Middletown transcript., 1910-08-06


A lump rose in his throat, and q
strange mistiness came before
his eyes. Why, what was the
matter with him. He stood up
and shook himself.
It's the last! The first man
who offers me a drink I'll put a
bullet through. Eli be a man
from this day forth and not be
clsssed with tramps longer.
This resolve flushed his face,
and lent a peculiar brightness to
his handsome grey eyes.
Miss, said he going over to
where the young girl sat, send
ing message with swift, firm
fingers, l am an operator and
out Of work. Ask your chief if
he will let me sub for you while
you rest bit.
She finished sending the mes
sage, ami, after marking it with
the receiving operators sigma.
ture, put it in the drawer. Then
she looked into the dark, brilliant
face of irresistible beauty and
power--and at the commanding
figure, standing fully six feet
two inches above her, and
straight as an arrow. Despite
years of wandering and the visi-
BILE traces of dissipation, there
still fingered about him a military
air and the evidence of better
days. His heavy iron grey
moustache and bronzed features,
associated with his easy bearing
all pointed to a creditable past
and aristocratic antecedents.
He began almost to wish he
had not told he was an operator
when she asked him where he
was going, where he worked last,
and other questions, all the while
looking him directly in the face
with her grave sweet eyes.
Surely our chief will let you
work if you are a competent
She did not know he had work.
ed in almost every State in the |
Union. However, she sent a
message to the chief, asking if |
Mr.. Merlin could not relieve her
for few nights.
The answer came almost i'm.
mediately for him to go to work
that night.
By the wsy, said he. what is
your name?
Genevieve Burleigh.
He stood in the doorway, his
eyes following the train which
carried her to the city, until the |
green lights we're like mere stars;
then he turned and went into
the Office.
All around were evidences OF q
woman's careful fingers. The
floor was spotless in it's white-
ness and purity. The clean,
white curtains were drawn back
by crimson ribbons, and on the
walls were hung pretty little
landscapes, and on the desk was
the photograph of a young man.
Red ribbon was drawn through
The frame work, and inside the
picture was a lock of jet black
hair. On the desk Merlin found
several small volumes of poetry
each inscribed on the fly leaf
with To Genevieve from Maurice.
Wondering idly who Maurice
vas, he selected a volume of
1ongfellow, and proceeded to
make himself comfortable for the
remainder Of the night.
If was three weeks before
Mss Burleigh returned on duty;
hen Merlin was given regular
situation at a station east of her.
Every time he found that a
'eckless desire to roam was
creeping over him, he called her
Up over the wire and held a chat.
She was always the same, kind,
good and modest, and he looked
Onward with repressed longing
o the time when he would see
Ter again.
When year had passed that
:oaming disposition was conquer.
ID. He was no longer classed
With the tramps; he was a man
lot only man, but a gentleman
n every sense of the word.
He often asked himself what
lad caused the change; the an.
'wer was always the same
7enevieve Burleigh.
She had just come on duty
me evening and laid off her outer
wraps, when she heard her Office
allied sharply on the instrument.
;he sprsng to the key and re.
ponded ID the usual manner.
Good evening, Jenny, clicked
he sounder. You may look for !