The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1901-11-14
At noBsoss caossisc.

I The settloE bcss, With tfosh aas ~
his hsnd. Was eonirs slnsly doSn tbs
u,ct. s,sppiBs heavily from tie TO ne,
sss psu,ins oiies ~ sisEies scms isocied
delecl 10 rail or sIespst Finally be s'
rived si the si,iiop. .ad. ses,lns himself
on the baggage ttnek besiis the Men.
ases ls brovr. corded arm scross bis
face
THs~srm day ve'fe bsyin, be ssi3.
The operator took bis pipe ifon bis
month s1d spsi eonieDpiaooslF 90 ite
sroun1. Wsru be exclaimed. fon doai
call this ~sfm, DO you
1t nsy not be wsrm sittio btre 10 The
shade vid ncttin 10 do. Answered the boss,
bu, jas, come ou, % try hsud q. liiiis
ties 10 The suo. Wen. ] musi be flline
ne ing.
He srose snd scot slosly soross the
track and up The saudy road toward his
house. The operator watched him uniil
be disappeared vithio the door. Closies
bis eyes. the opersi'r tried 10 sain 10 fr
press 10 himself bis utter contempt Of
Hobsoas Crossing su ! Of the s30s month
which be received Tor enduring iis beat
sni the deadly Loneliness OF the ione
silent days. UncopseiousIy be formed
bis thoughts into the verbs OF letter:
Dear Sir: ! wisb, il you can fad notnits
better Tor me than this situation, 10 tender
you my resignation from the position oil
operator al Hobsop's Crossing, will re
main here until you can send map TO re
lieve me.
On the beach inside The cfiiee. sound
er, sncient and dir,-snerusted. sputtered
.. periodical intervals. As the man listen
ed idly TO It's muttering. be became swsre
OF conversation which was being carried
on over the wire.
Doyou love me. D,isy. destf ssked the
sounder.
Yes. George, you know | do What
mskes you ask2
jnst wanted TO know. Daisy. dear.
1t Was the smart Western UniOn opera
tor in Chicago who was mskins the Grip
Piled old sounder sl Hpbson's Cfossiog
scratch sn1 squeak With his clesr.cu', rap
Id Morse. TIE man OF Hobson's became
suddenly interested. He arose, sud gong
into the little oiiisr, skilli1lIy adjusted
the screws and drew up the spring OF the
msohine, so that the letters came il o
clear aud steady ham. This was the kind
OF stpfI the Man loved to hear, for be him
sell was an adept with the key, aud 10 his
happier days hsd mastered the mysteries
OF the Associate Press code. Love passed
10 stresks and DISHES over the wire. The
Chicsgo operators style was clear, sharp
and beautiful The girl up in Rochester
strove to initiate II. but With indifferent
success. Her style lacked the finish OF
the master hand. As tho Man at Hob,oos
listened his fingers itched TO take the key
aud once more make the eounder purr ss
10 bis happier dsys. Suddenly On iuspir
lton came to bin. He looked at the
clock. It was 3:45. and the Chioseo oper
stor wonld go of duty st foul o'clock.
III do i'll exclaimed the Man, bring
ing down bis fist on the bench.
The next quarter OF an hour be spent
10 adjusting the screSs OF .he heavy old
brass key. He toos ont the lever. rubbed
the dust of IT with bis handkerchief, and
polished the platinum points till they
shone. Then be put bsck the lever and
carefully turned ths screws until be could
iust see the light between the points Of
contact Al five minutes past four be op
ened the key aud said, softly. Hello.
Daisy dear.
Yes, George
Do you love me still2 wbizz,d the old
brass key.
Gracious. Gsoreel said the girl. Don't
send go fact; you irieh,en me.
I'm not sending fast. hummed the Man:
couldn'i send slower than this II tried
| iust wanted TO tell you, Daisy. that !
think you're lust sbont the picest girl that
ever
Why don't you ever come up TO see me,
thepf flashed the girl. You've been say
Jog snch things as that for the last six
mouths; yon've sgrtei TO come ball doz
en- times, bat you never come. Nov,
George. you listen TO me. II you don't
come up next Supdsy, as you sgreed, III
never speak snolhsr word TO you on this
wire. SO, tterei
Leaning back In his chair, the Man look
ed st the pile OF tiss on the other side OF
the track sod wondered II the operator 10
Cbicsso inten led to 60 up to Rochester
uext Sunday. Probably not. Those city
operators we're impecuoions chaps. aud TO
the beet OF them four or Eve dollars car
fare woul, be good deal OF sn obstacle.
even 10 the path OF love. The Man ct Hob
sons Crossing thought hNd. Here wss
situa ion which required sll bis powers OF
aiplomscy. This invitation must be &C
eepted, or be would lose bis chance oi
keeping in prsctice for the Associated
Press Job BE- bsd in view. II did no,
take the Man long to nske up bis mind.
III come up peI, Saudsy Oh the nine
O'Clock train, be told the sirl. bat don't
say anything sbon, II on the wire. The
boys here 10 The oillce would suy me II
they .kaew.