The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1886-05-19

tApIccSiOnlCcS. DstSn AiN Ao.e1 "a
went to the little office, which, lik
a neglected flower, had lost its fresh
ness. The canary was dropping up
on the perch from thirst and hunger
the desk was in confusion, and ev
erything about the room indicates
her feelings.
The spring time had made man,
changes upon the wire Ned ha'
deserted his post and new operate
had taken charge Of his office, which
had always been a kind of play
ground for her, where she gambolec
at will. But now how changed
She would not dare call this new
conner, who seemed always rushed
with business, and the night opera
tor at Fairfield had slipped into he
lovers chair quite naturally, anC
taunted her with many an lnsinu
alton whenever she asked for infor
nation OF showed a willingness Il
converse.
| Sitting one afternoon broodinl
over the past and dreaming of tn,
| far west she was aroused from th,
lethargy by the instrument clatter
ing out her Office call, and continu
ing to .epeat the same until she
had duplicated the letters in answer
GOOD evening, Miss n. | learn
ed yesterday through Ned Owens
night-man at Fairfield, that you
were a lady operator. Why have
YOU not called me before this and
driven away the spring fever with
your sprighiliness ?" said the same
little sounder that had been tolling
a funeral knell for so long.
GOOD evening" was Nellie's tim
id response. You seemed always
occupied and l feared to intrude."
Ha, ha," ratified the relay and
sounder, both seeming to enjoy the
change that had come over them.
80 You are mistaken. Business is
dull enough here. How do you
pass your leisure time? | do not
hear YOU as often as | did-as | did
-ahem the lady operator on the
c. &. line. where | came from
Most any way" replied Nellie.
81 crochet and make verses some-
times when there is lull on the
line" Then the demon of her old
self came back 10 her and revived
her spirits. How prettilr YOU send,
wrote the dainty fingers. go ahead,
! love to hear you"
Thanks" said the new operator,
beginning 10 make each sentence
more complex and throwing alter
nate reflections of sunshine and
shadow into them, which fairly daz-
zled Nellie's poetic nature, and
made an electric tremor creep along
her nerves and fash through every
fibre of her hungry heart. Il hope
to have many more such chats with
you. Good night. Someone's call
ing on No. 8.
Thus it was that within the space
of half an hour Nellie's heart had
undergone a reaction, and something
like the old merriment crept into
her bright eyes. Every day brought
warmer sunst inc into her heart,
that was fast chasing away the shad-
ow that had darkened it, and all
because she was loyed by a stranger
the new operator. Try as she
would, she could not help associat-
ing him with her truant lover. At
time their touches upon the key
were similar and their expressions
facsimilies. One day she essayed
to ask in a seemingly Indifferent
tone:
did you ever know b. who
worked days at Ed p"
Know whom ?" clicked the in
strument in return.
Rob Price y replied Nellie, with
tremble on the last dot.
"Hal The Ounce who broke his
heart over your piece of fun with
Ned ? | should say | had heard of
him a few times. | understand he
is buryiIg himself in a mining camp
out west, and his health is declining.
Weeds must have sunshine as well
as flowers, yeu know but say, don't
make me jealous by trying to resur-
rect him. May / come up to NOR
row and see you? | have friend
who is going to Milldale, and |
would like to accompany him." said
the new operator.
Certainly" retorted the Milldale
office, and Nellie began to smooth
her brown hair and arrange the pa
pers on her desk as if it were dawn
instead OF twilight.
That night her dreams were trou-
blesome, and when the morning
looked in the window there we're
tears upon her lashes. She made
hasty toilet and sauntered off to the
Office. wishing that a wreck would
delay the early train. She had just
the door and stood talking
to little Jack. who was caroling in
his cage, when the train whistled.
The engine pulled up slowly to the
and Ned Owens came
bounding into the room, kissing her
until her cheeks were aglow with
bushes.
Nell" be said, Il beg thousand
pardons for abandoning you as l
did, but l have a surprise fer you,"
and throwing the door wide open
be presented to her the new operator
Price.
There he stood, with extended
arms, looking handsomer than ever,
with the same soft hair curling over
his brow.
Nellie uttered little shrek and
Tell in his arms.
Years and years have slipped by
since then. Nellie is now a happy
mother. who draws her children
about her at twilight and tells them
stories of her truant lover. of Ned,
and the New Operator.-J l. H., an
Chicago Tribune.
Talking 1000 Miles.