The state capital., 1892-01-16
A LONELY PLACE.
Romantic Story Of the Telegraphic
Wires.

4GSAAAth44O otoA y "a bAAO 40AOSA CbkJ1A1S
Wires.
"You will find it a lonely, out-of-th the
way place-a perfect wilderness-but
it is all that have at my command at
present, and if you are brave enough
to go down into the marshy country
and do the combined work of agent
and telegrapher you can have the ap-
pointment,'' said Superintendent
Nash, referring to a vacancy on rail
road line that traversed the wild,
mountainous section of Virginia soil.
II cannot say that I am tlattered
with the picture you draw, sir, but, as
| am looking for a situation and beg
gars shouldn't be choosers, [ will take
my chance and try my luck until
something better turns up" said Hugh
Gordon, the young man addressed
Every WE'LL" replied the superin-
tendent, shortly. IF you attend to the
business properly we shall not give
ourselves any uneasiness about how
for such it will practically be, and
you cannot say that failed to warn
you," he added, as he turned away.
Then to himself he soliloquized: THAT
chap will not be in Benning a fort
night He's fresh from school and has
been accustomed to civiliz ed society, so
it is not proba BILE that he'll do a bit bet
ter than his predecessors He'll be
back at the end of a week, and | shall
not blame him, either, for it is the
most God-forsaken place / was ever
in"
But he was mistaken, for though
Hugh found it all that he represented
it, he was not easily discouraged and
took hold of the work with as much
energy as if the place were in the very
center of life and business. Adhering
to the old adage: ''Whatever is worth
doing at all is worth doing well" he
performed his various duties in the
best manner possible, and, though the
railroad officials said nothing, from the
way they glanced around the waiting
room-as clean and bright as soap and
water could make tit was evident
that they had no fault to find with the
new methods which the college bred
telegrapher had inaugurated.
There was no doubt about it's being a
lonely place, and except the people in
the well-filled trains that flew past
without stopping and the rough section
hands, who occasionally came in to
light their pipes and chat few min
utes, he scarcely ever saw a human face.
After he had been there some weeks
through the wires ne formed the ac-
quaintance of Frank Reynolds, the
operator at Mantua, a small station
fifty miles further on in the wilder
ness. After their first introduction the
two spent many pleasant hours con-
versing on congenial subjects.
One day just after Hugh had returned
from his dinner the ticking of his in
strument left this message for him:
FRIEND HUGH: l have just received word
that my fortnight's vacation is to begin this
afternoon. My substitute is here already, and
/ will be off this evening. Will pass through
Benning on No. 8. Be out to wave congratula-
tions. AS ever, FRANK"
"Eureka!" calculated Hugh. Il wish
that train would consent to drop him
off. Wouldn't we have jolly time to-
gether? Wonder if he could not get an
order to have it stop. There would be
no harm in trying, at any rate" and
then back over the wires he asked
Cant you get an order to have the train roll
you off at Benning? l should like to have the
pleasure of your company during few Of your
vacation days"
few minutes later he had his an
swer:
NO s is tyrant, with rules and regulations
that never change; consequently l cannot
honor myself by accepting your offer OF hospi-
tality."
What can't be cured must be en-
dured," muttered Hugh, disconsolately,
when he knew the decision. "Wcll,
there is one thing sure-I'll see the
dear fellows face" and having nothing
else to do he fell to weaving fancies
concerning the appearance of Frank
Reynolds, for up to the present date
the young operator had studiously
avoided exchanging pictures, and
further than that he had brown hair
and eyes Hugh had not the remotest
idea of the looks Of the friend he had
learned to esteem SO highly.
NO EiS.SStu
short time before midnight, and twen-
ty minutes later the lightning express
thundered down the steep grade at the
rate of mile minute, fairly shaking
the little frame depot on its founda-
tioEa At Lyman, two miles above,
the two trains met-the one reaching
the place first side tracking until the
other one passed.
Al there was no night operator at
Benning, and no important trains
stopped during the night, Hugh was at
liberty to close up the Office and go
home at ten o'clock, but he was quite
a Dighthawk, and usually remained at
his post until after the hands of the
clock marked the hours of the old day
off and began with its long fingers to
count the minutes of the new.
On this particular night he was so
wrought up on account of the treat in
store for him that he found it impossi-
BILE to study or even become much in
terested in the new novel that lay with
its leaves only partially cut on his Of
6ce table.
How long he sat there, sleeping or
day-dreaming, he scarcely could tell.
1t must have been over an hour. how
ever, for it was long after the clock
had struck eleven when he was startled