The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1898-04-26

q AS he unused, he Idly fingered
the window ca On, which m ada u
CLICKING sound similar to That of n
telegraph instrument Unc l~nsciou-ly
he spelled out the words OF the letter
Dearest Helen" ran the message,
II love you dearly. 5ay you viii be
mine and -" Ou he got no further.
for suddenly the girl turned In her
seat and looked him full IN thu face,
her eyes blazing With indignation.
Then she tured back and seq d the
catch on her window, clicked out the
reply:
How dare you3"
Tom was completely dumbtounded.
He felt like jumOIng out of che win
dow and ending his miserable exis
tence Hertd cted, however. hat such
q rash proceeding would do him no
good and might possible wound the
feelings OF the young lady. Moreover,
his first duty was Co apologize o.
course it would not do any good. She
would never have anything co do With
such an idiot as he had shown himself
TO be. SGIll he could not well leave
matters as they we're, so he again
reached for h window catch.
~ beg your pardon" clicked the inn
promised key.
"YOur insolence is objectionable"
was the reply.
But let me explain. I did not
know -"
II don't care to hear your expla.
nation"
Just then the train pulled into the
station and the IF nded girl lefE the
car without 80 much as looking back.
Tom went to his work with a heavy
heart. He could think of nothing
else all day but the stupid blunder
which had destroyed all possibility of
his ever winning the heart of the fair
telegraph operator.
On the following morning he took an
earlier train than usual, in order to
avoid meeting the fair Helen. But he
had not reckoned on the fact that she
might also wish TO avlid hum
This was the case, however, and
Tom was some what startled when he
saw her enter the car. There was orlv
one seat vacant and that was just IN
front of the unhappy young man. IL
seemed as though the fates had con
spired 60 bring these two people to
gether. The longer Tom poudered the
matter the more he saw the hand 81
destiny in this matter and he decided
to maze one more IF Irt to obtain for.
gtveBess. Reaching for the window
catch he sent the following message:
I'm awfully sorry I offended you
yesterday.
There vas no wer and the young
man continued:
II had no idea you understood me. l
unconsciously ~teIegraphed what was
passing in my mind"
Still no answer.
IF you don't forgive me 1 shall be
miserable for for life
At last the answer came:
Please stop; you are attracting
every body's attention"
Then let me come and tell you how
sorry am"
Alter a long pause the girl answered:
You may come
Toms heart IeeDed with joy as the
window catch clicked out these words
he lost no time in accepting the invita-
ton, and 1t was not long before he had
persuaded her to forgive his foolish
conduct of the day before.
After that he met her every day on
the train and, their acquaintance soon
ripened into sincere friendship on the
part of the young lady. As for Tom
his feelings had long ago got beyond
that stage They talked of many
things during their daily rides to the
city, but for q long time they both
avoided all mention of the episode
which led to their acquaintance.
One day, however, Tom said:
DO you remember the message l
sent you by the window catch9"
rot course I do" she replied, looking
u of the window to hide bushes.
How cou'd I forget such a piece of
impertinence9'
Il know it was impsrtinent and lei
otto and all that" replied Tom, ''but
still, if it had not been for that l should
never have known you; 80 I am not at
all sorry. Are youH"
"How can you ask such a question: