The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-28
Love al lonO Rance

HsoAeu WIZ running 10 Cnlc0gO. Inc
operator on the corresponding side in
Chicago was Miss Amy Davidson. Both
: were expert. and the manner in which
they kept their message hooks clear
excited the admiration Of the chief in
their respective Offices. O'Meara was a
handsome and intelligent young Irish
man. with Jet black hair and mustache
and great. soulful blue eyes-one of the
hind Of men who seem almost uncon-
eciously to possess the power Of fascina-
ttOn over women.
After having worked the wire to-
gethor few months O'Meara and Miss
Davidson became well acquainted al
eAough. OF course. neither had ever seen
the other. They had abundant oppor.
tpnities for conversation In the early
moeuing before the rush of business for
~ day began and in the late after
1oon whom ths rush was over.
There n sort Of telepathy in tel
egzSphy. - Ill telegraphers admit. and
thGe certainly was In this case. Long
oseore any word Of love had passed over
tho wiro between them each had be-
come conscious Of tender regard for
fhe Other. O'Meara could recognise in
an Instant the touch OF strange hand
q TIE key In Chicago. and Miss David
soa was - quickly conscious Of the
ehange when any other than O'Meara's q
Annd manipulated the transmitter in
New York There II a. much that il
&IBttnSt1y Characteristic In the manner
IN which telegraphcrs form tho dots
end dashss - there IL in the manifold
1orms a chiroeraphy.
! 0ne morning Amy complained Of
feeling III az am afraid" she said,
s'that win have to give up and 60
home I Iwould do 30 surely II / could
e&ord to loso the time Ny head aches
dRsadfully. Dear incl What would my
1nother and sister do IL should become
ssAlly dcks They have nobody to taxa
csre of-thsm bat, +"
There was tremulousness in the dots
And dashes which plainly indicated to
fVAsara that the girl. thousand miles
away. was weeping softly. as indeed che
kwoA with her head resting wearily
4 %aGNinst The resonator containing the
oonnder. He replied:
"Tfy 10 stick 10 out today, dear.
We Win thks IL easy. sud perhaps you
win fesl better BY tosnorrow. At any
rots. dpn't worry" :
10 wa the 6rst time be had used anv
tRn of sndsarment in their inter
eo1xoe. and shs was much affected. But
- hRjGhteaed mp . little and managed
4eGuGgle through tho days work.
Nett incoming O'Nears found n
o1onoe opgator at the Chicago entl of
- wire. and when hs inquired for
1kin Davtdsou he was told that she was
wy Ill The poor fellow realised now.
= he usvsr had befors. that he was
ossply IN love with woman he had
1ever sen He became 50 fretful and
irritable - 70 sxcito comment among
- Others In the Office.
what ON earth IL the matter with
OAsasaf" asksd one Of the operators
- The opposite side of the quad of
shs man who eat at the next instru-
neut
IL guess he's In love with that Chi.
0So gi1l who is sick. was the reply.
Ono morning the answer made by the
Cnacago operator to O'Meara's inquiry
- TO Miss Davidson's condition CON.
mined but one word-''Deadp
O'Aeara uttered . kind Of moan, and
he head fell upon his desk. When one
a Tho chiefs aroused him, he found the
young mans face 6ushed and his eves
oeoodshot O'Neara was sent home.
whsss hs remained foR weeks suffering
nom . severe attack Of brain fever
Whsu at last he had recovered and re-
eHxued 70 the once 70 report for duty.
- chief told him 10 take his usual Eat
g Ne Chicago quadruplex.
"h youd Just q lief give mo another
wire ia rather have it." O'Meara
nd II don't think I care 70 work
With Chicago any more %
There was twinkle In the eve of
ths chief - hs said:
"You used to do some fine work ON
Inst Chicago wire"
"Perhaps 90. " O'Meara replied sadly.
''out I had dns operator to work
With"
well" said tho chief. chats q fine
operatcr there yet-the same one, be-
asve. that was there before
That cannot bs-for she Is deadi'
This with . great sob -
81 think you had better return 70 the
Old wire. for tho preeent at least" the
chief said. 'Then. you are not sstis-
ma. win sransfsr you TO some other
circuit"
O'Asara walked slowly over to his
Ga place TO relieve the man who was at
ses moment receiving some messages
NON Chicago A he neared tho In tru-
Dsns'snd heard the characters coming
With dearly loved and familiar sound
Aas heart almost stopped beating 90
ovsTwhelming was the surge Of emo
taon. He listened . moment until st she
beginning Of another message came the
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