The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-03-27

wered III. B., hut about ten miles |
away. She's the schoolma'am at
Hobbs Centre, which is four or five
miles back from the line, but she lives
mt Hobbs firm and rides back and
forth from the school to the farm ON
her bicycle
"Oh, / say" telegraphed Tommy
with reckless haste, which seemed 10
make the very machine chuckle with
laughter. 81 brought my bicycle with
me. although | haven't used IL much.
| wonder how far that farm is from
hereT'
1T can't be more than ten or eleven
miles: its right between the two places.
| don't know how the dirt road runs
between Sutton's Corners ana mere,
but / guess it goes pretty straight al
most as straight as the railway line.
But | say, old fellow" hammered
out Tommy, you don't go to see her
yourself, do your
There.was pause in the telegraph
ing, then the instrument clicked out:
Il used to, but it is \. g.
"Ahr replied Tommy. Are you MT
then, in that quarter
.Shc said she wasn't a marrying
girl" replied III. b., and that was as
much as Tommy could learn of the ro-
nance that had been nipped in the
bud.
Look here, old fellow" said Tom
my, Il don't want to interfere, you
know, in the least with a friend. l
may tell you, between ourselves, that
| cut rather dash with the girls, ana
if she's not OH the marry, then that Will
suit me down to the ground; but, all the
same, II. B., I'm not going to cut in
there, if it's trenching on your ground.
.Oh, that's all right" said II. b.,
generously. 1T never was my ground,
| and is less so now than ut first
Il wouldn't mind saying good word
for you, Ii. B., if the girl and / get ac-
quainted, and l thought it would cut
any ice"
ut is very good of you to say so, s.
N, but it wouldn't do any good, so you
| Httu lfdNt III uDuhNtiOAAo
science as far as l am concerned. III
you like, l will send you down letter
of introduction on the four o'clock.
II wish you would. By the way,
what is her name?"
Her name is Clara Seaford.
SIS she pretty!'
81 link so, of course, though that Is
matter of opinion, and you will be
able to tell me what you think when
you have seen her.
When the o'clock train came in II
brought Tommy Brown a letter of in
PRODUCTION to Miss Clara SeafOrd signed
by III. L. Tommy thought the letter
just n trifle too jaunty for the purpose
intended. 1t said:
Dear Miss Seaford:
This letter will be presented to yor
by my friend s. ", who is so unfortu
nate as to hold the position of telegraph
} operator at that last spot on earth. SUIT
tons Corners. He also rides bicycle
and If your machines are of the SANE
make doubt not but you will become
, great friends. Yours very truly
II. B."
Nevertheless tommy donned his mos
; enticeing bicycle suit, put the letter Il
, his inside pocket, and about half pas
t O'Clock started down the dirt roa'
for Hobbs farm.
J Hobbs farm was rather prett
) place in spite of its name. A Lowell
/. garden surrounded the farm house
t with nice shady woods behind 1t. Ton
' my thought to himself, What charm
t ing place for a stroll with a prett
q girl"
1 A somewhat faded elderly woma
|. answered Tommy's knock at the fari
: house door. When Tommy asked
e Miss Seaford lived there he was AM
Il wered In the affirmative, with reque'
! to step into the parlor. y few minute
l. later there came into him a girl VII
d was so startling pretty and fresh lool
e ing a Il young that Tommy was som
It what taken aback by the vision, an
o did not make at all good his assertio
V that he was rather dasher whel
&c ladies were concerned. He forgot O
about his letter of introduction, al
J. stammered out:
Is "a friend of mine, who Is telegraph
t. at Hobbsville, I-I-really don't kno
g his name, l always call him H. B
II And then Tommy thought Of the lette
e, as he handed it to her he saw the q
!. blush, and at once he realized it III
e. awakened memories that doubtle
4. were somewhat tender, but the 8
Is answered frankly, with laugh:
Ii II always call him H. B.. too" al
with that Tommy laughed also, al
" they were Immediately, as it were,
is terms of friendship.
a 'He knows me as s. n" said Tomr
confidentially. That's the way wi
re us telegraphers; we care very lit
about real names, because we are
IL accustomed to calling each other
ry by the signal that stands for the s
w lion. We talk to each other over I
" wires. you know, in intervals of bu
ness
he THAT must be very interesting
a said Miss Seaford. is it difficult
Id learn telegraphing:
"Oh, not very difficult" replied To
at my. THAT is. it is not very difficult
Sc. learn to telegraph, but il is difficult
irl learn to be an expert. II is easy enou
ID to attain a certain state of proficien