The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-11-17
A CHANGE OF SCHEDULE
BY LINN RoBY MEEKINs.

Copyright. 1901, by Daily Story Pub. Go. I% e s s x 8 ': $ : & s : g 8 $ 3: * 'beys orders. and I was told to come for de nine-eight train and lse gon'. More somever, how do l know dare ain't no nine-eight train. It's not for nigger like me to be disputin white folks
 Winston could almost have hugged the old fell-w, but there was still doubt. Does Thompson's driver know that the schedule has been changed?'
 "Yas. suh, he do-hes de one what toie me bout it. but l weren't takin orders from coons, an MT. Winston doan' like that nigger no way"
 Winston saw. Ben had blindly but ear- nestly done what he could to give him last chance but he kept well back in the situation until Ben had convinced the la dies that he had carried out their orders and that it was all due to the change i'll the "skedaddle or de time bench, at which they tried to smile in spite of their SeXatIons.
 Now it is matter of human experi- ence that one of the lonesomest feelings in the world 1t to get all one baggage ready for the train and then find out that there must be d wait of six or eight hours. Being becalmed at sea or sus- pension in a balloon that will neither go up nor down. is wild excitement in com parison with 1t. And thus by the very law of contrasts Winston had an opportunity that was blushipg red with ripeness, and
 
 could he knoW that Thompson may not have jumped off the train and that he might be on his way to the house now, driving like mad? As matter of fact. Thompson was on the train speeding city ward, but Winston had no information that he was. So Winston put his case with succinctness that was worthy of him and finding no opposition he began 10 elaborate and all the pent-up affection and language of his heart, soul and tongue flowed in pactolian streams. Then when he took her hand-a most beautt- 1ul hand-well, shortly afterwards Mrs. Donald came in, and she was informed of the result.
 She smiled as if she was not grieved. Irving" she said, "I have really been in doubt as to which of you-you or KenE -l should prefer for sor-in-law, but IL seemed to me that matters in Eleanor's direction were drifting towards Kent. and then l found that l preferred you; But l really expected it would be Kent
 There has been change in the sched- ule, replied Winston, and they laughd at the recollection of Ben.
 But this was not all. The engagement was signed, sealed and ratified before luncheon. In the afternoon there was a more solemn discussion.
 It's just this way" declared Winston. we've known each other for ages, and there s no earthly use of postponing the ceremony another minute. You want to go South, and l have nothing to keep me here and l want to go South with you. Now, why not be married this very day and all go together on the eight-nine train tomorrow morning?'
 It seemed preposterous but as 1t was discussed and as Winston's eloquence grew, tho difficulties seemed to fade Neither wanted fpssy wedding. and the Rev. Dr. Brown lived only a half mile away. They talked it over until almost tea time, and then they placed the mat ter before Mrs. Donald, She was shocked. Why, she declared, T thought that you you'd wait at least two or three months 9
 There has been another change in the schedule" said Winston.
 Ut looks to me- replied Mrs. Donald "as If you were trying to run a special train.'
 In a way they did. Ben went for the Rev Dr. Brown, and amid the packed trunks there was a solemn ceremony. The netx morning Ben was not vexed or de- layed by any new 'skeedaddles" or time benches" He was in full time for the eight-nine. and when he saw the en- zine pull out he waved good luck to the happy couple. he said with radiant smile:
 We shorely cotched de train dis time we suhtinly did