Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1884-01-27
GALE CsRDONNE'S GOURTSHlp.

TIE LITTLE TELEGRAPH OPERATOR
Northbrook came under the auction
eer's hammer by foreclosure Of mort
gage. 1t Was valuable country seat
and did not bring half what It was
worth.
The purchaser was Gale Cardonne, an
intelligent wealthy, self-opinionated
man, sometimes called by his friends
"The German Baron" not because he
was of German descent, but probably
because of his ruddy face, fine physique
and brusque, positive manners, the lat
ter verging upon rudeness when his pas
sion Was aroused.
The neighbors specialized eonsldera-
bly, about his advent at Northbrook, and
prophecies were made which were not
particularly complimentary. He would
introduce new-fangled notions; he
would be an easy victim to the fsllacies
of theoretie farming, and the like.
Well, he came and settled among
them, and nothing of the kind occurred.
He left farming operations to an expe-
rieneed hand, devoted his leisure mo-
ments to books, enjoyed the fresh coun-
try air, and attended so much to his
own business and not to that of other
people that he was devoted too exclus-
sive.
TheIe is q railroad station at North
brook, and one day he ran hastily up
the steps of the tower to send message
by telegraph. He had lesped from the
train without thinking Of the yalise
which he had placed on the seat beside
him. Its contents were valuable, snd
he was anxious to receive it by the re-
turning train.
The operator was quiet, demure
looking girl, very compact, and p!2iHly
clad her lace creamy white, neithar APP
prosecuting to pallOr nor indicating i'll
health.
He stated his errand. Could she get
a dispatch to Croyland before the train
got there?
"Ob, yes" was the reply. allow csu
you identify the valise"
Her voice sounded rs clear as bell,
and her white, shapely hand WAS toying
with the button OF the telegraph instru-
ment.
my name is on II ?" he said.
"And yout name-is?"
"Cale Cardonne."
She had heard of him, but had never
met him. She surveyed him in q specu
lative way, yet with no suggestion of
boldnesss. Her eyes were soft, gray
eyes, with fabulous depths, and just then
tingtd with wIstful interest.
A few tIckiLg sounds followed, and
then she Announced that the message
had been sent aud acknowledged. He
flung down 3 coin in compensation and
then picked up q book which she evil
IDENTIFY bad been reading.
"'sarIOr Ressrtus, by Thomas Car
lyle p" he exclaimed, reading the title
with all inIUuLliun OF surprise in his
voice. "lou are-are-plOdding through
this" he asked, stammerjng IN his
choice ofwOrds.
"16s, she answered.
"And-enjoy iL?" was his next ques-
ton, little grImly put.
A faint pink flush came into her
cheeks.
'At least do not consider the read.
ing OF It all intiicuOn," she rejoined, a
scarcely percepnble smile about her
lips.
Her reply pleased him. He was
standing almost directly over her, for
she Was seated. He noticed the finely
poised head, the compact brow, tue
delicate ears, the chestnut-cOlored hair
with lurking shadows Of bronze in it,
and hot n strand out Of place.
Her figure was 1.-the and graceful and
her air modest and seli-composed. HIs
proximity did not disturb her; the cOn'
sciOusntss OF his worth did noC cause her
IO deprecIAte herself.
She opened q small drawer, threw
into il the coin which he had placed Oh
the table ana handed him the proper
change.
keep il, he said, with toss of his
lead.
al cannot" she replied; al am not
entitled To It"
al am at liberty to give it to you"
"But am not at liberty TO receive
il, size answered, "or rather do not
" ish to-"
He picked up the change with a
flown.
"IUu know my name," he said; "if |
knew yours We might consider ourselves
acquainted"
"My name is Janet Thorne," she re-
joined in her quiet way.
he bowed, then descended the wind
ing stairway.
SJanetr' he repeated to himself "a
staid name, and II suits her. Somehow
1 feel strangely interested in the little
thrush"
III.
REJECTED.
The two met frequently after that
Janet lived in neat little cottage not
f., from tho sfatiOD Her moi her Was