course, he
was q stranger In Bfampton' and
was rather shy and all that, but 1T
told himself, as he sat In his cont.
Portable boarding house room, that
wasn't sufficient reason to keep
him forever penned in this room IN
the evening or taking in a movie
on q show all by himself.
Yes, he most certainly was going
10 fchange dullness TO livellness.
But, howl
For several evenings Charlie pom
dered this problem, which was eS
ceedingiy important to him. Fina..
" about 1880 o'clock one evening
hts face lighted up as an audacious
idea came 70 him. And once the
idea had flashed into his mind. he
ret himself to carry It out.
Carrying out his ideas was com,
paratively ample. All It command.
ed was the looking up OF the Y. W.
g. a. phone number in the local
directory and then mastering up
enough courage to call up the III
stttutton and ask for a girl
But what girl?
Charlie didn't know single cir.
Ia the entire institution. But, he
thought he'd like to know girl By
\ thelparae Of Mary.
Sowhen a feminine voice an
Ewsredt his call for the Y. number
he hesitated only a moment and
then said:
I'D like 10 talk TO Mary, please"
Charles voice was husky and
rather indistinct. That Is probably
why the girl at the other end OF the
line misunderstood his last word
MARY Dayis7' the girl question
''yeslr exclaimed Charlie in
+ stantly.
There was a delay of few mo,
netits. Then a sweet, clear, strong
Young feminine voice came to
Charlie.
Hello said the voice.
Hello said Charlie. his heart
beating considerably. faster than
usual. I'm lonesome!"
m very real anxiety Charlie
waited for the reply to this. II
came almost instantly. He heard
the girl laugh: Then
who Is thIs?' Mary demanded.
Listen" said Charlie, don't get
mad want to tell you something
For just the barest fraction Of a
minute Charlie felt that Mary was
hesitating between ringing OF and
listening to what he had to say.
Finally her curiosity triumphed.
go ahead, I'll lIsten," she said.
I'm a newcomer in this city,
said Charlie, "aud 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.
1wonder II you'd let me call you up
every now and then and talk 10
yoGfg
But you don't even know what !
look like!n came the girls voice in
something Of a gasp.
YOU must be wonderful-iudg.
ing by your voice!" cried Charlie
ferrert1y.
You don't have 10 pay compli
ments" laughed the girl. But
you'd be surprised to see me. And
j don't know what you look Ike
TIL tell you" Charlie volun
tered. "l'm one inch short of sis
feet, have curly hair, blue eyes and
smoke a pipe"
2oh,s said the girl, nopcommit
tally.
ttplease. let me call you up"
pleaded Charlie.
For quite n long time there was
silence. After while Charlie
thought that perhaps Mary had
hung up the receiver and he'd moi
heard her. Then, at last. her voice
came to him softly again.
It'll let you call me up II you'll
promise not to try and see me OF
meet me-" said the girl.
fIll promise" Charlie cried
You don't know what It means Il
me Just to be able to talk to some
girl, even II it's only over the
iphone. I'll call you up again TO
morrow night about this SAME
time
IAN right" said the girl. Good
,Good:by," said Charlie.
All during the next day Charlie
waited impatiently for the evening
How differently he viewed this ap
preaching evening from the way II
which he had formerly viewet
them. Now there was zest In tht
days work and a real joy in tn,
thought OF returning to the board
Ing house.
Buttwhen Charlie called up Mar,
at the appointed hour he was dut
for q disappointment.
sShe isn't here" said the yoicl
at the other end OF the wire.
I'm no you expect her soon?" Quer
led Charlie, his heart feeling like
4 really don't know. -"
At this point the voice at tht
other end OF the line stopped sud
8 denly, then as suddenly resumed.
Here she is now" came the
voice. And Charles heart begar
beating furiously.
Hello" came Mary's voice
4 breathlessly, II almost didn't gel
Z heres
/ 'Hsllo;n said Charlie, ~ sure an
glad that otherIgirl didn't ring ot
y before you came. II she had runs
on q don't believe I'd have called
you up again"
That would have been too bad, !
said the girl, sincerely. whats
your nane?e she asked curiously.
sSay, that would hardly be fair
would TT" said Charlie. Since ]
can't come around and see vnu It'S