Palisadian. [volume] (Cliffside Park, N.J.) 1906-current, 1921-04-09

| no longer part OF lie, iHe. lci ..
wealth and power, and handsome men
had wooed her in vain. and now she
was in love with a strange person who
popped over her horizon suddenly with
good morning" and forced his way
| Tito her affections without even show
ing his cOuntenance.
1t was no passing fancy, she was
certain. Stella was quick to make
decisions, but they were lasting. She
believed in love at first sight because
that was the way she gave her heart
to Glen, and she could see no reason
why love at first sound could not be
as sincere. The sense of hearing is
as discriminating as the sense of sight,
she argued in defense of her attitude
toward the Center City operator. OF
course, the affair probably would come
to naught. she thought, for probably
the good morning" man was already
married, and, anyhow, 1t was unlikely
he would return her affection. How
ever, she felt that he would do much
to diSSipate her loneliness for Stella
was aloLe in the world, her mother
having died two years ago, and slS
resided all by herself in little up
stairs flat.
Stella came to look forward to that
CHEEKY Morse good morning." and one
day, about two weeks after she first
heard the greetings, she was greatly
disappointed when it was not flashed
over the wire. During the day she
learned that her telegraphic sweet
heart had gone away-"probably to
visit his wife," she told herself bit.
tery.
For two days she was morose, but
on the third good morning" came in
the firm, clear tones shortly after she
eLtered the office, and she smiled
again.
missed you," she told him, taking
care to make it sound more or less
perfunctory.
"Went to Chicago to pack up" he
explained. Ppm moving here"
Stella sighed deep sigh of relief
and her smile became brighter.
That week was a happy one, for the
Center City operator showed signs of
caring. Little personal remarks that
he edged in between business matters
during the day made Stella joyful.
The remarks were not familiar in an
Objectionable sense, but they were in
innate, in conservative, apparently
sincere way. She wondered what the
other operators on the wire thought
of it, but she didn't really care.
Then came the climax to the affair.
She was just ready to close up for the
evening when the good morning"
man called her.
This is strictly business" he said.
I'm in love, and you're the one. !
can't wait any longer. viii you mar
ry me?"
Stella was dazed. 1t was really $50
an, and he had stated this was strictly
business. SO she answered with the
expression that so often traverSes tele-
graph wires, where every letter means
time:
Dot, space, dot, pause, dash, dot,
dash.
1t was simply 20. K"
"Good morning" was missing the
next day, but there was reason.
The man was on his way to Carson,
and Stella's heart was 1uttering ex-
pectantly.
In the middle Of the afternoon a
young man entered the office and ad-
vanced to the counter. When he and
Stella saw each other they both be-
came paralyzed with astonshmeEt for
several long seconds.
"Glen!" she finally managed to gasp.
"Why-what-wh
He smiled.
Il guess" he said, that l have
come to marry YOU
She cast her eyes to the floor.
You're too late" she murmured.
I'm already engaged-to the tele-
graph operator at Center City. But
how did you know was living in this
town."
He continued to smile.
II didn't" he confessed, until just
Cow. | came to we'd the manager of
this telegraph office, but l didn't know
it was you. Pm the Center City
operator, you see. But I'm not going
back ON my bargain now; in fact, I'm
more willing than before. How about
you?"
AS remarked before, Stella was a
business woman.
II never break my word" she said,
land 1 told you o. X"