St. Landry democrat., 1878-08-10
" OVER THE WIRES u

First, must tell you who am, ant
how came to be in the Baysville banl
in the "wee sma' hours" one dreary De
cember night, some three years ago.
Ny name was then Olive Hudson, an,
| was seventeen years old that same De
cember night, and go small that Mrs
Knights Dolly, who was not twelve
years old, was half a head taller thar
myself.
We were rich folks once, but father
died and left us very poor. Mother
struggled along in weary handto-hanc
fight with poverty till I was sixteen
and then died. She had rented two
rooms of Mrs. Knight, widow, also, with
two stalwart sons, one sged father, and
two daughters. After mother died was
adopted by the Knights, and, although
l was earning support as music teacher
in the Baysville academy, 7 was like one
of the family when l wss in my GOOD
landlady's home.
They were all in good positions, but by
no means an aristocratic family. John,
the eldest son, was in New York in 8
wholesale sugar house Tom was the
night Waterman of the Baysville bank
building, and grandpa-we all call him
grandpa-was telegraph operator of the
town, while Mary was a miliner, and
Dolly stayed at the Office, sending and
receiving messages.
Baysville bank building was large
granite structure, containing the post
Office and the bank on the first floor, the
telegraph Office and number of private
law Offices on the second floor, and other
private Offices OH the third floor. In
the basement were post-otiice rooms, for
sorting the mail; and also the large bank
vault.
I knew the building we'll, for I was
fond of telegrapbing, and spent half my
leisure time psrched up beside grandpa,
while he slept peacefully or read the
newspapers.
And that was the beginning Ct MY
amusement at Dryden, the next station.
The operator at Dryden was wit, and
flashed nonsense at our office when bust
ness was dull. 1t fell fiat when grandpa
was in the Office, but if I were there |
sent back jest for jest, and sometimes an
hour slipped by like a minute as we
talked over the wires of every topic
under the sun. He called himself "Lien,"
and |, for nonsense, signed myself " EIe-
phant," laughing as l did 80 at the
reflection of my tiny fingers in the office
mirror.
Beyond Dryden, and only five miles
from Baysville, was C, a large COM
nercial town, the nearest railway station,
and where an Office was always open for
,he accommodation Of travellers.
As | have said, Tom knight was the
hight Waterman OF the Baysvil}e bank
and lonely time be hal of it,
The last mail came by stage at Jour
''clock in the afternoon, and the post
'ffice was vacated at six. The bank
losed at three, aud by six O'Clock every
'ffice was deserted for the night.
At seven Tom was on duty, and grand
"a, who was restless at night, was in the
abit of taking down some coffee aud
luncheon, as the building was only
tones throw from the house.
On the December night have already
it had stormed heavily all
ay, and had taken a new class at the
coming home later in the day
han usual, and excited over my increase
I salary.
Everybody else had gone to bed, and
was lingering over the kitchen fire
18th Mrs. Knight, dreadiDg the plunge
ito my cold room, where l had allowed
he fire to go cut. @sr%s5
The clock struck twelve, and Mrs.
night, lifting her face from over the
re, said
''Do call grandpa, Olive; he's asleep
l the sofa in the sitting room. III have
om's basket ready by the time grandpa
IS his hat and coat on. T hate to call
m, for he was complaining of rheuma
'm all day, and the ground is very wet,
though the storm is over.''
"Let him Sleep" I said; s'TlI run over
tn the basket. 1t is but STEP" 81
"But It is so dark; are you not afraid ?
'Not a bit; TIL slip on my waterproof
d rubbers and draw the hood of nv
'ak over my head.'' Il
''Weli, if you will, though | am afraid &
m will scold at my letting you CO." j
I'll put down the basket and run. /
] he will never know who left it." {
Go to the rear basement door; he {
yes that open for grandpa"
Il know" i
grasprd the handleof the basket, and
riied across the space between the i
i'ding and the house, and stole softly '
1T the basement door, in pursuance Of b
plan to drop the basket and run,
n my rubber shoes my steps were b
selass. and | had scarcely passed the )
eshold when stood rooted to thefloor
terrible amszsment. r
was talking.