Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-01-14

IN heavens name, where r. ratified
tommy on the machine. ssI Thought
you said there weren't any girls there,
ell, she doesn't live here" ans
wered II. B., ''but about ten miles
away. She's the schoolma'am at
HOODS Centre, which is four or five
miles back from the line but she lives
ut Hobbs farm and rides back and
forth from the school to the farm on
her bicycle"
"Oh, | say" telegraphed Tommy
with reckless haste, which seemed to
make the very machine chuckle with
laughter. Il brought my bicycle with
me, although l haven't used it much.
| wonder how far that farm is from
here?'
II can't be more than ten or eleven
miles; it's right between the two places
| don't know how the dirt road runs
between Sutton's Corners and here,
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 you?"
There was a pause in the telegraph
ing, then the instrument clicked out:
L used to, but it is n. CT
All replied Tommy. "Are you hit,
then, iii that quarter?'
"She said she wasn't marrying
girl replied II. 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
may tell you, between ourselves, that
| cut rather 4 dash with the girls and
II shes not on the marry, then that will
suit-me down to the ground; but, all the
same, IL. b., I'm not going to cut in
there, II it's trenching on your ground"
oh that's all right" said H. b.,
generously. at never was my ground,
and is less so now than at first"
Il wouldn't mind saying good word
for you, II. b., If the girl and l get ac-
Quaintcd, and l thought it would cut
any ice.''
1T is very good of you to say so, S.
n, but it wouldn't do any good, so you
need have no computations of con-
science as far as l am concerned. II
you like, will send you down u letter
Of Introduction on the four o'clock"
Il wish you would. BY the way,
what is her name?'
Tier name is Clara Seaford."
rs she pretty?"
Il Ink so, of course though that Is
a 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 it
brought Tommy Brown a letter OF in
PRODUCTION to Miss Clara Seaford signed
by II. Il. Tommy thought the letter
just a trifie too jaunty for the purpose
intended. 1t, said:
Dear Miss Seaford:
This letter will be presented to you
by my friend S. N, who is SO unfortu-
nate as to hold the position Of telegraph
operator at that last spot on earth, SUIT
toms Corners. He also rides bicycle,
and If your machines are of the same
make doubt not but you will become
great friends. Yours very truly,
"H. B."
Nevertheless IOmmy donned his most
enticeing bicycle suit, put the letter in
his inside pocket, and about half past
4 o'clock started down the dirt road
for Hobbs farm.
Hobbs farm was rather pretty
place In spite of Its name. A lovely
garden surrounded the farm house,
with nice shady woods behind 1t. Tom
my thought to himself, what charm
ing place for stroll with a pretty
girl
A somewhat faded elderly woman
answered Tommy's knock at the farm
house door. When Tommy asked II
Miss Seaford lived there he was ans
wered in the affirmative, with request
to step into the parlor. \ few minutes
later there came into him girl who
was so startling pretty and fresh look
ing d young that Tommy was some
what taken aback by the vision, and
did not make at all good his assertion
that he was rather a dasher where
Indies were concerned. He forgot all
about his letter of introduction, and
stammered out:
"A friend of mine, who is telegrapher
Mt Hobbsville, I-I-really don't know
his name, l always call him III. b.
And then Tommy thought Of the letter;
as he handed it to her he saw the girl
blush, and at once he realized 1t had
awakened memories that doubtless
were somewhat tender, but the girl
answered frankly, with laugh:
81 always call him II. B., too, and
with that Tommy laughed also, and
they were Immediately, as it were, on
terms of friendship.
HE knows me as S. NJ said Tommy
confidentially. That's the way with
us telegraphers; we care very little
about real names, because we are SO
accustomed to calling each other up
by the signal that stands for the sta
tion. we talk to each other over the
wires. you know, in intervals OF bust
ness"