Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-02-22
The Voice
OvertheWire
~
BY Vincent G. Perry
By Vincent G.. Perry

bpOuSlDlllCy Ut LlIuSS UeCulle WedIA-
some. 1t had been a long, tiresome
day, day when almost all the nurses
had gone off duty complaining Of head
aches and some of the probationers
had tainted at their work, which made
It all the harder for the young doctor
AS the hour reached midnight he could
see lots Of work still to do before he
could retire. 1t was no wonder, then,
that he was in an unpleasant frame Of
mind when he found himself at the tel
ephone to make a promised report to
relative of one Of the patients.
whats the matter with you, CEN
trail; that's the second time you've
given me the wrong number" he called
GROSSLY through the telephone after
being told twice that he had the wrong
number.
II am sure l gave you the number
you asked for both times" came the
answer, in such pleasant tone that,
after his harsh tone, 1t surprised him.
"Wait till see," he muttered as he
located his memorandum book. THAT'S
right; did give you the wrong num-
Der. You will have to excuse me-" His
voice had modulated to a smoother
pitch.
THAT Is all right. I guess you are
tired. We all get that way sometimes
and must make allowances for Others"
said the girl without the least trace
Of flippancy In her voice.
1t was early morning before Doctor
Reynolds was able to go to bed and
then he was too tired to sleep. AS he
lay In bed he tried to forget the events
Of the day, but they kept crossing his
mind. The conversation with the tele-
phone operator seemed to have i'm
pressed him most and 1t was not so
unpleasant to think Of as some of the
other things. How sweet her voice
sounded, he thought-so different to
any other telephone operators, differ
ent to any other wOman's, perhaps
most like his mothers. He wondered
what sort of girl she was, very fine
girl If she was anything like her voice.
It seemed q shame for a nice girl like
that to be Shaving away at switch
board. 1t wasn't any worse than a
nurses life, though, he confessed as
he thought of the tired faces he had
seen that day. His mind kept wander
Ing but always returned to the tele-
phone operator. Her voice and polite
words had certainly made more than
an ordinary impression on him and
ne hoped some day to meet her. There
wasn't much chance to do so. She
might not come up to his expectations,
II he did, so it was better to picture
her as some fairylike creature. He
wove all manner Of pictures Of what
she would be like and fell asleep with
his mind on her. He had very wonder
full dreams in which the girl with the
pleasant voice was the central figure,
and awoke with his mind on her.
The hospital was filled and accom-
modations had to be taxed to the limit,
so for days Doctor Reynolds was not
able to think Of anything but his work.
But the rush subsidized as quickly as
1t had begun and the hospital was re-
stored to normal routine. In the eve
nings he was able to find time for re-
taxation and his thoughts went back
to the telephone girl. After thinking
1t over for few nights he decided on
a plan. 1t was not difficult to think
Of someone to call up who he knew
would be away and not answer the
telephone. When the voice that had
impressed itself so firmly on his men,
DRY asked for the number his heart
beat faster.
After a number Of unanswered rings
the girl opened the way for him to
start a conversation by saying, "Thls
party doesn't answer the telephone"
do you know If they have not been
answering the phone for number of
days7 ] am particularly anxious to
know II they are out Of the city," His
cheeks burned at the consciousness
of the lie.
II am almost sure they are" she re.
piled. ut Is weeks since have had a
call for that number. I have noticed
It particularly"
IF so, you must have been on this
board for some time. Have your? He
hoped his tone would cause no offense
That gave the conversation a good
start and 1t was many minutes before
Reynolds hung up the receiver. She
was very fine girl, he was more thar
convinced then, and he wished he hat
found out her name. She seemed like
girl who would be offended IL he got
personal, he thought, and although HI
called her by telephone every evening
for a week he had not the courage t.
ask her.
The next week was a busy one ant
1t was the middle of 1t before he wa!
able to get near the telephone in tn,
evening. 1t was different operator
who answered his call and he was dis
appointed. The girl he wanted wa,
off duty, that was apparent. Nigh
after night he called, but without sue
cess. Finally one night he asked tn,
girl who answered, where the girl VIII,
had been on that switchboard the
previous month, was. "She Is i'll ant