The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-03-15
LOVE AT LONG RANGE.

Opcrator on tne 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 their
chiefs In their respective offices.
O'Meara was a handsome and intelli.
gent young Irishman, with jet black
hair and mustache and great, soulful
blue eyes-Oue OF the kind Of men who
seem almost unconscinusly to possess
the power OF fascination over women.
After having worked the wire to-
getber few months O'Meara and
NJ ss Davidson became well acquainted,
although, Of course, neither mad ever
seen tho other. They had abundant
early morning before the rush Of busi-
ness OF the day began and in the late
afternoon when the rush was over.
There is sort of telepathy in telc-
graphy, rs all telegraphers admit, and
their certainly was in this case. Long
before any word Of love had passed be-
tween them each had become conscious
Of d tender regard for the other.
O'Meara could recognize in an instant
Toe touch Of q strange hand on the kew
in Chicago, and Miss Davidson was as
quickly conscious Of the change when
any other than ONleara's hand marin.
ulated the transmitter in New York.
Thcre is as much that is distinctly
characteristic in the manner in which
telegraphers form tho do and dashes
as there Is in the manifold forms of
ch typography.
feeling III. II am afraid" She said
that will have to give up and 20
home. | woulG do SO surely il | could
afford to lose the time. My head aches
dreadfully. Dear me! Wbrt would
my mother and sister 40 If | snould be.
come really sick ? They havo no one
to take care OF them but me-"
There was a tremulousnoss in the
dots and dashes which plainly indi-
Gated to O'Meara that the girl, thou
sand miles away, was weeping softly,
as indeed she was, with her hand rest
ing weafily against the resonator con-
tanning the sounder. He replied
Try to stick it out to-day, dear.
We will take it easy, and perhaps YOU
will feel Better by tomorrow. At any
rate, don't worry.'
1t was the first time he had used any
term OF endeapment in their inter
course, 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
strange operator at the Chicago end Of
the wire, and when he inquired for NJ iss
Davidson he was told that she was
very i'll. The poor fellow realized now,
If he never had before, that he was
deeply in love with woman he. had
never seen. He became so tretfu1 and
irritable as to excite comment among
the Others in the Office.
g. w hat on earth Is tho nattar NTH
O'Meara - asked one of the operators
on the opposite side OF the "quad" of
the man who sat at the next instru
ment.
Il guess he's in love with that
Chicago girl who is sick" was the
reply.
One morning the answer made by
tho Chicago operator to O'Meara's in
quiry as to Miss Davidson's condition
contained but one word" Dead 20
O'Meara uttered 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 q 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 quadruplex
"lf you'd just as lief give me another
wire, I'd rather have it," OMears
said. 81 don't think I care to work
with Chicago any MORE"
There was twinkle In the eye of
the chief rs he said
"Yoa used to do some ine work on
that Chicago wire"
"Perhaps So" O'Meara replied
ht,f hnl
work with" ' W
"Well," said the chief, "that's q
fine operator there yet-tke same one,
] believe, that was there before"
THAT cannot be--fOr she Is dead ~
This with great sob.
| think you had better return to
the old wire, for the present at least"
the chief said. "Then, If you are not
satisfied, 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 moment +. ceiving some mes
sages from Chicago. AS he neared the
instrument and heard the characters
coming with q dearly love and fsmi
.liar sound his heart almost stopped
Of emotion. He listened moment
until at the beginning OF another mes
sage 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 trine with. me-" O'Meara
cried. Amy Davidson is dead !"
mot by a long shot," said the opera
tor, making way for O'Meara. 1T
was only @ rumOr that some chuckle
headed asa accepted as fact. She has
been back at work for two weeks or
more. From the manner in which
she has inquired about you every day
should imagine that she takes an In.
terest In YOU"
When he sat down tcfore the in.
strument, his hand trembled 80 that
he could scarcely form tho dots and
dashes to ask
"Is that really you, Amy 2" He
gave his own signal, 20. NJ"
YES, Charlie, ard Pm so glad you
are we'll again" Her reply was as
iluttoring as his question had been
tremulous..
Soma NJ tho nnarators In tho Nnu