row's foot or two; but he has
spared the hairs of my head, and for that I am thankful! Did you ever
see an aged operator? I never did, and don't know whether it's because
electricity acts as a sort of antidote, or whether they grow wise as
they grow old, and leave the business. The case is respectfully
submitted."

"Your organs of discernment must be very fully developed," Nattie
replied. "It is fortunate I am too far away to be analyzed personally;
but I don't think I will stay after hours to discuss these things to
night. I am tired, for I have had a run of disagreeable people to-day.
So g. n."

"G. n., my dear," said the gallant "C," in whose composition bashfulness
seemed certainly to have no part. But then--as Nattie previously had
thought--he was along way off.

It must be confessed "C" could hardly fail to have been flattered had he
known how full Nattie's thoughts were of him, as she went home that
night. A little foolish in the young lady, who rather prided herself on
being strong-minded, this deep interest; but hers was a lonely life,
poor girl, and "C" was certainly entertaining "over the wire," whatever
he might be in a personal interview--of course, not very likely to
occur. No! it was all "over the wire!"

As she reached her own door, absorbed in these meditations, she heard
the sound of a merry laugh over in Mrs. Simonson's, and saw a large
trunk in the hall. From this she inferred that Miss Archer had arrived,
a fact Miss Kling confirmed, with uplifted eyebrows, and the remark,

"There must be something wrong about a young woman who has _three_ immense
trunks!"

Although Nattie felt a desire to make this newcomer's acquaintance, it
was less strong than it might have been had she arrived a week sooner;
for it was undoubtedly true that the interest she had in her new,
invisible friend far exceeded that towards a possible visible one. Such
is the power of mystery!

The office now possessed a new charm for her. To the surprise of an idle
clerk in an office over the way, who had always noted how particular she
was to arrive at exactly eight A. M., and to leave precisely at six P.
M., she suddenly began to appear before hours in the morning, and to
stay after hours at night. Of course this benighted person was not aware
that by so doing she secured quiet chats with "C," uninterrupted, and
without being told in the middle of some pretty speech to "Shut up!"
or to " Keep out!" by some soured and inelega