The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-08
courtship BY Uirs.
n HAVE often been asked whether

n HAVE often been asked whether
~ we telegraph operators in busy
offices are able to pay attention
TO the sense Of the messages we are
all day receiving and dlspatching, or
whether (as Is said to be the case
with copying clerks) we fall into the
habit of performing II like machines.
without conscious apprehension Of the
meaning of the words which we trans
nit. Speaking for myself, and for
those of my fellow operators with
whom l have discussed the matter,
I should say that almost always the
truth lies in the latter alternative.
Sometimes, however. one Is able to
read between the lines Of messages
less interesting than mere business
dispatches. Any number OF amatory
kilograms are sure to pass through
your hands. Most of them Gas I have
already said) will be received, or dis.
patched, by you with callous uncon-
seriousness. But once perhaps in 80
times your mind will condescend to in
terest itself in one Of these romantic
messages. A case in point ut occurred
to myself) is before me now; and
as I think you may find 1t both anus
ing and instructive I will make bold
to relate 1t.
was then employed as telegraph
clerk in one of the larger offices. One
morning a young man came up to the
counter and handed in a message. He
was well-dressed. good-looking
young fellow. with pleasant. ingenu-
GUS face. He handed me his message
with an elaborate. though hopelessly
futile, affectation of nonchalent indif-
ference. Poor young gentleman! His
voice distinctly trembled as he said:
II wish to pay the reply"
took and read the message. My
mind, as it CHANGED. was then very
much awake. This was his telegram:
Miss Maud Hampton, als Regency Terrace, st.
Johns Wood-Meet me, | implore YOU. Albert
Memorial, six this evening. Wire reply to thi,
p. O.. Reggie.
lone and sixpence half penny" re-
piled, looking up at him through the
wire screen. His boyish face was
fresh and good to look at. and his en-
barrassed bushes did not Ill become
him by any means.
He handed me a. coin and l gave him
his change. Then raising his hat po-
litely went away. In a minute, how
ever, he was back again.
II say. you'll--you'll send that wire
at once. won't you?"
I assured him that 1t would be dis.
patched without delay.
When he returned at the end of an
hour. had just received the answer.
1t was addressed to Reginald Peel,
care of our office, and was extremely
short and sweet:
shnnt Maud
When he came l handed it to him
of course without any comment. He
tore it open eagerly. He turned pale
He crushed the telegram in his hand
and thrust it into his coat pocket. But
even in his modification and disap-
pointment he was not forgetful of his
politeness. Again he raised his hat to
me and hastily quilted the office. I
did pity him very much indeed.
1t was three or four days before
saw him again. and then he brought
another message addressed to the
same lady. 1t ran thus:
Won't you ever write? Reggie.
II will pay the answer" he said
(his expression of face was quite pain
fully woebegone), land l will call for
1t here later on
every WE'LL" l replied.
He did not, this Time, go away quite
Immediately, but leaning his elbows OH
the counter. and casting furtive
glances to his right and left to make
sure no one was near enough to hear
him, he murmured. with nervous ra-
pidity:
II say. I'm glad it's you. and no.
any Of the others, who have taken my
message again. You're not the sort
to make fun of fellow over an-an
affair Of this kind, are you:"
Indeed, MOI" l assured him. "On
the contrary. l am very sorry--I mean
1t is no business of mine, and see
nothing whatever to make fun Of"
Thanks, awfully," he murmured.
with a grateful look, and speaking
even faster and more nervously than
before. II spotted you as the right
sort. IL liked your face. you know.
I will call by-and-by for the answer"
The answer when 1t came, made me
really very angry with the unknown
Maud. 1t ran thus:
No, won't. Maud.
He called soon afterward, and
handed 1t to him. Ha read it. saw
him set his teeth tight, as If repress-
ing some explanation of pain or chag-
rim. I did feel dreadfully sorry for
him. He was such a hoy and Ne took
1t all so to heart. ] suppose I must
have expressed my sympathy by looks.
At any rate, he said to me in his in
genuous, natural way:
II say, its awfully good of you, who
are a perfect stranger toto feel for
me. They-my friends. mcan--all
laugh at me about it. They call me a
fool for persisting In a hopeless at
tachment. But I don't care. I shall
never love any girl but her. You-you
must think 1t rather strange" he went
on hurriedly and with artless conf
dence, "my telegraphing to her like
this; but she won't see me when I
call, and she won't answer my letters.
So the only way of getting her to no.
tice me was to send her a reply-paid
wire. You see how she has answered
me. But 1t doesn't make any differ
ence. love her just the same, and I
would rather have a cruel reply from
her than no reply at ALL would, upon
my soul!"
Then this ingenious boy lover lifted
his hat to me and was gone.
Two days later he came again. He
handed me in another message to
Maud. noticed that his face was set,
determined, as of one who has taken
. desperate resolve. The wording of
his telegram confirmed this impres.
sion.
Will you marry me or won't your II you re.