Smyrna times., 1907-04-03


''Take your own lineman, for exam
pie, Miss Hall. Fancy woman in his !
place-driving in all weathers about !
this sparsely settled country, climbing |
poles, sitting astride crOssarms!' He |
shrugged his shoulders impatiently. |
That's worse than being Il doctor!'
Afterward he wondered if she would |
think he disapprOved of what she was
doing. He hoped not. He considered il
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 WON.
anly.
He promised himself that he would
see her often. He had never before
met a girl who seemed to answer SC
fully the requirements of his ideal.
But as the days went by his glimpses
OF Fidelia were tantaliZingly infre.
quent. He disliked to inquire for her
He fancied there was malignant salts
faction in Edith's brief answer, "Out-
with the Iineman."
He venture another evening call, but
Fidelia was in charge of the switch.
board, and opportunity for conversa.
tiOl was limited.
His half conscious resentment to.
ward the lineman prompted a question
as to his competency. You have to &C
around with him all the time," he
grumbled jealousy.
Fidelia blushed.
"The lineman is fully competent, but
like to go. l am very fond Of
An imperative call for central in
teriupted. and the sentence was not
completed.
Blyth remembered it uneasily. Was
| it the lilleman. 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 OF
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 adjecsves 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 Oh
a cold, windy day in early spring
"Oh. if only T. He checked the hall
uttered words, smiling tenderly as he
dreamed a young mans beautiful day
dreams of love and life.
Ahead of him in the lonely country
road he saw a horse and buggy stand
ing by telephone pole. InstinctivelJ
he looked up.
"The linemanw he exclaimed inter
estedly. I'm thankful Fidelia ism
with him this miserable dayv'
The man climbed from the crossarn
and came down the pole with the swift
ease acquired by constant practice.
He's a little chap" thought the doc
tor. perhaps that's why Fideli;
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 witt
him. II ought to be halfway decen
to a little chap like that"
But the lineman's slim, boyish figure
erect in the lighter vehicle, held th
: lines over an animal that sped alon
as if aware of his pursuit.
Blyth caught glimpse of a rounds
= red cheek under the lineman's clos
cap. A wild thought, glimmering o
the truth. sent the blood to his ow
cheeks, and he urged his horse on.
He reached the driveway at Halls
time to see the slim figure leap fror
g the buggy and dash into the house.
The doctor followed hurriedly.
= "Go tell your sister that 1 must sc
: her at once" His imperative con
e mand startled Edith into instant obed
0 ence.
When Fidelia entered the room, wit
cheeks that rivaled the crimson of I'll
' soft robe she wore, Blyth sprang t.
: ward her.
l She motioned him back with a r
u pelling hand even while her eyes gay
him the assurance he sought.
d ''You know you don't approve-yO
: ,aid"-
81 don't care what 1 said! l W;
l. wrong, Fidelia. l approve of anythir
that you do and of everything that yC
I are, Fidelia, my little linemanr'