The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-03-28

never done it after we had been skat-
ing all the afternoon, and it's begin
ming to get dark, too. Still, come
on"
So they walked down the long road,
CHEEKY enough, but realizing more
and more that they were two tired,
hungry boys, though of course they
never dreamed of giving in after they
had once started. Before they
reached Porter's Station, they agreed
that their legs never felt quite SO
heavy and stiff before. Will had the
best of it, for, as he lived on street
leading from North Avenue, two
blocks more brought him to the point
where he could turn off and see his
own home just ahead, with the lights
already shining invitingly from the
dining room windows.
"Well, goodnight, Tommy" he
cried, as he swung off round the cor
ner. II wish you were as near home
as l am. Hope you won't drop be-
fore you get there" And he was
gone.
Tommy couldn't even take the
short cut home, BECAUSE he had
promised his mother to bring her a
package from the bookstore in the
square,-a package which she must
have that evening. He reached the
square at last, got his package, and
was just about to start for the.1L last
stage of the walk, the three-quarters
of mile that stretched between him
and his home, when his car came
down the street, one of four that
turned the bend in quick succession.
The square was filled with people
coming out from Boston, and the two
starters were jostled and pushed as
the crowd of eager people asked for
their transfer checks. 1t was a scene
of confusion and hurry. A thought
came suddenly into Tommy's mind !;
and almost before he knew it he was
standing before the starter, and hold.
ing out his hand for check. There
was not a minute of hesitation, the
check was handed to him, the name
of the car was loudly called, and in a
moment more Tommy was in it.,
and whirling up the street toward his
home.
He did not have seat, of course
boys never do in those cars,-and he
stood first on one foot and then on
the other, trying to accustom himself
to the studded change in his fortunes.
He wasn't quite sure yet how he liked
it, and even had an impulse to jump
off the car when it was about halfway
there. He had always wondered how
certain boy felt, whom he saw
missed by conductor once, and who
kept his carfare, pretending he did
not know the conductor was count
ing the passengers to see how he
happened to come short in his change.
1t occurred to him in an distracted,
Indifferent way, as if the matter did
not concern him particularly, that be
himself ought to know now just how
the boy did feel But before he had
time to speculate much upon it, the
car stopped, Tommy jumped off, and
was soon at his own home.
What bright, CHEEKY home Tom
my had, too! They were already
seated at the table; and the quick
talk was filing the room, as each one
recounted in turn something of his
doings through the day. 1t must be
confessed that the children talked a
good deal at Tommy's house, perhaps
because there were no grown people
there to talk with each other. Tom
my's mother and the children had
their supper together; and among
them all Tommy was usually the one
whose adventures always seemed the
most interesting, and whose jokes al
ways sounded the brightest, even il
one couldn't recollect afterward just
what made them so funny. But to
night Tommy had lost his appetite
and seemed TO have nothing to say
In vain his mother asked about the
skating and the fun. Tommy an
swered politely, but so dispirited J
that there was no encouragement tC
ask more. Mother left her place, ano
went round to feel his head and SET
if he were feverish; but, when she
found that he had walked home af
ter skating all the afternoon, she
decided that he was simply tired anc
must go to bed early, and then h'
would be all right in the morning.
But Tommy seemed to feel worse