["Brevity is the soul of wit;" and calculation and economy are very
commendable; but they may be carried to extremes. This may be used when the
last speaker has closed a little abruptly.]
This is the message the telegraph messenger handed a young man from his
betrothed "Come down as soon as you can; I am dying. Kate."
Eight hours later he arrived at the summer hotel, to be met on the piazza
by Kate herself.
"Why, what did you mean by sending me such a message?" he asked.
"Oh!" she gurgled, "I wanted to say that I was dying to see you, but my ten
words ran out, and I had to stop."