The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1886-03-25

The Romance of the New TelegraI
Operator and His Girl.

| The Romance of the New Telegraph
| Operator and His Girl.
| Nellie and Rob had quarreled. Not
| as do many lovers, for both were ope-
ratorS and had charge of offices whose
wires were too busy to permit any war
of words; but Just enough space had oc-
CURED that morning for each to make
the other miserable. There had long
| been an affinity between the two of a
stronger nature than usually exists be-
tween telegraph operators. Nellie's
| tender touches upon the key could alone
quiet the nervous twitching of Robin S
arm when worn out by the rush of mes
sages and train orders. She it was who
| seasoned the magnetism of dots and
| dashes with a balm that kept his heart
sweet and wholesome. This she often
did weaving the good mornings and
good evenings into lengthy tete-a-tetes.
1t so happened one winter evening
that Ned Owens, the operator at Pine
| Bluff, little station intervening between
| NIilldale and Fairfield, made use of his
| ground wire, thus cutting off all COM
munication between the lovers, but Civ
ing himself free scope to talk to his pret-
ty and scintillating cousin. She, how
ever was not kept in the dark as to the
proceedings, and together they con-
cocted a scheme to make the devoted
Rob Price jealous.
1T will be such fun to know that Rob
is fretting and fuming over a trouble
that ne believes to be caused by a fallen
pole or a dislodged tree said the hand
some Ned, his black eyes twinkling with
mischief.
''And |, in trying to round off his sur
misses, will give sudden hint of the
truth, get red in the face, and appear
much confused" continued the naughty
Nellie, tapping her pretty foot anXiously
against the embroidered footstool that
adorned the little office.
Poor Nellie Trumont! Little does she
| dream that long hours of suffering must
atone for short intervals of heartlessness
and cOquetry.
So every day the ground wire went
on, Just at the time when Robin had a
few minutes of rest to talk with his
repeated calls.
There is ground north of me-" he
| repeated, and reported it to the main
office. After testing the wires for some
time the trouble was located at Pine
| Bluff. Explanation was asked for, and
the wholesouled Ned confessing that
something had bewitched him in Mill
| dale, was pardoned at the headquarters,
and the matter dismissed.
But into the heart of Robin Price crept
d dark suspicion, which no syllogism of
his sweetheart seemed true enough to
obliterate. So a deep jealousy budded
| in his life, that each day unfolded and
perfected.
Il will leave her, " he muttered. 'Why
toll and sweat out an existence for a
creature who will perhaps wreck my
manhood, as she has threatened my
youth?' And with these thoughts ami
mating his purpose he seized the KEY
and called Md" signing Ed those
being the letters that designated the two
stations, Millda1e and Fairfield.
Nellie recognized the stroke and,
springing from her pet birds cage to the
table, opened the key and, after making
| several excited dots, signed Aer Office
call Md
Il leave on No. % for California"
were the words that the little brass
sounder sang out. ''To-night's express
| brings you package and letter that
explains all. You have been false" the
instrument continued to sing, and then
came pause and the circuit closed.
Burning shame and indignation that
! he should thus accost her on a line
where perhaps several dozen were list
| ening first seized her, and pride kept
whispering in poor Nellie's ear. Open
| ING again the key, she vehemently fin
gered it a moment and then plainly and
leisurely drummed out the most provok-
ing 20. X"
But O how she longed to call it
back! How willingly she would have
told him all, not trying to hide the scald-
inc tears that forced their way down
her bty'ning cheeks. But it was too late
Robins fears We're now confirmed.
| He was boarding the train for his west
ern tour when some one slapped him on
| the shoulders, eXclaiming. Hello, old
| pard! What's the latest from Milldale?"
But. seeing the desperate glare in his
! rivals eve. he drew back foot or two.
''You coward" groaned Robin. How
| dare YOU meddle with my heart and now
openly try to humiiate me?n But as he
| entered the coach Ned seized his arm,
saying. Don't be rash. Rob. Come
back into the office and will make
everything as clear as my conscience.
They did go back into the office,
| closed the door. and No. % went whiz-
| zing around the bend short one passen-
ger.
Poor Nellie! The next few weeks were
long and empty. The spring wind, in
stead of blossoming the roses on her
! checks, kissed away the flush and left
her face wan and expresSionless. Back
/ and forth she went TO the little office.
/ which. like neglected flower, had lost
/ its freshness. The canary was dropping
upon the perch from thirst and hunger,
1 the desk was in confusion, and every
thing about the room reflected her feel
/ ings.
The spring time had made many
changes upon the wire. Ned had de-
serted his post and new operator had
taken charge of his Office, which had
| always been a kind of playground foI