, to ask, as he evidently
expected natural curiosity would induce her to do, in what way she so
differed from the person of his imagination.

"You go beyond all my calculations," he continued, flatteringly, after
waiting in vain for a question from her; "Only you are more bashful than
I supposed you would be, after the dots and dashes we have slung. But
then it's easier to buzz on the wire than it is to talk, isn't it? For
all a fellow has to do is to take up a book or a paper, pick things out
to say, and go it without exercising his own brains!"

At these words, that explained the previous incomprehensible difference
between the distant "C" and present person, the realization of the
companionship, the romance, the friendship gone to wreck on this reef of
musk and bear's-grease came over Nattie with a rush, and for a moment
so affected her that she could hardly restrain her tears. And yet, after
all, was not "C," _her_ "C," the "C" whom she knew by his conversation
only--"picked out of books!"--an unreal, intangible being, and not this
so different person who claimed his identity?

"I think we astonished some of them on the wire with all the stuff we
had over!" went on with his monologue the knight of the collapsed
romance, who, not being troubled with fine sensibilities, had no idea of
the feelings under which she was laboring.

"Yes--I--doubtless!" stammered Nattie, and turned very red, as, suddenly
remembering the tenor of some of what he so elegantly termed "stuff,"
the appalling thought, what if he should say "my dear?" presented itself
in all its horrors, and the idea punished her for that girlish
imprudence in allowing the familiarity from afar.

Evidently he noticed the access of color, and attributed it to his own
fascinations, for he smiled complacently as he said,

"I wish I had longer to stay with you, but my train goes in five
minutes." Nattie breathed a sigh of relief. "Too bad, isn't it? But I
will come again some time! By the way," a cunning expression that seemed
uncalled-for crossing over his face, "don't say anything on the wire
about my being here to-day, will you? I don't want any one to know. Let
them think I was at B a."

"Certainly not!" replied Nattie, with an alacrity born of the knowledge
that she should hold no further communication of any kind with him;
then, in order to give a hint of her intentions, she added, bracing
herself up to mention what was so difficult to speak of to this v