Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-22
A TELEGRAPHER'S TALE,

4
And must you really go away and
r9nli all night in that nasty old box
of yours, and leave your Little Rose
bud to imagine all sorts of horrld
things happening to her poor old boyf
Couldn't you stay at home just for
this one night?'
Couldn't possibly do it, my love-
said /, struggling into my overeoat
My wife fingered by theporch, follow
ing me with her eyes and 50 long as
the house was in sight l could, on look
ing back, see her white dress in the
light which streamed through the open
door.
At the time of which / write | was
Telegraph Superintendent on line of
hallway. One of the clerks who was
on night duty had been taken suddenly
Ill, and / had taken his work myself
until such time as he should recover. !
had only been married few months,
and was by no means reeonciled to
leaving my wife to pass the night in
that nasty old box" as Mag called it.
But it was a necessity, and no grumb-
ling of mine could mend the matter.
A drive of about eight miles brought
me to my post; but on that night my
mind was filled with vague indefna-
BILE fears, for which tried in vain to-
account. The night was clear and
MINDLESS and away in the north western
sky the aurora borealis was fitting to.
and fro in thousand strange fantas-
tie shapes.
On entering the telegraph statioa
the clerk whom had come to relieve
was ready to 60
"You won't have much work to-
nigh" said he. The instruments are
unworkable; no signals have been re-
ceiyed for the last three hours. Good
night"
When | was left alone l found that
it was as he had said. drew my chair
to the stove, and, taking down book
which saw on shelf, l tried to in
terest myself in the story; but it had
no power to quiet my wild, wandering
thoughts. While l was turning list
lessly over the leaves the stiffness was
startled by the sharp. quick Changing
of the electric bell, the usual signal to
prepare to read off a message. With
a shiver of alarm l turned quickly to
the instrument; butts perceived that
the bell had beel rung by no earthly
power, for the vibrating needles made
no ineligible sign, and | knew that
the sound had been produced by a cur
rent of atmospheric electricity acting
upon the wires. Smiling at the ner-
vousness which caused me to start,
turned from the desk and again sat
down by the fire.
But smile as I would, and reason as
I might. | felt l was suceumbing to
vague feelings, Thinking the atmos
phere of the room, close and hot, might
have something to do with my pecu-
liar condition of mind, | flung open
the door and, stepped outside in hope
That the cool air might scare away the
phantoms of my brain. As | crossed
The threshold the midnight express
crashed past with a speed and force
which shook every timber of the build
ing, and uttering loud shrek, disap-
peared into the tunnel at the summit
of which my station was placed. When
Il had gone there was stiffness, still
ness broken only by the signing of the
air passing along-the wires. heard even
n the calmest of nights From that |
ny mind reverted to the earnestness
with which my wife had asked me to
.emain at home that night, and her
manner when she bade me goodbye.
What could be the meaning of it all ?
But / resolved to stay where | was
md get through the night as best !
'ould. IF this goes on" said to my
elf; as | turned inside again, and
loked up the Goals with more noise
han was necessary-"if this goes on /
much longer l shall have to consult
loctor, that's plain" | filed my pipe /
ind lit it, but the weed had lost its
ranquilizing power. Again the bell |
ang sharply; but, as before, no intelli-
yible sign was made by the needles.
leaned my elbows on the desk, and
With my head between my hands |
their unending motions. An |
lour might have passed thus, when
'nce more | was startled by the elang
f the bell. This time it was louder /
md more urgent, and, it seemed to me,
With a peculiar, unearthly sound, such
IS had never heard before. 1t seemed
IS if there mingled with the metallic
ing the tone Of a human voice-the +
'oice of one | knew. The needles,