Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-09-11
MY FIANCEE.


 I had been telegraphic operator at "B station" some six or eight months and had held communication of pure ly business character only with the operator at ID" when thcro came a change Death silently removed the old man who had been in charge there for so long, and n new operator was in stalled.
 A message spun along the line one February morning in this wise: Good morning, B." responded:
 Good morning. D." Then came the information, The old man died last night. and have taken his place"
 "What is yOur name:" asked.
 Nellie Merton. What is yours?'' A spirit of deviltry prompted my reply:
 "Ned Clayborn.
 Thank you" was tho concise re- sponsc Then message in real earnest came along the lines, and we were obliged to attend to business. Every day l bade my unseen acquaintance Good morning" and never closed up at night without n farewell message. A twinge of conscience racked me at times, and n ''still, small voice" whispered its warn ing, but the temptation was too great, and it was not long before 1 was send ing sly messages containing n good deal "atween the lines" to tho unseen Mel lie The replies to these messages were guarded, but hopeful, and grew bold CT. It was no end of fun.
 She told me her history. She had run away from home because her parents insisted upon marrying her to man she dctcstcd (and the last word came clicking viciously from my end of the linc). She would never marry him never. l advised her not to and hinted at an affection deeper and trucr than any the prcsuminG ''detestcd fellow' could offer.
 Well, the outcome of 1t was that l asked the unseen Nellie to bc my wife and even described tho littlc homo that was loncSumcly awaiting her coming. l was fiuundCring in deep water and could but trust tO n kind Providence to pull mo out. My fun" was becoming dead earnest. How wished the wires stretch ing between us were telcphonic, instead of tclcgraphic. that I could pCrchancC hear some exclamation or gain some token of how my message was received. But this was not to be, and I had tC possess my soul in patience. That vir- tuo was almost exhausted when the well known call fell upon my ears. flew to the instrument. It was concise and not very complimentary, Rather than marry that brute will risk it. " was in for it now and must perforce founder still deeper by sending raptur. | ous messages over the wires. l, Della Brown, was engaged to be married to q young lady had never seen. This was forcing the question of woman's rights.
 carried the fun" on for over three months, and every day it grew decided ly less funny" until began to brood | over the prcdicamcnt into which I had giddily led my feet. Tho time was rap idly approaching when would havo tC claim the bride had won in this nove and romantic manner. and my blood ran cold at the thought of how easy il would bc for her to learn of my pcrfidy and from all had seen of her temper l ltlN SAiit SAAN NNiuAtt WILL any one who would dare to play trick, upon her.
 At last l could bear it no longer, ant one day, just three weeks before wa to travel to ID" and claim my bride, boarded the train with altogether an other motive. It was to kiss and mak, up" after l had begged her with tear, to forgive me, etc.
 l found little house. with littl, sign ill blue and white swinging in tn, breeze. similar to the little house anC the little sign at "B." " It was ocCrpieC Ut the time by young man reading paper. looked at him without speak ing, and he returned the compliment il kind.
 "I wish to see Miss Nellie Merton, . said, and as he did not speak I wen on to explain. II am the operator Il 'B' and have an important message which must be delivered to her at once A moments delay means"- I pause, for word, and he spoke for the frs time.
 "So you are the operator at B ant desire to see Miss Merton? I am SOFT, to disappoint you; but, you see, Mis- Merton is at home at the present tim while l take her place. The fact she is going to be married and preparing for the great event. Sh cannot be seen personally, but if yo, will intrust the message to me wil deliver it immediately if you will b kind enough to take my place while run around to her house.. His coolness nearly distracted me. 1T must see herb l exclaimed excit edly.
 But you cannot" he said coolly . ''I have strict orders not to let any on know her whereabouts for day or tw until these extensive preparations aI , we'll under way"
 , was on the verge of tears, and wit ' n choke in my voice cried out. sinkin , into chair and holding up my hanC deprecatingly:
 Don't say another word You wi set me wild. If you will not tell n where to find Nellie. went on in de k ~H</