The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-11-12
Dispatches That Were Urgent

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Telegraph operators who have sen
dispatches of all kinds for years nigh
be excused if they were to show no SUI
prise at any message that could be Sent
1t is only natural that there should be
dreary routine in the work which ban
ishes all degree of excitement in any
thing The writer once met a telegraph
superintendent who had handled al
electric key in all parts of this country
He had stored in his mind fund o
"reminiscences, and as toe time dragged
heavily he ratified off story after story.
1T was good many years ago" b.
said. when / was not SO old as | an
now, and perhaps more sentimental
that | won husband for a girl. | was
an operator then in a town out in Ohio
hadn't much to do, and / used to sill
in a window a good deal to watch the
people on the station platform of the
railroad One day | caught sight of a
young man and young woman who were
in earnest conversation. He was dressed
for travelling, and was evidently waiting
! for the next train. AS the time for the
arrival of the train drew near the young
man seemed to become desperate, for he
paced up and down the platform nerv-
ously, talking very rapidly.
'"Thensthe train came gliding in.
saw the girl shake her head, and he said
something which made her turn pale.
| 81 Tod nd 10
climbed up the car steps without turn
ing to look back She gave lite cry,
but he did not hear it; his train was
gone.
SIT was two days after this that the
young woman came into the telegraph
office, with a white face and red -tinged
eyelids. She came up to me and spoke
rapidly in frightened whisper.
50 want to send telegram, she said.
You must send it right away. It's to
New York, and it must be delivered be-
fore o'clock this afternoon.
.sShe was trying to write, but her
fingers trembled so that she could not
guide the pencil.
"'Let me write it,, said.
"'Oh, thank you,' she answered, and
then she gave me the address. There
were Just two words in the message,
come back.
"'Can't you get it there before four
o'clock?' she asked, breathlessly. You
must. He will leave his hotel then to
catch a steamer Her voice faltered
here.
s'I'm afraid not, / said. The differ
ence in time, you know, makes it hard
work to do that.
"'Oh, she cried, I forgot about the
difference. in time. What shall | dor
6 'Send two, said, all the while work
ing on my key. to get my wire. Send
| one to the hotel and one to the steamer
'She was crying now, SO that | could
not hear her answer, but | knew what
she wanted. l never worked SO hard
before or since to get messages through.
And all the while that poor girl watch
| ed my fingers with a look in her eyes
| that made me swear I'd get them
through if quick work could do it.
/ 1
| drew long breath.
Well I said, they are gone, and |
! looked at the clock This made her
| shiver.
| ''She would not leave the office, and
as the minutes slipped away began to
| feel the dreadsthat was reflected in her
eyes, | knew the steamer must have
started now. | felt as if l had committed
murder, but she was silent and pale
Only her look was reproachful as if |
had failed her.
FINALLY it came There was a click
and flash of color was in her cheek.
"'What is it?n she said. .'Quickl What
is it?'
"'It's for you'll shouted like the boy
that was; 'hurrah! he's coming for I
was so excited that I forgot to give her
the message.
"Then I wrote it out for her Pm
coming. God bless you, 1 was on the
steamer She cried over that piece of
yellow paper, and l think that the hulk
ing country boy who gave it to her had
d CHOKING Ill GIlo UuEOal, 100
'Well, there was wedding short
while after that The only one l knew
in the party was the bride. You know
how / met her. But the country opera
tor was at that wedding, and when the
bridegroom grasped my hand he shook
in a way that hurt. He sent me letter
from the East afterward asking me to
come on to 60 into big telegraph office
where he had secured place for me.
II had another experience in send
ing in my younger days in which / got
greatly interested. 1t was after | went
East l partly broke down and got
transferred for one summer to a water
ing place.
zone day dignifed, we'll dressed man
of middle age came hurriedly into the
office
''Send this att once, he said in
strained tone.
II reached for my key, and as | clicked
away to get New York | watched him.
His teeth were ground together, and his
fingers clinched the rail so fiercely that
they were absolutely bloodless.
"tGet it, he said between his teeth.
Get it there or am ruined
"Then l saw that his dispatch was in
cipher, and / remembered that that
morning had received one in cipher.
when | had sent the last word he
became deathly W b lite and leaned
against the wall family, tanning himself
with his hat / have never seen such
an intense look of agony on a mans
face as was on his. He seemed to have
strength enough only to look at his
watch every minute or two.
His answer came back in cipher. He
braced himself before reading it.
"'Thank Godl he said in low voice,
and the next thing l knew | felt bill
in my hand. Before / could cry out to
him that l would not take his money,
he was gone.
II afterward learned that he was also
| an operator-one of the heaviest oper>
ators in Wall street. often think about
my having saved a millionaire from
ruin.n-N. Y. Tribune.
|