The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-11-12
ROMANCE OF TIL: DESERT.
How lie Married His Friend at the Other
End of the Wire.

telegraph operators usually make
warm friends with each other with no
other means of communication than
the lnScnsate wire. and more than once
friendships. thus made have lasted for
years without either person having so
much rs had Il glimpse of the others S
features. 1t IS not often. however.
that courtship Is carried on under
such circumstances. but Il pretty little
romance comes from the desert which
had for its sequel the recent reois.ra-
ton ut a prominent hotel of j. j.
Stansbury and wife. Jackson Springs,
Cal" The story is repeated bv the
Los Angeles Uerdid in the words of the
hero himself
About year and Il half ago" said
he, Il was a railroad agent and tele-
graph operator ut Il little station down
on the desert side of Yuma. The
station consisted of nothing more than
big water-tank, a shed for myself,
ami another for small crew of track
men. There for nearly wear | put
IN the lonelieSt and the hottest time
that | ever passed in my life. The
thermometer had Il way of monkeying
around between 100 and $50 degrees
above zero on most DAYS, and almost
my only pleasure was found in talking
over the wires with the operators ut
various stations along the line.
Il had never seen tie operator at
Banning at that time. but he was
cheerful jolly sort Of fellow. and as
tms also hung heavily upon his hands
we passed many pleasant hour in
conversation over the wires. We had
sort of half arranged to Get vaca-
ton together. and there was good
deal of joyful anlicipation-on nv
part ut least-of the manner in which
we should pass it. We were to 90 IN
TO the mountains and spend two or
three weeks in hunting, fishing. etc.
All of our plans were arranged in
those scorchinw and lonely davs, and
we usually agreed in our ideas of the
preparations, although there was oc-.
casionaliy little difference of opinion
Il remember, for instance. that he
said lie was going TO take along Il pair
Of rubber boots for trout fishing. wh lie
| asked him: What's the matter with
you taking off your shoes and stock
lngs aud rolling up your pants?' But
he said that he preferred booCs. As
the time drew near, however. he. for
some reason that | could not umder-
stand. backed squarcly out of the en-
terprlse. much TO my disgust.
Finally, he told me one dav that
he was going 10 New Mexico 10 pass
his vacation. and We anticipated con-
siderable 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. l was sick and unconscious
with burning fever. the result of my
long stay under the torrid sun.
Into the fever-tortured brain there
sometimes creepS Il semicousciousness
of the life about it. and so during tho
days of my agony | was vaguely aware
OF gentle. womanly hands and Il kind
ly feminine preSence.in my SICK room.
and when | returned 10 the conscious
worIo | was not surprised to find a fair
and pleasant face beside me. She said
that she bad been upon the train when
/ was found stricken down, and had
stayed 10 minister To my sore need.
lhe idea may seem Preposterous. but
/ believe the foundation of my affection
for my Kind attendant had been laid
while the unconSciou>uess of fever
was still upon me. and the affection
grew into the deepest love us she cared
for me during the days of my conva-
leScence.
After Il time veniurcd to tell her
OF my love. and to ask her if she would /
be mine; but | was not prepared for /
her answer
John" she said. do YOU really !
mean that YOU wish TO marry Il Girl /
that insists upon wearing rubber .
boots and will noi-roll-'
"'Matr | said. for was completely /
beaten. Then ii flashed upon me. /
s. was the operator at Banning. and !
/, like fool. had always taken it for .
granted that she was Il man.
We'll, | am not going 10 tell how / .
convinced her that wanted TO marry /
her, boots and all but | did it. and. I
Ike barkIS. she was willin', and here
we are on our wedding Journey. The
Southern Pacific has lost an operator. s
but calculate that | am ahead ON The
DEAL
There are 10000 cash-girls in New
York eitv. [