Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1922-08-11
Charlie Changes
His Evenings
By FRANK H. WILLIAMS

g, 1929. by Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
Charlie FELTON, was pretty well tired
of his dull evenings, and was de-
termined upon changing them into
more lively, interesting time. OF course,
he was 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 movie or Il show
all by himself.
Yes, he most certainly was going
to change dullness to llveliness. But
how?
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 1t commanded was
the looking up Of the Y. w. c. A.
phone number in the local directory
and then mastering up enough courage
to call up the institution and ask for
girl.
But what girl2
Charlie didn't know single girl
In the entire institution. But, he
thought he'd like to know a girl by
the name of Mary.
SO when a feminine voice answered
his call for the Y. number, he hesltated
only moment and then said:
I'D like to speak to Mary" please.
Charles voice was husky and rather
indistlnct That Is probably why the
girl at the other end of the line mis-
understood his last word.
Mary Davis" the girl questioned.
"Yesl" exclaimed Charlie instantly.
There was delay of few moments.
Then a 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 this2" Mary demanded.
Listen" said Charlie, don't get
mad / want to tell you something"
For just the barest fraction of
minute Charlie felt that Mary was
hesltating between ringing off and
| 4, 4
| ly her curiosity triumphed.
| go head I'll listen," she said.
Pm newcomer In this city," said
Charlie, land | 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
| IL you'd LET me call you up every
now and then and talk to you?"
But you don't even know what |
look like" came the girls voice in
something of gasp.
"YOu must be wonderful-judging
by your voicew cried Charlie feI+
yently.
you don't have to pay compli-
ments," laughed the girk But
you'd be surprised to see me. And
don't know what you look like"
'Ill tell you" Charlie volunteered.
"Pm one inch short Of six feet, have
curly hair, blue eyes and smoke
pipe"
"Oh," said the girl, noncOmmittally.
please, let me call you up" pleaded
Charlie.
For quite 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.
'I'll let you call me up If you'll
promise not to try and see me or
meet me-" said the girl.
an 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 call
you up again tomorrow night about
this same time"
"All right" said the girl. "GoOd-
by"
"Good-by," said Charlie
All during the next day Charlie
waited impatiently for the evening.
How differently he Viewed this APP
preaching evening from the way In
which he had formerly viewed them.
Now there was a zest In the days
work and real JOY In the thought OF
returning to the boarding house.
But when Charlie called up Mary
at the appointed hour he was due for
disappointment.
"She isn't here" said the voice at
the other end Of the wire.
"Do you expect her soonr queried
Charlie. his heart feeling like lead.
II 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, 81 almost didn't get here"
"Hello," said Charlie, II sure am
clad that other girl didn't ring off
before you came II she had rung
of | don't believe ia nave calleu you
up again"
"That would have been too bad"
said the girl, sincerely. whats your
nnmeY" she asked curlously.
SAY. that would hardly be fair,
would tn" said Charlie. since I
can't come around and see you, It's
only fair that you shouldn't know
INV nnma don't you thlnkp