very busy that morning, but whenever it was possible "C" called her, and called in vain.
Immediately after her return from dinner, however, having just received and signed for a message, "C," the moment she closed her key, said,
"Where have you been to-day? are you not glad to have me back again? it cannot be I am so soon forgotten?"
Unable to avoid answering, Nattie responded on the wrong side of truth again. "Have been busy; wait, please, a customer here."
"I cannot help saying, confound the luck!" "C" responded, savagely. To which anathema Nattie turned up her nose scornfully, and made no reply.
The nervous dread of his "calling," that was upon her all day, caused her to make more blunders than she had ever done in all her telegraphic career. She gave wrong change continually, numbered her messages incorrectly, and "broke" so much that the operator who sent to her had a headache with ill-humor. Usually very quick at deciphering the illegible scrawls often handed her for transmission, she to-day was frowned at for her stupidity in making them out; and one lady to whom a message was sent through poor Nattie's office, was much exercised on receiving it, to learn over an unknown gentleman's signature, that he would be with her at
