THE NEW OPERATOR.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2385, 22 October 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE NEW OPERATOR.

Xki.uk ami Rub had quarrelled. Not as do many lovers, for both were operators and had charge of odices whose wires were too busy to permit any war of words : but just enough space had occurred that morning for each to make the other miserable. There had long been an affinity hetween the two of a stronger nature than usually exists between telegraph operators. Nellie’s tender touches upon the key could alone quiet the nervous twitching of Robin's arm, when worn out by the rush of messages and train orders. She it was who seasoned the magnetism of dots and dashes with a halm that kept his heart sweet and wholesome. This she often did, weaving the good mornings and good evenings into lengthy conversations. It so happened, one winter evening, that Ned Owens, the operator at Pino Bluff, a little station intervening between Milldalo and Fairfield, made use of his ground wire, thus cutting off all communication between the lovers, but giving himself free scope to talk to his pretty and scintillating cousin. She, however, was not. kept, in the dark as to the proceedings, and together they connected a scheme to make the devoted Rob Price jealous. “It will be such fun to know that Rob is fretting and fuming over a trouble that he believes to be caused by a fallen pole or a dislodged tree,” said the handsome Ned Ids black eyes twinkling with mischief. “ And I, in trying to round off bis surmise*, will give a sudden hint of the truth, get red iti the face, and appear much confused continued the naughty Nellie, tapping her pretty foot anxiously against the embroidered footstool that adorned the little office. “ There is a ground north of me,” he repeated, and reported it to the main office. After testing the wires for some time, the trouble was located at Pino Bluff, Explanation was asked for, and the whole-souled Ned, confessing that something had bewitched him in Milldale, was pardoned at the head-quarters, and the matter was dismissed. But into the heart of Robin Price crept, a dark suspicion, which no syllogism nf his sweetheart seemed true enough to obliterate. “ I will leave her,” ho muttered. “Why toil and sweat out an existence for a creature who will perhaps wreck my manhood, ns she has threatened my youth ?” With these thoughts animating his purpose he seized the key and called "Md.,” signing “Fd.”; these being the letters that designated the two stations, Milldale and Fairfield.

Nellie recognised the stroke and, springing from her pet bird’s cage to the table, seized the key, and, after making several excited dots, signed her office call, “ Md.” " I leave on Number Twenty-three for California,” were the words that the little brass sounder sang out, “ To-night’s express brings you a package and a letter that explains all, You have been false.” The instrument continued to sing, and then came a pause and the circuit closed. Burning shame and indignation that he should thus accost her on a line where perhaps several dozen were listening, first seized her, and pride kept whispering in poor Nellie’s ear. Opening again tbe key, she vehemently Angered it a moment, and then plainly and leisurely drummed out the most provoking “0. K.” Robin’s fears were now confirmed. He was boarding the train for his western tour when some one slapped him on the shoulders exclaiming,— “ Hello, old pard 1 What’s the Jatcst from Milldale ?” But seeing the desperate glare in his rival’s eye, he drew back a foot or two. " A r on coward !’’ groaned Robin. How dare yon meddle with my heart and now openly try to humiliate me?’’ But as he entered the coach Ned seized his arm, saying,— “ Don’t bo rash, Rob. Come bank into the office and I will make everything as clear as my conscience.” They did go into the office, closed the door, and number twenty-three went whizzing around the bend short one passenger. I’oor Nellie ! The next few weeks were long : nl empty. The spring wind, in.■toad of blos.-oming the roses on Her cheeks, kissed away the flush and left her face wan and expressionless. Back and forth she went to the little office, which like a neglected flower, hud lost its freshness. Sitting one afternoon brooding over the past and dreaming of the far west she wus nron-ed from the lethargy by her instrument clattering out her office call, and continuing to repeat the same until she had duplicated the letters in answer. “ Good-evening, Mias N. I learned yesterday through Ned Owens,night man at Fairfield, that you were a lady operator. Why have you not called me before this and driven away the spring fever with your sprigbtliness ? said the same little pounder that had been tolling a funeral knell for so long. “Good evening," was Nellie’s timid response. “ You seemed always occupied, and I feared to intrude." “ Ma ! ha?” rattled the relay and sounder, both seeming to enjoy the change that had come over them. •* Yon arc mistaken. Business is dull enough here. How do yon pass your leisure time ? 1 do not hoar you as often as I did—as I did—ahem 1 the lady operator on the G. k A. line where I canto Irom.” “ Most any way,” replied Nellie. “ I crochet and make verses sometimes when there is a lull on the line.” Then the demon of her old self came back to her and revived her spirits. “ How prettily you send," wrote the dainty fingers. “ Ho ahead. I love to hear yon.” *• Thanks,” said tbe new operator beginning to make each sentence more complex and throwing alternate reflections of sunshine and shadows into them, which fairly dazzled Nellie’s poetic nature and made an electric tremor creep along her nerves and (lash through every fibre of her hungry heart. “ I hope to have many more such chats with you. Goodnight. Some one’s calling on Number Nine.” Thus it was, that within the space of half-an-honr Nellie’s heart had undergone a reaction, and something like the old merriment crept into her bright eyes, livery day brought a wanner sunshine into her life, which was fast chasing away the shadow that darkened it, and all because she was loved by a stranger—the new operator. Try as she would, she could not help associating him with her truant lover. At times their touches upon the key were the same, and also their expressions. One day she asked in a seemingly indifferent tone : 11 Hid you ever know 1 B,’ who worked at Fd ? ’ ” ’* Know whom ? ” clicked the instrument in return. “ Rob Price,” replied Nellie, with a tremble upon the last dot, “ 11a I The dunce who broke bis heart over your piece of fun with Ned? I should say I had heard of him a few times. I hear ho is mining out West, hut his health is declining. Weeds must have .sunshine as well as flowers, you know , hut say, dou t make me jealous by trying to resurrect him. May f come up to-morrow and see you? I hare a friend who is going to Milldale, and I would like to accompany him. 1 ' ‘•Certainly,’’ retorted the Milldale office, and Nellie began to smooth her hair and arrange the papers upon her desk as if it were dawn instead of twilight-. night her dreams wore troublesome, and when the morning came there were tears upon her lushes. She dressed and .sauntered oft' to the office, wishing that a wreck would delay the early train. She hail unlocked the door, and was talking to little .lack, who was carolling in

his cage, when the train whi.-tled. The engine pulled up slowly to the platform, and Ned Owens eatne hounding into the room, kissing her until her face was aglow with blushes. “Nell,” ho said, “ I beg a thousand pardons, but I have a surprise for you,” and throwing the door open ho presented the now operator—Robin Price. There he stood with his arras extended, looking handsomer than over, with the same soft hair curling over his brow. Nellie uttered a little shriek and fell into his arms. Years have slipped by since then. Nellie is now a happy mother, who draws her children about her at twilight and tells them stories of her truant lover.