Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-12-11
ROMANCE OF THE DESERT.
Hsw He Married His Friend at the Other
End of the Wire.

make warm friends with each other
with no other Means of communication
than the insensate wire. and more than
once friendships thus made have lasted
for years without either person having
so much as had a glimpse OF the others
features. Ii is not often, however, that
courtship is carried on under such
circumstances but pretty little ro-
nance comes from the desert which
had for its sequel the recent registra-
tion at a prominent hotel of u. j.
Stansburv and wife, jackson Springs,
Cal" The story is repeated by the
Los Angeles Herald in the words OF
the hero himself.
About year and a half ago, said
he, Il wac railroad agent and tele-
graph operator at little station down
on the desert side OF Yuma. The sta
tion consisted Of mott ing more than a
big water-tank. a shed for myself and
another for small crew OF trackmen.
There for nearly n year put in the
ioneliest and hottest time that l ever
passed in my life. The thermometer
had way OF monkeying around be-
tween 100 and $50 degrees above zero
on most days, and almost my only
pleasure was found in talking over the
wires with operators at various sta
lions along the line.
Il had never seen the operator at
Banning at that time. but he was
cheerful, jolly sort OF fellow. and as
slime also hung heavily upon his hands
We passed many pleasant hour in
conversation over the wires. We had
sort OF half arranged TO get vacation
together, and there was a good deal OF
joyful nnticipation-on my part at
east-Of the manner in which we
should pass It. We were to go into
the mountains and spend two or three
weeks In hunting fishing, etc. All OF
cur plans were arranged in those
scorching and lonely days, and we
usually agreed In our ideas of the
preparations, although there was oc-
casionally little difference of opinion.
Il remember, for instance, that he
said he was going to take along pair
| sf rubber boots for trout fishing. while
] asked him: What's the matter with
your taking off your shoes and stock
ings and rolling up your pants" But
he said that he preferred boots. As
the time drew near however. he, for
some reason that / could not under
stand, backed s1uarely out of the en-
terprise, much to my disgust.
Finally, he told me one day that he
wa going to New Mexico to pass his
vacation. and we anticipated consider
able pleasure in meeting each other
during the trains brief stop at my
station. But | did not meet him at
al, for when the train that bore him
arrived | was sick and unconscious
with burning fever the result Of my
long stay under the torrid sun.
Unto the fever-t tortured brain there
sometimes creeps a semiconsciousnes
of the lie about it. and SO during the
days of my agony / was vaguely aware
OF gentle, womanly hands and kind
ly feminine pre- sence in my sick room,
and when | returned TO the conscious
world ] was not surprised to find fair
and pleasant face beside me. She said
that she had been upon the train when
| was found stricken down, and had
stayed to minister TO my sore need.
The idea may seem preposterous, but
i believe the foundation OF ny affection
for my kind attendant had been laid
while the Inconsistencies of fever was
still upon me, and the affection grew
into the deepest love as she cared for
me during the days of my GONZALES
sence.
After u time ventured to tell her
81 my love, and to ask her II she
would be mine; but / was not prepared
for her answer.
Z" John, she said do you really
mean that you wish 10 marry u girl
that insists upon wearing rubber boots
and will not-roll--'
I" Matt l said, for was completely
beaten. Then 1t flashed upon me. She
was the operator at Banning, and l.
| like fool, had always taken IL for
granted that she was man.
| well, | am not going to tell how /
convinced her that wanted to marry
her. boots and all. but I'did 1t, and
like Barl1is, she was willin', and here
We are on our wedding journey. The
Southern Pacific has lost an operator,
but calculate that am ahead on the
deal"
II Ia igslA a fuiF m