| LT he Train Starts By A. Ruby Buxton Copyright, 1920, by Ma B it MARCH BROTHERS, Publishers 908. 210, 212 Wright Avenue | LEBANON. OHIO P72 oo) —- a) = SS OEE Return this book on or before the Latest Date stamped below. A | charge is made on all overdue books. University of Illinois Library L161—H41 ms id saree @) THE TRAIN STARTS. ae gg By A. RUBY BUXTON “He said he wanted to set by the winder so’s he could see out. An’, Mattie, and you can set right here behind him. Now! I guess you're all fixed!” The high-pitched voice was charged with deter- mined cheerfulness. : “Well, that’s nice, Aunt Tilly; now he can see every- - thing when the train starts.” It was the motherly-looking woman standing near the door of the coach who spoke. “An’, Tilly, I put in enough clothes to last him two weeks; but if he needs anything jest let me know.” She was looking at the averted little figure by the window. “An? if he gits ho-o-me-sick, you jest write to me and his papa Il come after him.” Ready sympathy that was kindly and commiserating gave a sort of pensive glow to the homely features and the mournful eyes, and vibrated in the deep tones. “But you’re goin’ to have a nice visit, ain’t you, Johnny? You ain’t goin’ to git ho-o-me-sick, are you?” From my seat across the aisle I could not fail to observe that the word won no response from the little figure turned toward the window in rapt enjoyment of — _ the prospect. Johnny was too fascinated, apparently, with the view of the station to bestow even a glance in the ‘direction of the speaker. She regarded him with uneasy “interest, and the lean, dark man in blue shirt and over- alls, who stood a little behind her, reflected the look. I caught sidewise glimpses, too, of Aunt Tilly’s carefully es abate Mountenanée ar st Mattie’s $, , wide-eyed a 3 ne est, both turned toward the youthful travel glued to the window. -. re ee — “You're goin’ to have a good time, Johnny, Tas : “with, Aunt Tilly and Mattie. You won’t miss me an your papa much. It’s goin’ to be so nice!» 4 Riis se The tones of the woman as she addressed Johan round black hat did not contain quite the assurance — the words. Fons “Tt’s so nice you can look out the winder all fa wae “Atle see the houses and trees. I don’t b’leeve,” doubt $ “your papa’s goin’ to have to come after you—and ae goin’ on seven years old!” _ The silent man in the background sticrede concern- — edly. me “You got this pretty green plush seat all to your- self; an’ when you git tired lookin’, you can lay down awhile!” It did not appear that Johnny would seem to tire of | bap ; ft a 2 looking. The woman paused, evidently uncertain as to ia ey what should be said next. - Mattie and them to play with. And, Johnny, I jest know !»? “Tt’s goin’ to be so nice visitin’ at Aunt Tilly’s, with ae a you ain’t goin’ to ait H-6-ocoompoaattenie The inexpressibly mournful cadence of the word as” te 3 she uttered it caused no movement in the round, black ~ a felt hat above the fringe of tawny hair. Johanne Coates i came up high in the back and almost met the round hat ; and the little shoulders and back that I saw presented a @ appearance of stuffing, as if there might be three or four layers of just such dark-worsted jackets” cee them. Johnny in his manifold encasement of clothing ~ suggested elaborate preparation on the part of an anxious — mother for a long- “planned journey 2 “3 “a “Well, the train’ s goin’ to start, so we'll have to s ay _ Bood- poe ‘* + i. , +f a + c Sar: . - _ The speaker stood now just inside the door, poised _as if for flight whenever the cry of “Board!” should be heard, and the seamy-faced man was at her side. “Don’t forget to let me know if he needs any more ‘shirts or underclothes or anything. I think I put in enough to last him, though. And remember, Tilly, the minute he gits h-o-o-o-me-si-i-i-ck, jest send his papa word. But you ain’t goin’ to, are you, Johnny? I know you ain’t goin’ to do that! But if you do—” | “Roard!’’ came in stentorian tones from outside the car. The silent dark man made a hasty movement back- ward, Good-bye, Mattie! Good-bye, Johnny! Now, if you ~— git—” A look of blank dismay. “Why, if he ain’t—” Astonishment interrupted utterance. The small round black hat was resting on the back of the seat just ahead, and the little shoulders under their layers of clothing were shaking. The woman looked from one startled face in the group to another. “Why—I do b’lieve he’s h-o-0-o-me-si-i-i-ck!” “Board!” roared the conductor outside. There was a sudden plunge of a small dark-jacketed figure, a rushing movement down the aisle past the woman in sunbonnet and the lean man, and Johnny had bolted. . | “Board!” came with a stern and thunderous finality, and the man and woman, following in the direction that Johnny had taken, made a precipitous, though somewhat bewildered, flight. I hurriedly crossed the aisle to Johnny’s window and was in time to catch sight of a stationary trio outside—a seamy-faced man in blue shirt and overalls, and a mourn- - ful-eyed woman in a sunbonnet, gazing with dazed ex- pression at our coach that was now beginning to move, and between them a little boy rubbing his knuckles in his U. OF ILL. LIB “Good-bye, Tilly! Write me how Johnny gits on. Fas \ NS eyes. The boy appeared a trifle scared—somewhat in need of readjustment; but he wore the look of one who has come back from the fiery furnace unscathed. ‘“Mattie’—it was the high-pitched voice of Aunt Tilly above the noise of the now swiftly moving train— “T do declare if we ain’t got his clothes in our valise!” 1 Smead Patriotic Entertainments THE COMPLETE FLAG BOOK, Contains plays, dialogs, drills, songs, exerciuans, J information concerning origin and history of the flag, ete. THE CONTEST OF THE NATIONS. Revised to date, A spectacular play or cantata. 13 females. Goddess of Liberty and 12 nations compete for the laurel crown. Very effective. 385c, EXEMPTION. Playlet in one act. 2 males, 8 females. 80 minutes. Two wives object. to their husbands’ enlisting, converted by a letter from Germany. 15e, R LIBERTY’S SAKE, 4 m., 6 f. Patriotic play in three acts. 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