The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1907-06-14

think he disapprovcd of what she was
doing. lie hoped not. He considered ID
entirely cOmmendable for her to man.
age this business during her fathers
| illness, and the office, being in her own
| home, made it seem essentially wom
| anly.
lie promised himself that he would
| see her often. He had never before
met girl who seemed to answer sc
fully the requirements of his ideal.
But as the days went by his glimpses
of Fidclia We're tantalizingly infre
qucnt. lie disliked to inquire for her.
He fancicd there was malignant salts
faction in Edith's brief answer, "Out-
with the lineman.'
lie Venturel another evening call, but
Fidelia was in charge of the switch.
board, and opportunity for conversa
ton was limited.
His half conscious resentment to
ward the lineman prompted a question
as to his competency. You have to go
around with him all the time" he
grumbled jealousy.
Fidelia blushed.
'The lineman is fully competent, but
like to go. l am very fond off,
An imperative call for central In
terrupted, and the sentence was not
completed.
Blyth remembered it uneasily. Was
it the lineman or had she meant to say
that she liked driving in the glorious
autumn weather?
He grew Respondent as 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 to settle the affair
He loved the girl. He was sure of
himself now. He would boldly make
the opportunity to tell her So She
should choose between him and that
his adjectives would not have been ut.
tered in Fidelia's presence-lineman!
The thought of her was uppermost In
his mind as he drove toward home ON
cold, windy day in early spring
ooh, if only T. lie checked the half
uttered words, smiling tenderly as he
dreamed young mans beautiful day
dreams OF love ana lie.
Ahead of him in the lonely country
road he saw Il horse and buggy stand
ing by telephone pole. Instinctively
he looked up.
'The lincman" he exclaimed inter.
estedly. I'm thankful Fidelia isn't
with him this miserable dayw
The man climbed from the crossarm
and came down the pole with the swift
ease acquired by constant practice
Hes little chap" thought the doc.
tor. Perhaps that's why FideIa
watches him so closely"
The lineman sprang into the buggy,
with his coil of wire and bag of tools,
driving rapidly away.
I'll overtake him and speak with
him. II ought to be halfway decent
to a little chap like that"
But the lineman's slim, boyish figure,
erect in the lighter vehicle, held the
lines over an animal that sped along
as if aware of his pursuit
Blyth caught a glimpse of a rounded
red cheek under the lineman's close
cap. A wild thought, a glimmering of
the truth, sent the blood to 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 l must Sc.
her at oncew His imperative com
mand startled Edith into instant obedi
ence.
When Fidelia entered the room, with
cheeks that rivaled the crimson of the
soft robe she wore, Blyth sprang to-
ward her.
She motioned him back with a re-
Polling hand even while her eyes gave
him the assurance he sought.
You know you don't approve-you
said
Il don't care what l said! l was
wrong, Fidelia. l approve Of anything
that you do and of everything that you
are, Fidelia, my little lineman"