The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-16
Two HomeIy Peoples Love.

Cnlcago was Miss Amy DAVIDSON botn
We're exert.
After having worked the wire together
few months O,Ieara and Miss David
son became well acquainted, although, of
course, neither had ever seen the other.
There is a sort of telepathy in tele-
graphy, all telegraphers admit, and there
certainly was in this case. Long before
any word Of love had passed between
them each had become conscious Of a
tender regard for the other. 0'Meara
could recognize in an instant the touch
of a strange hand on the key in Chicago,
and Miss Davidson was as quickly con-
scious of the change when any other
than O'Meara's hand manipulated the
transmitter in New York.
One morning Amy complained of feel
ing ILL., Il am afraid" she said, that
will have to give up and so home. I
would do so surely if I could afford to
lose the time. My head aches dread
fully. Dear me- What would my moth
er and sister do if 1 should become really
sick? They have no one 10 take care
of them but me-
There was q tremulousness in the dots
and dashes which plainly indicated to
O'Meara that the girl, thousand miles
away, was weeping softly. as indeed she
was, with her head resting YEARLY
against the reSOHdtOr COi4ldAi44LS AIAO
sounder. He replied:
TRY to stick it out today dear. We
will take it easy, and perhaps you will
feel better by tomorrow. At any rate,
don't worry
II was the first time he had used any
term of endearment in their Intercourse,
and she was very much affected. But she
frightened up a little and managed to
struggle through the days work.
Next morning O'Meara found a strange
operator at the Chicago end of the wire,
and when ne inquired for Miss Davidson
he was told that she was very H. The
poor fellow realized now, if he never had
before, that he was deeply in love with
a woman he had never seen.
One morning the answer made by the
Chicago operator to O'Meara's inquiry
as to Miss Davidson's condition contained
but one Word--"Dead!'
O'Meara uttered a kind of moan. and
his head fell upon his desk. When one of
the chiefs aroused him he found the
young mans face flushed and his eyes
bloodshot. O'Meara was sent home,
where he remained for weeks suffering
from a severe attack Of brain fever. When
at last he had recovered and returned to
the office to report for duty the chief
told him to take his usual seat at the
Chicago quadruDlex.
IF you'd just as lief give me another
wire I'd rather have It," O'Meara said.
Il don't think I care to work with Chi
cago any more"
There was twinkle in the eye OF the
chief as he said:
You used to do some fine work on
that Chicago wire
Perhaps So" O'Meara replied sadly,
but 1 had a fine operator to work
with
We'll" said the chief, that's a fine
operator there yet-the same one, be-
lieve, that was there before
That cannot be-for she is dead!' This
with a great sob.
IT think you had better return to the
old wire. for the present at least" the
chief said. Then, if you are not salts
fed, l will transfer you to some other
circuit"
O'Meara walked slowly over to his old
place to relieve the man who was at that
receiving some messages from
AS he neared the instrument
and heard the characters coming with
a dearly loved and familiar sound his
heart almost stopped beating, so over
whelming was the surge of emotion. He
listened a moment until at the beginning
of another message came the signal of
the sending operator, "A. d."
who, in heavens name, is there in
Chica 60" he almost shouted, that dares
to sign "A. D.?
Amy Davidson, OF course" was his
friends reply.
Don't tri1e with me-" O'Meara cried.
Amy Davidson is deadT'
Not by a long shot" said the opera
tor making way for OMeara. 1T was
only a rumor that some chuckle-headed
ass accepted as fact. She has been
back at work for two weeks or more.
From the manner in which she has in
uuired about you every day l should I'M
agine that she takes an interest in you"
When she sat down before the instru-
ment his hand trembled so that he could
scarcely form the dots and dasnes to
ask:
rs that really you. ANY, He gave
his own signal, go. M
Yes, Charlie, and I'm so glad you are
well again" Her reply was as futtering
as his question had been tremulous.
When he recovered his equanimity
O'Meara said:
'.They told me you were dead, and
believed it. The shock nearly killed
me"
1T was merely a rumor, I'm happy TO
say, but when / came back to work
was greatly depressed at hearing you
were so i'll. Now We will both be well
and happy again"
I will never be thoroughly happy, my
darling" O'Meara replied, until you are
my wife. I am coming out there soon
to claim you. May -
Dear me. How can you wish to mar
~ a girl whom you have never seen?''
This was another instant OF tremuloJs-
ness in transmission.
That's all right" OMeara said. I'm
willing to risk it II you are. I've known
ard loved you a long time, even II 1
haven't seen you. Can l come for you?'
I may be so homeiy that when YOU
see me you may be terribly disappointed.
I may have red hair and freckies, a cast
in my eye and "a terrible hump on my
back. Can You stand al that.
Yes" replied OMesra, If you coud
stand my bald head ana red nose
There was more of this pleasantly. and
then Miss Davidson seriously agreed u
marry her distant lover After many
more conversations On the wire f. vas
agreed that Miss Davidson and O Mel- a
should meet at a halfway point. Pit s.
burg being finally selected. where tnev
should be married. Thfs course was Cn3-
sen in the hope that tie contamination
Il their peculiar c0urtship could be &C
comDlished secretly, thus avoiding the
cood-natured but embarrassing chGnlug
OF their fellow operators.
But that wire on which they made their
arrangements ran through the Pi.tsborz
office. where there were automatic re-
peati1g instruments An operator stand
ing beside the repeaters one day over
heard The final a-rangemsEts. heard the
6aser;u;son each eav4 IRE other oy which
- insure identification a. tae depot. and
told all about Il 10 the P.ttsbu-s opera
tors. wno tnsreupon determined 70 m X
the occasion % tha wedding Interesting
A committee was appointed 10 watch t1e
r,.rtlrz. ~ ne couple and = rrapare z