The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-24
A ROMANCE OF TIE KEY.
Married His Friend at the Other End
of the Wire.


Telegraph operators frequently make
warm friends with each other with no
means Of Communication than the insensate
wire, and more than once friendships thus
made have lasted for years without either
person having 80 much as had glimpse
OF each others features. 1t is not
often, however, that courtshlp is carried
on under such circumstances, but a pretty
little romance comes from the desert which
had for its sequel the recent registration at
prominent hotel of u. j. Stansbury and
wife. jackson Springs. CAL" The story is
repeated by the Los Angeles Herald In the
words of the hero himself.
About year and half ago." said he,
u was a railroad agent and telegraph
operator at a little station down on the des-
ert side of Yuma The station consisted of
nothing more than q big water tank, a shed
for myself and another for a small crew OF
trackmen. There, for nearly year put
in the loneliest and the hottest time that /
ever passed in my life. The Thermometer
had way Of monkeVing around between
100 and 150' above zero on most days, q nd
almost my only pleasure was found in talk
ing over the wires with the operators at
various stations along the line.
II had never seen the operator at Ban
ming at that time, but he was a cheerful,
jolly sort of fellow, and as the time also
hung heavily opon his hands we passed
many pleasant hour in conversation over
the wires. We had sort OF half arranged to
get vacation together and there Yves good
deal OF joyful anticipRtion-on my part at
least-of the manner in which we should
pass it. We were going into the mountains
and Gpend two or three weeks in hunting.
fishing, etc. All of our plans were arranged
In those scorchiug and lonely days. and we
usually agreed on cur ideas Of the prepara-
tlons, although there was occasionally
little difference of opinion.
II remember, for instance, that he said
he was going to take along pair Of rubber
boots for trout fishing, while l asked him:
What's the matter with your taking off
your shoes aud stockings and rolling up
your pantsp But be said that he preferred
boots. As the time drew near however, he,
for some reason that could not understand,
backed sqUareIy out OF the enterprise,
much to my disgust.
FINALLY, he told me one day that he was
going to New Mexico TO pass his vacation,
and we anticipated considerable pleasure in
meeting each other during the trains brief
stop at my station. But did not meet him
at all, for when the train that bore him
arrived was sick and unconscious, with a
bur ning fever, the result of my long stay
under the torrid sun.
Into the fever-tortured brain there some
times creepS emlco15clousneSs or the life
about it, and 80 during the days of my
agony l was vaguely aware of gentle,
womanly hands and a kindly feminine
presen1 % in my sick room, and when | re-
turned 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 l was found stricken down
and had staid to minister to my sore need.
The idea may seem prepcsterous, but l be-
lieve the foundation of my affection for my
kind attendant had been laid while the u -
consciousness of fever was still upon me,
and the affection grew into the deepest love
as she cared for me during the days of my
convalesence.
after time | ventured TO tell her of my
love, and ask her il she would be mine; but
was not prepared for her answer.
john she said, do you really mean
that you wish to marry a girl that insists
upon wearing rubber boots, and not
roll
MATT said, for | was completely
beaten. Then it flashed upon me. She was
the operator at Banning and l like fool,
had always taken it for granted that she
was man.
"Weh, am not going to tell how 1 con-
WINGED her that / wanted to marry her,
boots and all, but did it, and. like Barkis,
she was wIllin' and here We are on:our we'd
| ding journey. The Southern Pacific has
lost an operator, but l calculate that am
ahead on the doa!."