The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-06-06
THE WHEAT CORNER.
True Loves Course on the
Board of Trade.
BY ROBERT BARR.

JOnn oHnuyS, IOCal IuhhhSSI VI AZ NOstO'
Union Telegraph Company in tho city of Disapo-
lis, sat in his Office ono afternoon when there
was brought to him the card of n lady. Most of
Mr.. Sandys's visitors were masculine, and the
manager, n grlZzlod man of fifty. archod his
brows In surprise as no glanced at tho card.
ASK tho young lady TO come In" he said
briefly. He whirlcd round In his swivel chair
md rose from Il as n sweet-faccd girl entered,
dressed in black, her whole attire having neat
mesa as its distinguishing characteristic. Paus-
ing for n moment at tho door, she came swiftly
forward to him, extending her hond.
Idon't suppose you will remember me, Mr..
Sandys," sho began somewhat breathlcssly,
but I tliought-pcrhaps-"
The manager interrupted her. speaking in
kindly tones.
Indeed, Miss Elinor. I remember you very
wolf, although you wcrc only a little girl when I
last saw you. You have been 90 long at school
and abroad that a man might we'll be excused IL
he failed to recognize you. Many things have
happened since last we met, you know"
The manager was q laconic man. and he now
spoke ut greater length than was his custom.
for no saw that his visitor had evidently keyed
herself up to this interview. and was scarcely
able to conceal her agitation. A glance at the
dark costume she woro recalled to his mind the
recent death of her father. and then no felt that
his last remark had been somewhat infel!citous,
but being an unready man. and not knowing
how TO remedy It, he made no attempt to do 30,
contenting himself by pushing forward a chair.
and asking the girl to sit down.
When Miss McClintoch had seated herself
Sandys resumed his position in the swivel chair
somewhat uneasily, and for q few moments there
was silence between them.
Yes" she said ut last, not looking at him,
speaking in n low voice and trying to keep COM
unapb oyor a. ..p,npy thinra hayc happonod
since then. I came home to find my father dy-
ing. and since his death ne have learneG-doubt-
less every one In the city knows 1t now-how
disastrous had been his transactions on the
Board Of Trade. l have no doubt the worry
caused by his fear Of leaving mother and me un-
provided for did much to hasten his death"
Mr.. Sandys. not knowing what TO say, muir
INJURED that probably this was 30.
at is now three months since fathers DEATH"
continued the girl, land Immediately after
mother and l moved to n small cottage on Six
teenth street. where we now live, and to-day I
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 a faint
smile to her trcmulous lips.
IL found ! had to earn my own living. and so
two months ago l bought a telegraph instru-
ment and learned telegraphing."
But" said Mr.. Sandys. wit your accom-
p!ishmcnts you do not need to be a tclcgraphist."
my accomplishments. although expensive
to buy. are not very salable on the market"
My dear Miss Elinor." said tho manager,
'telegraphins is the very last profession I would
advise a young lady TO take up. warn every.
body against teleEraphing. ] never open a
morning paper but / expect to sec an account OF
come new invention that will abolish telcgraphy
altogether. In fact, when the telephone was per-
fected ! rather expected l.: would render us all
superfiuous. and ! am not sure but that eventu-
ally will be the case. for the long-distance telc-
phone is only in its infancy. What on earth
caused you to learn telegraphy 7"
II will confess the reason with a frankness I
ought to be ashamed Of" said the girl. with a
real smile this time. II learned It because my
fathers oldest friend Is manager OF the Western
Union Telegraph Company in this city"
oh. ! See" said the manager, with a twinkle
In his eye. You thought I would give you a
situation !"
II know you would. Mr.. Sandys," replied the
cir! Confidently. Her certainty did not seem to
be shared by the manager. who knitted his
brow and drummed nervously on the desk with
his fingers.
You said a moment since that this was n
business visit. Cow. Miss Elinor, do you want
I'LL III tdlk 10 you rs u DuslncSS man WOulN thlN
to an applicant. or am / to treat you rs the
daughter of n valued and regretted friend
Prom now on. cried the girl eagerly. this
is straight business. ! only relied on your friend
ship for my father TO gain me admittancc here"
Very well, then, l will begin by saying that
the woods are full Of telegraphers. Up TO a Ger.
tain point, 1t seems to me that telegraphers are
ns common as the sands on tho seashore: beyond
that point tclegraphcrs are few. II is like short
hand. and. l presume, like n great many other
things. Telegraphing that is, expert telegraph.
ing, is 4 very difficult art. Miss Elinor."
81 know you will excuse me for contradictinR
yon." exclaimed the girl with animation. and
It isn't n bit polite to do so. but tclogrnphinE is
the easiest thing in the world. II you had ever
played Robert Schumann or List on the piano
You would know what difficulty Is"
Really 7" said the manager dryly. You are
tho first person ! have heard say that telegraph.
ing was an easy accomplishment. However.
there Is nothing like u practical test. DO you
think you know enough of telegraphinR TO MI n
situation as operator II ! had one to effcr youf
Il think so" answered the girl confidently.
well. VIC shall sc-. Would you mind sitting
over at this table T.
Tho girl rose. peeling of her gloves as she APP
preached the table. The manager. placing his
finger on the key Of n telegraph instrument,
ratified Oft n quick. nervous call. which was an
swcred. Then he proceeded to chatter forth a
message to the operator at the other end.
"Oh, no. no. no. no!' interrupted tho girl.
Don't say that
Don't say what I" asked tho manager In as.
constituent, forgetting for the moment that
what was mere instrumental chatter to the lay
mind was intelligible to her.
Don't tell the operator to begin slowly. but
ask him to send the message as fast as he can"
The manager smiled.
"Oh. very well" he said.
A moment later the sounder WAS dinning
away It's short. hrazen monotone. rs il II were u
clock-work mechanism thar had gone wrong
and was rapidly running down. The fine, firm,
pretty hand OF Miss McClintoch few over tho
paper, leaving in Its train a trail OF writing, tho
letters heavily made, but rs plain MS print to
read. tho style of tho writing being that now
taught to girls in Europe. which is as differ.
ent AS possible from the hairlinc. angular hand
which ladies wrote twenty years ago:
The manager stood by with folded arms,
watching sheet after sheet being rapidly thrown
OF. Tie silence ,oi the room was rnbroien save
Ivy the Standardization of the iabbcring ma
chine, At last he reached forward his hand and
interrupt ID the flow of dots and dashes.
MiSs Mr(1lntnrh lnokel nm nf him and snib