The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1895-05-23
A QUEER COURTSHIP.
BY Della Brown.

by Della BROWN,
I had been Geographic operator at
Brandon some six or eight months,
and had held communication of pure
ly business character only with the op-
orator at Danwood. when there came
a change. Death silently removed the
man who had been in charge there for
so long, and a new operator was in
stalled.
A message spun along the line one
February morning in this wise:
Good morning, Brandon"
1 responded:
Good morning, Danwood.'
Then came the information:
THE former operator died last night
and have taken his place."
what is your name?" I asked.
"Nellie Merton. What is yours?"
n spirit of deviltry prompted me to
reply:
Ned Clayborn.''
'Thank you," was the concise re-
Spouse.
Then message in real earnest came
along the lines, and we were obliged
to attend to business.
Every day l babe my unseen &C.
quaintance "Good-morning" and never
closed up at night without a farewell
message. A twinge of conscience
racked me at times, and ''still, small
voice" whispered it's warning; but the
temptation was too great, and it was
not long before was sending sly mes
sages, containing a good deal "atween
the llnes," to the unseen Nellie The re-
ples to these messages were guarded,
but hopeful, and I grew holder. 1t
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 detested land the last word
came clicking viciously from nv end
of the line). She would never marry
him-never! I advised her not to. and
limited at an affection deeper and truer
than any the presuming "detested fell
low could offer.
Wen, the outcome Of it all was that
lasked the unseen Nellie to be my wife
ana even described the little home
that was so lonesomely awaiting her
coming. l was foundering in deep
water, and could but trust to a kind
providence to pull me out. My '4fun"
was becoming dead earnest. How
wished the wires stretching between
us were telephone instead of tele-
graphic, that could, perchance, hear
some exclamation or gain some token
of how my message was received. But
this was not to be- and had to nos
sess nay soul in patience.
Ilat virtue was almost avd,o,,.4oa
when the well known call fell unon
my ear. l flew to the instrument If
was concise, and not very compliment
airy:
Rather than marry that brute, I
will risk it.
L was In for it now, and must. ner-
1ofce, nounder still deeper by sending
rapturous messages over the wires T
Della Brown. was engaged to he mar
rled to young lady had never seen
This was forcing the question of
woman's rights.
carried the fun on for three
months, and every day it grew de-
cidedly less funny until I began TO
brood over the predicament into which
l had giddily led my feet. The time
was rapidly approaching when would
nave to claim the bride I had won in
this novel and romantic manner. and
my blood ran cold at the thought Of
how easy it would be for her to learn
OF my perfidity, and from all 1 had
seen of her temper, I felt sure she
would not deal gently with any one
who dared to play tricks upon her.
At last could bear it no longer. and
one day, just three weeks before I was
to travel to Danwood and claim nv
bride, 1 got into the train with alto
gether another motive 1t was to 'kiss
and make up" after had begged her
with tears to forgive me, etc.
found a little house, with q little
sign in blue and white swinging in the
breeze similar to the little house and
the little sign at Brandon. It was oc-
cupied at the time by young man
reading q paper. I looked at him,
without speaking, and he returned
the compliment in kind.
II wish to see Miss Nellie Merton"
I said, and as he did not speak, went
on to explain. II am the operator at
Brandon, and have an important mes
sage which must be delivered to her
at once. A moments delay means"
paused for word, and he spoke for
the first time.
$50 you are the operator at Bran
don. and desire to see Miss Merton? I
ana sorry to disappoint you, but, you
see, Miss Merton is at came at the
s-~2eDt time, while take her place