Evening star., 1897-06-05

very well. although you were only a little
girl when 1 last saw You. You have a
been 50 long at school and abroad that
man might well be excused if i.e failed to
recognize you Many things have happen
ed since last We met, You know.
The manager was a laconic man. and he
now spoke at greater length than was his
custoTn. for he saw that his visitor had
evidently keyed herself UP to this inter-
view. and was scarcely able % conceal
her agitation A glance at the dark cos
tune she wore recalled to his mind the re-
cent death of her father. and then he felt
that this last remark had been somewha.
lnfehcitous. but being an unready man.
and not knowing how to remedy 1t. he
made no attempt to do so. contenting him.
self by pushing forward a chair, and ask
ing the girl to sit down.
When Miss NcClintoch had seated her
SELF San1ys resumed his position in the
swivel chair somewhat uneasily. and for
few moments there was silence between
them.
Yes she said at last not looking at
MIN, speaking in a low voice and trying to
Keep command over il, many things have
happened since then. came home to find
my father dying. and since his Death we
have learned-doubt!ess every Cne in the
city knows 1t now-how disastrous had been
his transactions on the board of trade
nave no doubt the worry caused by his fear
OF leaving mother and NE uEprovided for
did much to hasten his DEATH
Mr.. SandyS. not knowing what to saw
murmured that probably this was SO.
1T IS now three months since fathers
death, continued the girl. -'and .mme-
diately after mother and / moved to a
small cottage on 1Gtl street where We now
live. and To-Day j resolved to come Up here
and have a business talk with you Mr.
Sandys.''
For the first time since she sat down the
girl looked up at him, and he saw that
her eyes were wet and that she was trying
TO force faint smile 20 her t-emulous lips.
Il found had ID earn my own living
and so two months ago 1 bought tele-
graph instrument and learned telegra ph-
ing
But surely said Mr.. sandys. with
your accomplishments YOU do not need to
be a telegraphiSt."
My accomplishments, although expen-
siye TO buy, are nor very salable on the
market"
My dear Miss Einor." said the man.
ager. "teiegraphins is the very last profess
sion | would advise young lacy to take
up / warn everybody against teleCra pfl-
ing. L never open a morning paper but /
expect to see an account of some new in
yentioh that will abolish teiegra ply alto
gether. In fact. when the telephone was
perfected l rather expected it would render
all Superfuous and l am not sure but
that eventually will be the case, for the
long distance telephone is only in its In
fancy What On earth caused you to learn
telegra phy?'
Il Will confess the reason with a frank
ness / ought to be ashamed cf," said the
girl. with real smile this time. 81 learned
1T because my fathers oldest friend is man.
ager of the Westarl Union Telegraph Com
pany in this city.
"Oh. l see.'' said the manager. with a
twinkle in his eye. You thought would
give you a situatione'
Il knew you would, Mr.. San6ys" replied
the girl confidently. Her certainty did NOT
seem to be shared by the manager, who
knitted his brow AMI drummed neryously
on the desk with MS fingers.
said a hat &c
business visit Now, Miss Eiin0r, do you
want ME to talk to you as a business man
would talk to an applicant. or am to treat
you as the daughter of "A valued and re-
gretted friend?' From now on" cried the
girl eagerly, this IS Straight business.
only relied on your friendship for my father
10 gain me admittance here"
Very well, then l will begin by saving
that the woods are full of biographies
Up 10 certain point. 1t seems to me that
Ielegraphers as common as the sands
On the seashore; beyond that point teleg-
raphers are few. 1t IS Ike shorthand, and,
presume. like great many other things
ieiegriphing that is. expert telegraphing,
Is a very different art Miss Elinor''
Il know you will excuse me for contra
dieting YOU exclaimed the girl, with ami
nation. and it isn't bit polite to do so,
but teleSraphing is the easiest thing in the
world II you had ever played Robert
Schunann or Liszt On the piano YOU wouIS
know what difficulty is
Really? said the manager. dryly. "You
are the first person l have heard saw thai
telesraphing was an easy accomplish hment
However, there is nothing like a practical
test. Do you think you know enough OF
teiesraphins 10 fill situation as operator
II had one TO offer your
Il think So" answered the girl, with con-
fdence.
We'll. We shall see Would you mind
sitting over at this table?''
The girl rose. peeiing off her gloves as
she approached the table The manager
placing his finger on the key of a telegraph
instrument. ratified of a quick nervous
cali. which was answered. Then he pro.
ceecec TO chatter forth a MESSAGE to the
operator at the other end.
Oh. no. no. no, no." Interrupted the girl
Don't say that"
Don't say what?" asked the manager in
astonisnment, forgetting for the momen,
mat what was mere instrumental chatter
70 the lay mind was iItelligible to her.
Don't tell the operator to begin SLOWLY
put ask him to send the message as f. ST
as he can"
The manager smiled
'Oh. very WELL" he said
"A moment later the sounder was dinninn
away its short. brazen monotone as II il
We're ciock-work mechanism that had
gone wrong and was rapidly running down
The fine, firm. pretty hand of Miss McCIin-
toch flew over the paper. leaving In Its
train trail Of writing. the letters heayily
made. but as plain print to read tho
eyie OF the writing being that now taught
TO girls throughout Europe, and which n
a. different as possible from the hairlius