The morning call., 1892-10-21
THE WIRES STORY.
A Sketch From Real Life of Intere,ts
Telegraph Operators.
New York Sun

1t was little railway station far baek %
the country, but less than 200 miles fEatn
New York, where two roads crossed { eh
other. Barring the click of the telegr %
instrument In the little coop of an of e.
not a sound could be heard to break re
unusual qCietness of the summer day.
which was just dying into dusk. The til 50
passengers who had changed cars and were
waiting for their respective trains viii ed
away the time as best they could. Two of
them had their thoughts buried in novels.
The third found recreation in what the
Gathering lips of the electric sounder had
to say. 1t had been long time since ne
had listened to the tattle OF 4 telegraph
wire, and the familiar sound Fascinated
him. He heard distant stations report the
passing of trains and employees and officials
communicate with each other. The pretty
Young woman who occupied the little coor
was busily at work writing. She paid Pc
attention to the instrument On the third
finger of her left hand she wore modest
little gold ring, set with small diamond.
Finally the sounder stopped its eyerlastlne
clatter. The quietness was beginning %
get oppressive, when the oid-tlme operator
rusty ears heard the sonnder click out TIE
letters "PP' twice and MN" once. He saw
smile creep over the face OF the yonHe
woman. and then heard the click back i,
1t was the operator at NJ GAZING her. and
she was answering him.
'Ground a minute" was flashed ba Z
over the wire.
The oldtimer prieked up his ears instant
He knew that the operator at NJ
something to say which be did not want =
chief at the other end of the wire heyoRl
p to hear. So lie had asked the young
woman TO ground the wire ana seha u
secret into the earth after it had reaeled
"I'll be over on No. 7. Jo." chartered the
sounder.
"Good- by. Don't forget TO take ground
off," 10 answered.
Ill" the young woman replied. WHICH
signified that she wonld not forget
Then the sounder began to rattle WITH
the business Of the road again, while ne
young woman busted herself with putt g
away her work and preparing for the recep
ton of favored visitor. She glanced az
the clook frequently and anxousy.
'Os, os, os," finally rapidly ratified as
snunder to attract the attention Of the Ch p.
| mo. on time. Mn"
| The young woman smiled and srtTe.n
! self beside Her instrument to repeat Ma
| report for him, il the chief should accident
| allv have let it slip by. She always did ials
fer the young man who had given the I'M.
| TO her, as he reported the train just & I
| pulled out Of his station and then caught
| on the fiy.
Promptly on time the engineer OF M.
whistled for the crossing at P. The thfes
/ passengers gathered up their traps and Ven
| out upon the platform The young womHr
| stood just within the doorway. The train
pulled slowly into the station. The eondue
| tor jumped of quickly. BE had a sad tx
/ preston upon his face. He led the your.
| woman into her little Office, while the trail
| hands lifted covered stretcher out of 81
| baggage ear and carried il into the waiting
| room OF the little station. The c0nduclo
! hurried out and gave the signal TO the eng
| neer, and the train pulled away. leayia
| two train hands behind with the stretch 4
/ "They were to have been married nt4
| month";" the conductor said to the OF
timer. "He waited to report US out, anda
attempting to board the train slipped undo
| the wheels, poor fellow"
wear later the old-timer had occasio,
To stop at the same little station again
There was strange face In the little te Z
graph coop. The young woman haa died /
Consumption the new operator said. n
conductor of No attributed her death 10
broken heart.