Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1900-05-04
LOVE AT LONG RANGE.
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message came the signal of the sending
operator, "a. D."
"Who, in heavens name, is there in
Chicago" 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 deadr'
mot by long shot," said the opera
tor, making way for O'Meara. at was
only rumor that some chuckle-headed
ass accepted as a fact. She has been
back at work for two weeks or more
From the manner in which she has in
quired about you every day 1 should
imagine that she takes an interest in
you"
When he sat down before the instru-
ment his hand trembled so that he
could scarcely form the dots and dash
es to ask:
"Is that really you, Amy" He gave
his own signal 80. NJ"
"Yes, Charlie, and I'm so glad you
are well again." Her reply vas as aut-
tering as his question had been trem-
ulous.
Some Of the operators in the New
York office wondered at seeing young
man sitting at an instrument with
tears of joy streaming down his face,
while in the Chicago office there was
surprise because girl was crying and
smiling at the same time.
When he recovered his equanimity
O'Meara said:
"They told me you were dead, and
believed it. The shock nearly killed
me-"
ut was merely a rumor, I'm happy
to say, but when | came back to work
l was greatly depressed at hearing you
were so i'll. Now we will both be well
and happy again."
81 will never be thoroughly happy,
my darling" O'Meara replied, until
you are my wife. l am coming out
there soon to claim you. May II"
Dear me! How can you wish to
marry girl whom you have never
seen"
lousness in transmission.
"Thats all right" O'Meara said.
I'm willing to risk it if you are. I've
known and loved you for long time,
even if l haven't seen you. Can come
for you?"
II may be so homely that when you
see me you may be terribly disappoint-
ed. l may have red hair and freckles,
cast in my eye and a terrible hump
on my back. Can you stand all that?"
EYES," replied O'Meara, "if you could
stand my bald head and red nose"
There was more of this pleasantly,
and then Miss Davidson seriously
agreed to marry her distant lover. Af-
ter many more conversations on the
wire 1t was agreed that Miss Davidson
and O'Meara should meet at a half
way point, Pittsburg being finally Sc
lected, where they should be married
This course was chosen in the hope
that the consummation of their pecu-
liar courtship could be accomplished
secretly, thus avoiding the good-na-
tured but embarrassing chatting Of
their fellow operators.
But that wire on which they made
their arrangements ran through the
Pittsburg office, where there were au-
tomato repeating instruments. An
operator standing beside the repeaters
one day overhead the final arrange
ments, heard the description each gave
the other by which to insure identifica-
ton at the depot, and told all about it
to the Pittsburg operators, who there
upon determined to make the occasion
of the wedding interesting. A commit
tee was appointed to watch the meet
ing of the couple and to prepare for a
reception.
O'Meara arrived at Pittsburg a day
ahead of Miss Davidson, as had been
agreed upon, and was at the station on
the following day when her train pulled
up from the West. His heart was
beating wildly as he scanned the alight-
ing passengers, and he was too preoc-
cupied to notice that he was being
watched by half dozen young men.
Nor did he notice that he was 6b-
served closely by tall, bronze-haired
and decidedly handsome young woman
who had alighted from Pullman car
and was standing ia the shadow of Il
baggage truck loaded with trunks. There
was smile on the young woman's face
as she finally stepped forward and
touched O'Meara on the shoulder.
How dye do, Charlie?" she cried.
"Are you really Amyi" he cried.
grasping her outstretched hands in
both of his. You told me to look out
for a short, curly-haired girl, with Il
limp in her left foot, and gave you an
accurate description of myself"
Not so very accurate, though" she