Smyrna times., 1907-04-03
OF the Twentieth
Century.
By Otho B. SenGa.
Copyright. 1907, by May McKeon.

AS III. DlS III SlOOu III tue Hall
young girl stepped from an adjoining
room, inquiring anxiously, "How do
you find my father, Dr. Blyth?'
His condition is serious" he admit
ted, ''but with good care
She cut short the conventional plati-
tudes.
"When will he be able to go out
again?"
''NOt for weeks" emphatically.
Her look of anxiety deepened.
"What is your fathers business,
Miss Hall?"
"He is manager of the local tele-
phone system and attends personally
to repairing and keeping up the line"
'That means great deal of hard
work?'' sympathetically
"Yes, particularly in the winter. The
circuit comprises nearly 300 phones,
and the line extends out into the coun-
try in~all directions"
discontinue it in the winter" un-
thinkingly.
1.-THE subscribers need it more then"
gravely. Nearly all of them are farm
ers and depend upon their telephones
for communication with the village
and with each other"
''If possible, keep from your father
all anxiety concerning the business.
fear nervous prostration in his case"
During his round of calls DR.. Blyth
thought often of the beautiful girl with
the sweet, grave voice. He was
strFnger in Lindsey and was taking
up his uncle's practice.
Fred Hall sick? That's too badr'
was his uncle's comment. "But they'll
manage all right" with a country doc
tors knowledge of his patients af-
fairs. Mrs. Hall is strong and a good
nurse. Fidelia understands the busi-
ness thoroughly. Too bad she isn't
boy. 1t will take about all the man
ayers salary to hire a man to come
here from the city to do the outside
work"
DR.. Blyth was disappointed when
several calls were made upon the sick
manager without seeing Fidelia. She
was constantly in his thoughts, and
her lovely face seemed always before
his eyes.
By chance his next call was in the
evening. Fidelia met him in the hall
as he was leaving.
"Do you feel encouraged, Dr. Blyth?'
"Yes," kindly, but his nervous con-
dition is serious. Is he worrying about
the businessY
Il think not" hopefully. Il hold his
| position as manager, and that encour-
ages him. He has all confidence in my
ability"
'You are a brave girl" enthusias-
tically. "You have some one for the
outside work? 2"
She hesitated, coloring rosily.
Il have the services of a very COM
petent lineman."
! 'Where is your 'central?"
"Here," indicating the room adjoin.
ing. I've always been fathers hello
girl" smiling brightly.
On several succeeding calls the ply.
sician saw no one outside the sickroom
but Edith Hall. Il girl about thirteen
sharp of eye and of tongue, wholly un
like Fidelia. he thought.
I'm hello girl now," she cried i'm
pOrtantly "Fidelia's out looking after
the line-the lineman.'
He recalled his uncla's remarks re
Garding Fidclia's knowledge of the
business.
''The brave little girl" he murmured
with Il tenderness wholly nnaccount
able. "She will wish to supervise th,
linemans work for awhile. I'd like t,
be the lineman if it means a dali.
drive with the little Fidelia"
On the following evening he sav
Fidelia in her office. He reported hope
fully of her father and rejoiced in he
words of praise for his professiona
care.
'I've often thought she observe
earnestly, that I'd like to be a doc
tor
DR.. Blyth smiled somewhat satirica
ly.
You forget, Miss Hail." rather loft
", ''your physical inability to cop
7: with the hardships incident to a cou1
: : try doctors life He must brave an
g storm or cold A delicate girl like 70
= couldn't endure it."
f A little flickering smile lurlxed for a
n instant at the corners of the prett
z mouth.
g Don't you approve of women bein
n physiciaas"
q Frankly, Miss Hall, / do not
le aren't you somewhat old fashione
n doctor, not to say antiquated, in yol
: ideas" quizzically.
n Perhaps" stiffly, 'but there are
). many occupations for which woma
is wholly fitted that it seems regre
table she should enter upon one entir
Iy unsuited to her"
"And may l ASK demurely, "wh
are some that you consider suitable f
womenw
"Well" hesitatingly, FIRST, HON
making. A woman should beer
wife and-and mother, of course"
"Those privileges" quietly, "are 4
MED some women. Go on"
"Schoolteaching," triumphantly I'm
, iinery. dressmaking"