oundation of
all these uneasy misgivings of hers was a selfish emotion, the same that
had prompted that jealous pang at Cyn's "we" the day he first discovered
himself, and this was, that on the wire "C" had been all hers, but in
Clem, Cyn seemed to have the largest share.

Twice he had called on Nattie at the office, but neither time could
stop, and as it happened on each occasion, she was in the midst of a
rush of business, hat left no chance for conversation. But one rainy
Saturday afternoon, when a general dullness prevailed, and she was
fervently wishing the hands of the clock might move on faster towards
six, Clem holding a very wet umbrella, and with water dripping from his
curly locks, presented himself. If he was not, he certainly ought to
have been flattered by the blush with which Nattie involuntarily
welcomed him.

"Did you rain down?" she hastily exclaimed, hoping by this trite
commonplace to distract attention from the blush, of which she was
conscious.

"It appears like it, doesn't it?" he answered merrily, giving himself a
little shake, and placing his wet umbrella and hat in a corner. "It was
so dull at the store, I thought I would run around to the scene of
former exploits. Do you not sometimes wish I was back at X n to keep you
company such days as these?"

Without thinking twice before she spoke once, Nattie answered candidly,
as she placed a chair for her visitor,

"Yes, I believe I do, often."

"I do not know whether to take that as a compliment or otherwise," Clem
said, looking at her as if half vexed.

Nattie glanced up inquiringly

"It certainly is a compliment to my abilities for, making myself
agreeable at a _distance_. But--" said Clem, with a shrug of his
shoulders, "a poor fellow does not like to feel as if the farther away
he is, the better he is liked!"

"Oh! I did not mean it that way at all!" exclaimed Nattie, in hasty
explanation. "Only, you know, I had more of your company on the wire!"

Clem looked pleased.

"If that is the trouble--" he began, but Nattie interrupted, her face
very red.

"I did not mean that, either; I meant it was in such a different way,
you know--and I--I could talk more easily, and--I do not believe I know
what I do mean!" stopping short in embarrassment.

Clem looked at her and smiled.

"Let us see if it is any easier talking on the wire," he said; and
taking the key, he wrote,

"Good P m, will you please tell me truly, and relieve my mind, i