Middletown transcript., 1901-12-07


ing and dispatching, or whether
las it is said to be in the case with copy.
inc clerks we fall into the habit oil
performing it like machines, Withous
any conscious apprehension OF the mean
;no of the words which we transmit;
speaking for myself, and for those o.
INV fellow operators with whom have
discussed the matter, I should say that
almost always the truth lies in the latter
alternative.
"sometimes, however, one is aDie 10
rood hatween 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 las have already said) will be
received, or dispatched, by you with
Gallons inconsistencies. But once, per.
haps, in fifty times your mind will con-
descend to interest itself in one OF these
romantic messages. A case in point (it
occurred to myself) is before me now,
and as I think you may find it both
amusing and instructive, | will make
bold to relate it.
was employed as telegraph clerk in
one of the large offices. One morning
young man came to the counter ana
handed in a message. He was well
dressed, good looking young fellow,
with nice, pleasant face. He handed
me his message with an elaborate, though
hopelessly futile affectation of nonchal-
ant indifference. Poor young man! his
voice distinctly trembled as he said:
IT wish to pay the reply"
I took and read the message. My
mind, as it chanced, was then very much
awake. This was the telegram:
Miss Maud Hampton, 2lS Regency
Terrace, st. Johns Wood-Meet me,
implors you. Albert Memorial, 8 this
evening. Wire reply to this P. o.
Reggie.
One and sixpence half-penny," re-
piled, looking at him through the wire
screen. His boyish face fresh and good
L
did not ill-become him by any means.
He handed me a coin and gave him
his change. Then raising his hat po-
litely he went away. In minute, how
ever, he was back again.
'T say, you'll-you'll send that wire at
once, won't YOUR
1 assured him that it would be dis
patched without delay.
When he returned at the end of an
hour, I had just received the answer. It
was addressed to Reginald Peel, care of
our office, and was extremely short and
sweet:
Shan't Maud.
When he came I 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 pocket. But even in
his modification and disappointment he
was not forgetful of his politeness.
Again he raised his hat to me and hastily
quilted the Office. l did pity him very t
much indeed.
1t was three or four days before saw I
him again, and then he brought another Q
message addressed to the same lady. It
ran thus:
Won't you ever write? Reggie.
II will pay the answer" he said (his Il
expression Of face was quite painfully
weobegone), "and will call for it here
later on" Q
every WE'LL" I said.
He did not this time go away quite t
Immediately, but leaning his elbows on Z
the counter, and casting furtive glances Q
to his right and left to make sure that no '
one was near enough to hear him, he
murmured, with nervous rapidity: 9
''I say, Pm glad its you. and not any 8
OF the others, who have taken my NEE.
sage again. You're not the sort to make
fun of fellow over an--an affair of this
kind are your" II
"Indeed, mop l assured him. "On .
the contrary, I am sorry-I mean it is no y
business of mine, and see nothing what
ewer-..e make fun of. J
Thanks, awfully," he murmured, :
with grateful look, and speaking even
faster and more nervously than before. ,
Il spotted you as the right sort II =
liked your face, you know. I will call =
by and by for the answer" q
The answer, when it came, made me
really angry with the unknown Maud.
It ran thus: n
No I won't. Maud.
He came soon afterward, and handed :.
1t to him. He read it. l saw him set | !,
bis teeth tight, as if repressing some ex- : :
clamation of pain or chagrin. I did feel . :.
dreadfully sorry for him. He was such =
boy, and be took it all SO to heart. !.
suppose must have expressed my SYM !,
pathy by my looks. At any rate, he !
said to me in his ingenious, natural way: :,
Il say, it's awfully good of you, who
are perfect stranger, TOTO feel for me -
They-my friends, mean-all laugh at 4
me about it. They call me fool for
persisting in hopeless attachment. But %
don't care. shall never love any girl Ii
but her. You-you must think it rather =,
strange" he went on hurriedly and with
artless confidence, ''my telegraphing to Il
her like this; but she won't see me when r
call, and she won't answer my letters.
80 the only way of getting her to notice e.
me was to send her reply-paid wire. 4,
You see how she has ans wered me. But =
IT doesn't make any difference. love
her just the same, and 1 would rather
have cruel reply from her than no reply -
at ALL would, upon my souli' :.
Then this ingenious boy lover lifted his "a
hat to me and was gone.
Two days later he came again. He
handed me in another message TO Maud. Ia
l noticed that bis face was set. deter to
mined, as one who had taken desperate | II