The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-14
LOVE BY WIRE.
The affair" Between the Opera
tors at md" and ed"

tors at MD. anu FO.
Nellie and Rob had quarreled. Not
as do many lovers, tor both were opera
tors and had charge of offices whose
wires were too busy to permit OF any
war of words; but just enough space
had occurred 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
between telegraph operators. Nellie's
tender touches upon the key could alone
quiet the nervous twitching Of Robins
arm when worn out by the rush OF
messages and train orders. She it was
who seasoned the magnetism of dots
and dashes with balm that kept his
heart sweet and wholesome. This she
often did weaving the good mornings
and good evenings into lengthy tete-a-
tete.
1t so happened one winter evening
that Ned Owens, the operator at Pine
Bluff. a little station intervening between
Milldale 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
pretty and scintillating cousin, She,
however, was not kept in the dark as to
the proceedings, and together they con-
cocted a scheme to make the devoted
Rob Price jealous.
IL re, III f,,,, t, Gro that Rob
is fretting and Tuning over trouble
that he believes to be caused by a fallen
pole or dislodged tree" said the hand
some Ned, his black eyes twinkling
mischief.
"And I, in irving 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 anxlously
agains the embroidered foot-stool that
adorned the little Office.
Poor Nellie Trumont! Little does she
dream that long hours of suffering must
atone for short intervals of heartless
ness and coquetry. So every day thu
ground wire went on, just at the time
when Robin had few minutes of res
TO talk with his affianced, but no an
swers came to his repeated calls.
There is a ground north Of me" N
repeated, and reported it to the mail
Office. After testing the wires for SOM
time the trouble was located at Pin
Bluff. An explanation was asked for
and the whole-souled Ned, confessins
that something had bewitched him
Milldale, was pardoned at headquarters
aud the matter dismissed.
But into the heart of Robin Prlc
crept dark suspicion, which no syllog
ism of his sweetheart seemed true enoug
to obliterate. So adeep jealousy budde
in his life, that each day unfolded an
perfected.
II will leave her" he muttered. "Wh
toll and sweat out an existence for
creature who will perhaps wreck m
manhood, as she has threatened m
youth?" And with these thoughts an
mating his purpose he seized the key an
called md" 81 gning "Fd," those bein
the letters that designated the two sts
tons, Milldale and Fairfield.
Nellie recognized the stroke ant
springing from her pet birds cage
the table, opened the key and, after NAL
ing several excited dots, signed her o
fee call, md"
II leave on No 90 for California,
were the words that the little bra
sounder sang out, "To-night's expre
brings you package and a letter th'
explains all. You have been false, tt
instrument continued to sing, and the
came pause and the circuit closed.
Burning shame and indignation tn
he should thus accost her on a lii
where perhaps several dozen were Ii
tening first seized her, and pride ke
whispering in poor Nellie's ear. Ope
ing again the key, she vehemently ii
gered it moment and then plainly al
leisurely drummed out the most provo
ing 80. K"
But 0 how she longed to call it bac
How willingly she would have told hi
all, not trying to hide the scalding tea
that forced their way down her burnil
cheeks. But it was too late. Robin
fears were now confirmed. He W
boarding the train for his Western to
when some one slapped him on t
shoulder, exclaiming: "Hello, old par
What's the latest from Milldale?" BIZ
seeing the desperate look in his riva
eye, he drew back foot or two.
You coward groaned Rob-
"How dare you NEEDLE with my he's
and now openly try to humiliate me
But as he entered the coach Ned seiz
his arm, saying: Don't be rash, b
Come back into the Office and | "
make every thing as clear as my &C
science"
They did 60 back into the Off
closed the door, and No. % went VIII
zing around the bend short one passe
ger.
Poor Nellie! The rext few wee
xrarn la.,o. sx.,.;