ate his motives,
and be offended at his presumption. Under these circumstances he began
to despair of ever having the opportunity, to say nothing of the
ability, of making an impression, when one afternoon he chanced to meet
Miss Archer in the vicinity of Nattie's office, and was instantly
overwhelmed by a brilliant idea; that was to ask Miss Archer--to whom he
had talked much of Nattie during their short acquaintance--if she would
call on her with him, omitting the fact that he dared not go alone.

Miss Archer, a little curious to see the lady with whom, she was
secretly convinced, Quimbv was in love, readily consented to the
proposition; and so it came to pass that Nattie was interrupted in an
account she was giving "C" of a man who wanted to send a message to his
wife, and seemed to think "My wife, in Providence," all the address
necessary, by the unexpected apparition of Quimby, accompanied by a
stylish and handsome young lady.

"I--I beg pardon, if I--if I intrude, you know," he stammered, beginning
to wish he had not done it, as Nattie, with an "Excuse me, visitors," to
"C," rose and came forward. "But I--I brought Miss Archer! To make you
acquainted, you know."

"I am indebted to you for that pleasure," Nattie said, with a smile, as
she took the hand Miss Archer extended, saying,

"I have heard Quimby speak about you so much, I already feel
acquainted."

Quimby blushed, and nervously fingered his necktie.

"Such near neighbors--so lonesome--thought you ought to know each
other," he said confusedly.

"Yes, I began to fear we were destined never to meet," Nattie replied,
as she held the private door open for her visitors to enter, a
proceeding contrary to rules, but she preferred rather to transgress in
this way, than in manners, and leave her callers standing out in the
cold.

"I don't know as we ever should, had it not been for Quimby," said Miss
Archer, glancing curiously around the office. "I believe I never was in
a telegraph office before. Don't you find the confinement rather
irksome?"

"Sometimes," Nattie replied; "but then there always is some one to talk
with on the wire,' and in that way a good deal of the time passes."

"Talk with--on the wire?" queried Miss Archer, with uplifted eyebrows.
"What does that mean? Do tell me. I am as ignorant as a Hottentot about
anything appertaining to telegraphy. Nearly all I know is, you write a
message, pay for it, and it goes."

Nattie smiled and expla