Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1918-02-15

Copyright, Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate
1t was a responsible position young
Doctor Reynolds had. as head surgeon
OF the General hospital, and the re
sponsibility at times became weari.
some. 1t had been long, tiresome
day, day when almost all the nurses
had gone of duty complaining Of head.
aches and some Of the probationers
had tainted at their work, which made
1t 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.
Il am sure gave you the number
you asked for both times" came the
answer, in such a 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 f1ippancy 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, q very fine
girl If she was anything like her voice.
1t seemed a shame for a nice girl like
that to be shaving away at switch
board. 1t wasn't any worse than q
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
he hoped some day to meet her. There
wasn't much chance to do so. She
might not come up to his expectations.
If he did, so 1t 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 tho
pleasant voice was the central figure,
and awoke with his mind on her.
The hospital was filed 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 a 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 q number Of unanswered rings
the girl opened the way for him to
start conversation by saying, ''This
party doesn't answer the telephone"
DO you know if they have not been
answering the phone for a number Of
days? l am particularly anxious to
know if they are out of the CITY," His
cheeks burned at the consciousness
of the lie.
Il am almost sure they are" she re-
piled. 1T is weeks since have had a
call for that number. l have noticed
1t 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 It was many minutes before
Reynolds hung up the receiver. She
was very fine girl. he was more than
convinced then, and he wished he had
found out her name. She seemed like
girl who would be offended If he got
personal, he thought, and although he
called her by telephone every evening
for a week he had not the courage to
ask her.
The next week was a busy one and
1t was the middle Of II before he was
able to get near the telephone In the
evening. 1t was different operator
who answered his call and he was dis.
appointed. The girl he wanted wds
off duty, that was apparent. Night
after night he called, but without sue
cess. Finally one night he asked the
girl who answered. where the girl who
had been on that switchboard the
previous month, was. "She Is " and
is not expected to get WELL" waA the
startling answer.
The statement stunned hiuA BE
hung up the receiver without learning
anything further. He could not mag
the his girl Of the beautiful voice, the
girl who haunted his dreams, az being
near death, and 1t took him hours to
realize that he might be Of some as
sistance to her. When at length he
did como to his senses, he lost no time
In communicating with the telephone
ONCE and securing the girls name and
address. Her name was Violet Bloom.
Z fitting name for girl IKE her. h
AAanank - - NEsA q I M -