Birmingham age-herald., 1895-03-16
THROUGH THE WIRE.

Li,,le Miss Myers was seated at a sew ing machine working over dress Mrs. Runklo and her daughters had gone off to sec military parade, and sho had time to dream of tho past. a
 Sho was a southern girl whose family had been ruined during the war It had also deprived her of hof lover, Henry Dean, whom she had not sec m in years.
 In tho midst of her rcvorie there was call at tho telephone, and being alone in tho house she went to answer it.
 Tho voice was mans. "Who are you:' sho asked.
 "Henry Dean Is that you, Aunt Janee I'm down at tho depot. Start for Baltf- moro in ten minutes and thought I'd say, How do you do and goodby.' Have found another clew. Pray heaven 1t may lead to something. Have you any message for the Carrolls?"
 There was a pause while Miss Myers stood there at tho instrument, clutching the car piece as if it had been rope that was to save her from drowning By su- promo effort of will she had recovered from tho shock the mention of that name had given her, and now her brain was reeling with doubt, uncertainty and long ing. What ought she to do' Should she reply and tell who she really was or not' It was evident that there was something wrong with the wires, and that MT. Dean imagined himself to be talking to his aunt. What claim had the little Miss Myers on him now, after all those yoarsS Very likely he was happily married and therefore was it not Miss Myers plain and &o ( hot eha mi mi Jano" and then go back to her works At this instant peculiar clicking in the in- strument warned her that the wire might be switched of at any moment and her opportunity be lost.
 HI arry," she called out softly.
 It was the name he had asked her to give him 90 years ago, and now 1t camo to her lips and passed from them into the instrument almost bofore she realized it was spoken.
 "Agnes is 1t you? Where are you' Street and number Instantly before the connecticut
 She heard no more, but with gasp called out the Runkels' address, then flung up tho earpiece and dropped into hor chair with face as white as snow. Yet even now the instinct to work was strong with in hor and not many minutes had elapsed before hor feet werc again on tho treadle and the whir of the machine once moro filled tho room. Now, however, its accom- panying rhythm in her brain was not all in tho past tense, for Did he hear meP Will he come2. kept up it's ceasoless throb till it seemed as if the words must be stitched to every seam of tho shirt she was making.
 But as the time went by the littlo dress maker tried to prepare her heart for the disappointment.
 "I may havo dreamed it all while listen ing to the playing of Marching Through Georgia so many blocks away she said to herself "It's 90 years sinco wo parted and he was 20 then and I Is. Absence. thcy say, is the tomb of love- and though, of course, with mel Here Miss Myers sprang up with the second little scream she had given that morning.
 This time, however, it was not tho tele- phono, but tho front door bell that had startled her.
 II must open it myself. There's nobody else.'' And sbe hurried out to the stair. 'I dare say it's only tho millincr's boy with Miss Hclen's bonnet
 But was it for the sake of the miil!ner' E boy that little Miss Myers paused to give her hair smoothing before the hatrack mirror in the halla And surely no mil liners boy was ever so received on his business rounds as this one when the dool was opened and closed1nobody renem' bered how or by whom-on a tabloau that would have delighted tho soul of g,ssipy Miss Rickctt over the way could sho but havo seen 1t.
 Yes, it was Harry" 90 years older, to be suro, but handsomer If possible, than ever, with not q gray hair in his head nol a wrinkle on his face, md with such pas sion of love in his deep bluo eyes that lit to Miss Myers was fain to hide her owr from tho dazzle of it and nestle close 1T those strong, protecting arms
 And have you really been looking fe' mo over sincef" asks Agnes presently.
 "Yes, over since capo back from Eu ropo, ten years ago. is tho reply. '1 wa: sent thcro by tho doctors to recover iron the effects of wound and wrote yot nearly a dozen letters then. l knew though, it was only because you neyor re ccivcd them that they were not answered But when l came back and found all traces of you lost sometimes thought you hat hidden yourself purposcly, hccanse-be cause had done my duty to my country Yet never abandoncd tho resolve to ins you and havo tho truth from your owi lips, and now, thanks to the gale, hav done so and lenrnch how blessedly wa mistaken
 "Tho gale'' repeats Agnes questioning ly, and then hc goes on to explain how tn wind ontanelcd tho telephone wires. an' that it was by tho mercst chance they hat been enabled to speak to one another.
 And I havo interrupted your trip, says Agnes few moments later, lookini mp, with a smile
 Not for long" responds he, adding ''end when 1t is resumed 1t must be wedding journey. New York Journal
 PASSED FORTRESS MONROE.
 FORTRESS MoNRoF, Va, March 15. I'll lighthouse tender Vici let, with Presider