La Junta tribune., 1907-06-08
even ave. Imagine a woman belns good

even Imagine woman being n good
iincInan."
Biyth l1rgtIea In open sarcasm.
i wouldn't care TO see tie woman.
Wouldn't she be a terror
why" sharply.
Take your own llneman. for exam
pie. Miss Hall. Fancy woman in bis
place-drlying In ail weaihers about
this sparseiy settled country, climbin;
poles. sitting astride crossarms:' He
shrugged his shoulders lmpatientiy
That's worse than being Doctor.
Afterward he wondered II size would
think he disapproved OF what she was
doing He hoped not He considered II
entirely conmendabIe for her to man
age this business during her fathers
Illness. and the Office. beng Ia her own
bone. made II seem essentially WON
AMY.
He promised himself that he would
sec her often. He had never before
met girl who seemed TO answer sc
fully the requirements Of bis ideal.
But as the days went by his gllnpses
Of Fidelia were tantalizingiy infre-
cuent. He disiiked to inquire for her.
He fanciei there was malignant salts
faction In Ediths brief answer. out -
with the linemsn.''
He venture1 another evening call. but
Fi,ielIa WAS In charge Of the switch
board. and opportunity for conversa
ton WIS limited
His half conscious resentment TO
ward the iineman prompted a question
Ms to his competency. You have TO 90
around with him nii the time" be
grumbied jealousy.
Fidella blushed.
'~The iinemnn IL fully competent. but
! Ike 10 go. ! am very fond Of
An imperative call for central in
terrup,e.i. aud the sentence was not
completed.
Bly,h remembered IL uneaslly. Was
II the iineman. or had she meant to say
that she Ik-d driving In the glorious
autumn wes ther:
He grew despondenf ns the weeks
went by. and. no matter how cold or
stormy the day, Edith gave the same
Irritating answer, "Out with the line
man
Then he resolved 10 settle the affnir.
He loved the girl He was sure Of
himself now. He would boldly make
the opportunity TO tell her 70. She
should choose between him and that
bis ndjectives would not have been ut.
tered In Ffdelln's presence-lineman!
The thought of her WAS upperinost In
his mind as he drove toward home on
cold. windy day in early spring.
"Oh. II only T. He checked the half
uttered words. smiling tenderly ns he
dreamed young mans beautiful day
dreams OF love and Iife,
Ahead of him in the lonely country
road he saw II horse and buggy stand
Ing by a telephone pole. Instinctively
he looked up.
THE linemanr' he exclaimed inter
estediy. I'm thankful Fidelia isn't
with him this miserable day.
The man climbed from the crossarn
and came down the pole with the swift
ease acquired by constant practice
Hes little chap thought the doc.
tor. Perhaps that's why Fidelia
watches him 50 closely"
The lincman sprang into the buggy,
with his coil OF wire and bag OF tools.
driving rapidly away.
IN ovcrtake him and speak With
him. IL ought TO be halfway decent
TO a little chap like that"
But the iineman's slim. boyish figure.
erect In the lighter vehicle. held the
lines over an animal that sped along
as II aware OF his pursuit.
Blyth caught Il glimpse OF a rounded
red cheek under the llnemans close
cap. A viii thought. n glimmering of
the truth. sent the blood 10 his own
checks. and he urged his horse on.
He reached the driveway at Halls In
time To see the slim figure leap from
the buggy and dash into the house.
The doctor followed hurriedly.
Go tell your sister that | must see
her at once His imperative com
mand startled Edith into instant obedi-
cnce.
When FIdelia entered the room. With
cheeks that riyaled the crimson OF the
soft robe she wore. Biyth sprang TO
ward her
She motioned him back with a re-
peiling hand even while her eyes gave
him the assurance he sought.
.iou know you don't approve You
said
IL don't care what said, / was
wrong. Fidelia. approve of anything
that you do and OF everything that you
are. Fldelia. my little lineman"'
Ungsliant Cromwell.
We have heard n great deal lately OF