The Arizona sentinel., 1886-04-17

on her cheeks, kissed away the flush ant left her face wan and expressionless Back and forth she went to the littl office, which, like a neglected flower had lost its freshness. The canary wa dropping upon the perch from thirst ant hunger, the desk was in confusion, ant every thing about the room reflected he feelings. The spring time had made many changes upon the wire. Ned ha( deserted his post and a new operator had taken charge of his office, whicl had always been kind of playground for her, where she gamboled at will But now how changed! She would no dare to call this newcomer, who seemed always rushed with business, and the night operator at Fairfield had slipped into her lover's chair quite naturally and taunted her with many an insinua ton whenever she asked for informa tion or showed a willingness to con verse.
 Sitting one afternoon breeding over the past and dreaming of the Fal West she was aroused from the lethargy by her instrument clattering out hel office call, and continuing to repeat the same until she had duplicated the let ters in answer.
 ''Good evening, Miss N. I learned 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 sprightliness?" said the same little sounder that had been tolling a funeral knell for so long.
 "Good evening"" was Nellie's timid response. ''You seemed always occu- pied and feared to intrude. 5
 ''ha, ha," rattled 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 I did-as I did-ahem!-the lady opera tor on the c. & A. line where I came srom."
 'Most any way" replied Nellie. q crochet and make verses sometimes when there is Hull on the line" Then the demon of her old self came back to her and revived her spirits. ''How prettily you send,' wrote the dainty fingers. ''Go ahead. I love to hear you"
 Thanks" said the operator, begin ming to make each sentence more com plex and throwing alternate reflections of sunshine and shadows into them, which fairly dazzled Nellie's poetic na- ture and made an electric tremor creep along her nerves and flash through every fiber of her hungry heart. ''I hope to have many more such chats with you. Goodnight. Some ones calling on No. g."
 Thus it was that within the space of half an hour Nellie's heart had under gone reaction, 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 darkened it, and all because she was loved by a stranger-the new operator. Try as she would, she could not help associating him with her truant lover. At times their touches upon the key were the same and their expressions fac-similes. One day she essayed to ask, in a seem- lngly lndlnerent tone:
 Ibid you ever know B. who worked days at 'Fd?'"
 "Know whom?" clicked the instru- ment in return.
 Rob Price," replied Nellie, with a tremble upon the last dot.
 "Hai The dunce who broke his heart over your piece of fun with Ned? I should say I had heard of him few times. I understand he is burying him. self in mining camp out West, and his health is declining. Weeds must have sunshine as well as flowers, you know; but say, don't make me jealous by try ing to resurrect him. May I come up and see you? l 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 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 nasty toilet and sguntered 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 slowly to the platform, and Ned Owens came bounding into the room, kissing her until her cheeks were aglow with bushes.
 "NeI," he said, "I beg thousand pardons for abandoning you as I did. but I have surprise for you," and throwing the door wide open he pre- sented to her the new operator-Robin Price.
 There he stood, with extended arms, looking handsomer than ever, with the same soft hair curling over his brow.
 Nellie uttered little shriek and fell n his arms.
 
 Years and years have slipped by since hen. Nellie is a happy mother, who lraws her children about her at twilight md tells them stories of her truant over, of Ned, and the New Operator.- Chicago Tribune.
 The Mystic Number Eleven.