The Lakeland evening telegram., 1913-05-30
MARION ELEANOR DoDD
By RICHARD STRONG.

telephone girls are aggravated Deyono
the lot Of other mortals. and their
good acts are not always recognized
as are those which destroy the peace
of mind of the telephone public.
For instance, II Marion Eleanor
Dodds, an operator at ten per week.
had not been full of charity and love
for human kind, at least one case OF
true love would have miscarried and
at least two hearts would have gone
over the falls.
It became the duty Of Marion Flea
nor one day to connect Charles Dudley
Smythe and Fannie Mayme Kirton on
her wires. From the first intonation
of Fannie Mayme's voice as she an.
swered Charles Dudley's inquiry as
to her health the operator realized
that something was wrong. The brief
conversation which it was her sad
privilege to hear confirmed her first
realization. Charles Dudley was all
apology and reconciliation; Fannie
Mayme was all coldness and reserve.
"How meant" thought Marion Flea
nor to herself.
Now the relations Of Charles Dudley
Smythe and Fannie Mayme Kirton
were town gossip-more than town
gossip, for they were Of the very es.
sence Of the town life. The twain had
mutually fallen in love. literally at first
sight their courtship thus far had
been a dream. He ardent and compell'
ing, she tender and receptive. Both
proud Of the other.
This was their first quarrel, 30
Judged the telephone girl. and Judged
correctly. It gave her distinct shock
when in answer to Charles Dudley's
greeting Fannie Mayme replied in icy
tones:
well, Mr.. Smythe."
There was evident apprehension I'd
the voice of Charles Dudley as he re-
Joined.
IL beg your pardon for disturbing
you, Fannie"
"Miss Kirton, If you please" came
an interruption.
Eyes, exactly, I mean Miss Kirton.
Er-I called you up because I wanted
to make amends for anything may
have done or said last night which
may have seemed offensive. IL was
a trife piqued at your attitude toward
that matter and-and-well, really, l
did not mean to be rude or anything,
you know"
Her answer came in the same chill
tones.
There is nothing whatever to ex.
plain or apologize for, assure you,
Mr.. Smythe. think the less said
about our little difference of opinion
the better for all concerned. I beg
you to excuse me, as am very
busy"
Then both receivers dropped with
two very decided chugs.
This episode haunted the telephone
girl for the days and weeks which fol-
lowed, but she spoke no word OF 1t to
any human being.
The days went by and the town
began. to take notice Of the estrange-
ment. It began to be whispered that
Charles Dudley and Fannie Mayme
were seen together no more. Nobody
but Marion Eleanor understood the
matter at all and she was mum AZ tho
traditional church mouse.
Then came her great opportunity.
Charles Dudley and friend were on
the wire one day and in answer to
some question as to his down.hearted.
ness, Charles Dudley told Of his es-
arrangement from Fannie Mayme and
broke into the most impassioned pro-
testations of love and despair and SELF
accusation.
Now it so happened at the very mo-
ment when this food Of Charles Dud'
ley's hearts blood broke loose, Marion
Eleanor had Fannie Mayme on the
wire waiting for number. Now the
telephone girl. being woman herself.
had a very clear idea of woman's
point Of view and she already had
figured It out Fannie Mayme would
have been glad Of a reconciliation II
it could come about in manner so
she would do the pardoning and the
man would be properly humbled.
Instantly she recognized her oppor'
tunity and with Napoleonic rapidity
she grasped 1t. She cut Fannie Mayme
into the conversation between Charles
Dudley and his friend.
When 1t was over she cut out the
friend and said sharply to Fannie
Mayme:
There's your number"
There was preliminary skirmish Of
questions and answers before Fannie
Mayme finally discovered that she was
connected with Charles Dudley and
the friend was out. Then Fannie
Mayme said:
You're a great goose to talk that
sort Of thing into telephone for half
the town to hear. II you have any.
thing to say to me would it not be
wise to come over and tell 1t to me.
You know how dreadfully inquisitive
and gossipy these horrid telephone
operators are anyway, and they say
that snippy little Dodds girl never
misses an opportunity to make trouble
II she can get people by the ears"
Both receivers dropped aeA'n with