The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-05-05
CHRiSTIE'S TELEGRAPHING.

CHRlSTlE'S TELEGRAPHING.
l am very glad that telephones have
been invented; and yet am glad they
were not sooner invented. I should
like to tell you the reason. That will
take some time for it is quite story.
We live in the country, at Oakbrook,
and my father is the treasurer and su.
perintendent of the Oakbrook mills,
Our house-a very pleasant country.
house it isis situated on beautifully
wooded slope close to the river, and is
a quarter of mile from the mills.
That is why telegraphic wire was
placed between the two.
l promised father whom IL was pui
mp that would learn to send messages
+ over it. There was no one else in The
family who could have learned. Doth
my brothers were at boarding: chool
and mother would as soon have though.
of studying the Chireso language as
telegraphy.
Father declared that l would never
learn. Girls had but little patience
for such things, he said. Neverths-
less the wire was put up and CONNECTED
with battery in the library. And in
just four months time had mastered
the alphabet and tho technicslities of
the instrument so that | could use it
readily and was able to read the mes
sa2es by the ear?
1t was Harry Randall who taught me.
He was one Of the clerks at the office
and he had learned to use the instru-
ment, because it was necessary to have
somebody to send messages by the
wire that ran from the mills to tho ad.
jacent city Of Palmer.
4Fa HaEEihR7aa EEihR7aa RaaaHG RaaHGfis Is necessary ne to enable
you to understand what occurred on a
certain February night, about which I
am going to tell you.
We were through supper, and were
sitting ogether-father, mother and I
- around the table in the library, when
Josoph, our coachman and mau-of.all.
work about the place. brought in the
mail as usual.
Father eagerly took letter that be
seemed to have been expecting, from
The other letters. noticed disturbed
expression upon his face as he read it II;
and I was more anxious than surprised
when he arose and went to the hall
door, and called to the girl who was in
the dining-room.
"Mary," said he. "tell Joseph TO
harness Prince at once. must net to
the Junction in time for the 8
o'clock express. He'll have to finish
his supper when he gets back"
Then he turned and said that the
lc'teceeout9ined intelligence that made
York that night. OF course, as the wife
and daughter OF business man, we
knew what that meant, and that there
was not wcrd Of remonstrance to be
said. So mother went to make for him
what preparation was needful and
should have followed her moment
later, but that father called me back.
"Chriatie," said he, rather soberly,
81 am going to tell you something that
no one knows anything about save
Harry Randall. l have quite large
sum of money-over two thousand dol.
lars-in my coat-pocket." He touched
his breast with his finger. "I never
keep large amounts Of money by me,
but in this case it was unavoidable,
and l thought should feel less anxious
to have 1t with me than to allow it to
remain at the Office in the safe.
81 cannot, Of course, take it to New
York. So l want you TO take charge OF
it and keep it until tomorrow morning,
and then carry it to Randall for him to
deposit in the bank. Don't say any.
thing about it to your mother. She is
so timid and nervous that she would moi
sleep wink all night if she knew SC
large sum was In the house. Do You
understand ?" ...
With no slight feeling OF responsi.
bility l took the leathern pocketbooh
which he handed me and placed it In
the pocket of my dress.
Father went on: Perhaps you better
put it under your pillow. or course, il
Is fire that am most anxious about
There's no danger to the money in any
other way. Not soul knows about it,
Then he went into thehall, and came
very unexpectedly upon Joseph, for ]
heard him speaking somewhat sharply
to him because he had not gone to the
stable, and declaring that his business
was OF more consequence tban-his sup
per. heard Joseph mntter something
about taking time to finish his mfAi.
Ten inmates later as father wa,
going down the steps to get into Tia.
carriage, he turned back u me, and
h lding his umbrella 30 that mother
should not hear, he said:
"Pve been thinking, Christie, tha
young Randall better come and sleer
ut the house. shall feel easier ahoui
you. You can .teleo,aph him at the
office. He is to be there at work to
night until very late"
Then he stepped into the buggy, an6
they drove away down the path into
the darkness and the rain.
did not send u message TO Harry
however. Indeed. laughed little as
l thought OF fathers anxiety. He was
almost as timid as mother, after all.
i was OF rather easy, careless dis
position, and really had not q particle
Of fear Of having the money In nv
keeping. And as We two sat there In
the library for long while after this,
mother doing in the big chair and j
intent upon some fancy-work which I
WQQ Qnxfoua ~ Ans.l a.. ls...