The Western news., 1900-05-02
LOVE AT LONG RANGE.
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- HARLES O'MEARA was an ope-
II n rator in New York on one side of
quadruplexed wire running to
Chicago. The operator on the CORE
spending side in Chicago was Miss
Amy Davidson. Both were expert, and
the manner in which they kept their
message hooks clear excited the ad-
miration of the chiefs in their respect
I've offices. O'Meara was a handsome
and intelligent young Irishman, with
Jet black hair and mustache and great,
soulful blue eyes-one Of the kind Of
men who seem almost unconsciously to
possess the power Of fascination over
women.
After having worked the wire togeth-
er few months O'Meara and Miss
Davidson became well acquainted, al
though, Of course, neither had ever
seen the other. They had abundant
opportunities for conversation in the
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 teleg-
raphy, all telegraphers admit, and
there certainly was in this case. Long
before any word of love had passed be-
tween them each had become conscious
OF a tender regard for the other.
O'Meara could recognize in an instant
the touch of strange hand on the key
In Chicago, and Miss Davidson was as
quickly conscious of the change when
ulated the transmitter in New York.
There is as much that is distinctly
characteristic in the manner in which
telegraphers form the dots and dashes
as there is in the manifold forms of
chirography.
One morning Amy complained of
feeling ill. II am afraid" she said,
"that will have to give up and &c
home. l would do so surely If could
afford to lose the time. My head aches
dreadfully.' Dear me! What would
my mother and sister do If should be-
come really sick? They have no one to
take care Of them but me-"
There was a tremuolousness 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 head rest
ing wearily 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 endearment in their inter.
course, and she was very much affect
ed. But she frightened up little anG
managed to struggle through the days
work.
Next morning O'Meara found a
strange operator at the Chicago end OF
the wire. and when he inquired fol-
Miss 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 a woman he
had never seen. He became so fretful
and irritable as to excite comment
"What on earth is the matter with
O'Meara?" asked one of the operators
on the opposite side of the "quad" OF
the man who sat at the next instru
ment.
II guess he's in love with that Chi
cago girl who is SICK" was the reply.
One morning the answer made by the
Chicago operator to O'Meara's inquiry
as to Miss Davidson's condition con
tained but one word-'Deadw
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 a severe attack of brain fever
When at last he had recovered and re
turned to the Office to report for duty
the chief told him to take his usual sea-
at the Chicago quadrupleX.
IF you'd just as lief give me another
wire I'd rather have it." O'Meara said
Il don't think care to work with Chi
cagO any more"
There was a twinkle in the eye of the
chief as he said:
You used to do some fine work OF
/ that Chicago Wire"
Perhaps So" O'Meara replied sadly
'but l had a fine operator to worl
with"
"Well." said the chief, "that's fint
operator there yet-the same one, l be
lieve. that was there before"
I THAT cannot be-fOr she is dead!'
This with great sob.
II think you had better return to thu
old wire, for the present at least" tn,
chief said. ''Then. if you are not salts
! fed. will transfer you to some othe
circuit"
| O'Meara walked slowly over to hi
old place to relieve the man who wa.
at that moment receiving some mes
sages from Chicago. AS he neared tn,
instrument and heard the character
coming with dearly loved and famil
lar sound his heart almost stopped
/ ho0 fiu0 cO ~.