The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-04-30

said the same little sounder that had
been tolling funeral knell for 80 long.
"Good evening"" was Nellie's timid
response. "You seemed always occu
pied and I feared to7 7intrude."
"Ha, ha,' ratified the relay and
sounder, both seeming to enjoy the
change that had come over them
''You are mistaken. Business is dull
enough here. How do you pass your
leisure time | do not hear you as
often as | did-as l did-ahem the
lady operator on the c. .S A. line
where came from"
"Most any way" replied Nellie. 81
crochet and make verses sometimes
when there is lull on the line Then
the demon of her old self came back to
her and revived her spirits. "Iow
prettily you send" wrote the dainty
fingers. go ahead. / love to hear
you"
"Thanks, said the new operator, be-
ginning to make each sentence more
complex and throwing alternate refec-
tions of sunshine and shadow into
them, which fairly dazzled Nellie's po-
etc nature and made an electric tremor
creep along her nerves and flash through
every fibre of her hungry heart. II
hope to have many more such chats
with you. Good night. Some ones
calling on No o.
Thus it was that within the space of
half an hour, Nellie's heart had under
gone recreation, and something like
the old merriment crept into her bright
eyes Every day--brought a warmer
sunshine into her life, which was fast
chasing away the shadow that darken
ed it, and all because she was loved by
stranger-the new operator. Try as
she would, she could not help associat-
ing him with her truant lover. At
times their touches upon the key were
the same and their expressions facsimi-
lies. One day she assayed to ask in a
seemingl ly Indifferent tone:
'Did you ever know b. who work
ed days at Ed 2"
"Know whom ?" clicked the instru.
ment in return.
"Rob Price" replied Nellie with a
tremble upon the last dot
"Ha The Ounce who broke his
heart over your piece of fun with Ned +?
/ should say l had heard of him a few
times. understand he is burying
himself in a mining camp out west, ana
his health is declining. Weeds must
have sunshine as we'll as flowers, you
know ; but say, don't MAKE me jealous
by trying to resurrect him. May |
come up tomorrow and see you?
have a friend who is going to Milldale
and would like to accompany him.
said the new operator.
Certainly" retorted the Milldale Of
fee, and Nellie began. to smooth her
brown hair and arrange the papers up
on her desk as if it were dawn instead
of twilight
That night her dreams were trouble
some, and when the morning looked IN
the window there were 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 unlocked the door and
stood talking to little Jack, who was
caroling in his cage, when the train
whistled. The engine pulled up slow
ly to the platform, and Ned Owens
came bounding into the room, kissing
her until her cheeks were aglow with
bushes.
"Nell," he said, II beg thousand
pardons for abandoning you as l did,
but | have surprise for you," and
throwing the door wide open he pre-
sented to her the new eperator-Robin
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 fell
in his arms.
Years and years have slipped by
since then. Nellie is now 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. M IN Chicago
Tribune.