The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-09-27
SELECTED STORY.
Struck by Lightning.

The time was eleven p. NJ. The scene
was summer boarding-house on a
mountain top in the Berkshires. The
speaker was Mr.. Ga gray haired
man who was seated on the broad
piazza, we'll sheltered from the wet,
while storm was id progress that had
30 terrified the whole population of the
house as to keep all of them out of bed
in spite of the late hour. The lightning
came in flashes of binding vividness,
and the crashes of thunder that fol
lowed almost split our ears.
"Thank YOU" called in response,
81 am very well satisfied in here. You
are welcome to the nearer and more
perfect view" And L continued to
hug my chimney corner and endeav-
ored to bury my attention in book.
What's the matter? 1t is dry where
i am sitting"
CT dare say. You are an electrician
and don't mind such things. To tell
YOU the truth, l have no fancy for be.
ing struck by lightning-thaps ALL"
The old man laughed. " You couldn' t
find safer place than right here be-
side me-" said he.
"Why?"
because lightning never strikes
struck one"
This was too much of a temptation to
resist. Upon his promise to tell me the
story, went out and shared his So
ciety for the rest of the storm.
at was when / was about twenty-five
years DID," he began, "and telegraphy,
as we know it, was in its infancy.
There was no great Western Union sys-
tenn spanning the continent, but dozens
of little lines were in use here, there
and everywhere. | wanted to learn the
art, having taste for electricity, and
being at the time engaged in expert
ments to perfect system of insulation
more adapted to the needs of the tele-
graph than any then known. l was
poor; my collegiate course had eaten
up what little money my father had left
me, and the experiments l was making
were too costly for my purse; but l
felt that if / could only keep in food,
clothing and shelter long enough to
carry through the work l was engaged
in, there was competency in store
for me. To get employment in connec.
ton with the telegraph, where l could
make applications of my discoveries
in small way, was the height of my
desire for the present.
zone day l learned that number Of
New York business men, chic fly bank
ers and brokers, had resolved to run a
line from the city to New Rochelle, so
as to connect their dwellings in that
suburb with their offices in town, and
enable them, if at home, to be advised
instanter of any information OF import
ance. The cost of putting up the
wires was considerable, however, and
they were looking for some one to take
care of the New Rochelle Office who
would not charge very much for his
services. l saw my chance at once,
and volunteered to take the place at a
modest salary if they would hire some
experienced telegrapher to instruct me
in the alphabet and signs. The bar
gain was struck; obtained my rudi-
mentary lessons for nothing, and in the
course of month was duly installed al
the key.
Gall went well until one hot summer
afternoon-such one as this was q
few hours ago-when heavy clouds
gathered in the sky and a greenish hue
pervaded the atmosphere. In those days
so little was known of insulating pro-
cesses that no operator ever attempted
to stay at his key when thunderstorm
came up. This one approached slowly
and / was warned of it also by hasty
dispatch from the New York man
Storm coming. Shall close till it is
over therefore gathered up some
of my papers and started to go to
another room in the building ill the
storm had spent itself AS was about
locking my office door l was addressed
by one of the most beautiful women
ever saw She was apparently about
twenty years of age. Her large, lus
trous eyes were full of tears and hel
voice was broken as she spoke.
"'Oh, SIR she cried, you are no
going away? want to sent message.
81 am sorry, madam l answered
'but there is storm approaching and
am compelled 10 leave my instrument.
"' But this is matter of life an(
death. l must get word to New Yorl
at once
"'That will be impossible, for tn,
New York operator has left his end O.
the line, too
"Is there not some signal by which
you can call him back?'
"' He would not respond il tried it
He would be afraid to sit with his hant
on the key while the lightning playet
30 close
'''But the storm may be over in New
York before this. Won't you make tn
effort to call him-for my sake?'
'And then she poured forth he
story. Her brother was dying, and sh
was alone with him and the servants q
their home in the village. Unless sh
could get word to their father, who wa
in the city, neither he nor their mothe
would be able to see the young ma
alive.
~ tried to explain to her what ris
it meant for me,-but-well, l wa
younger then than now A look int
those pleading, fearful eyes was to
much, and broke down in the midi
of my argument. l believe l woul
have gone to the stake for her if sh
had asked me in that way Back
went. The storm had broken meal
while, and the thunder crashed as