The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1904-12-03

Hgee az doctor dotln NeRsO rIeans:'sssi
i The follow Fnegday8 work be.
I3sfardi the great carrii "a be-
4 GINS the day before. train LEFT the
little station every IA rniIg at six
precisely There was but one excur-
sian train and # would leave the Sun
1 day before Nardi Gras, tn eroundGtrip
4 tickets we're good on no other train
$50, Miss Patiencs Knew that she must
be ready betmes; and all her simple
1 preparations were made the previous
night for this trip to Wonderland.
this Carcasonne of the lonely. UNI
eyentfu1 life.
~ DO hate 10 travel on Sunday,
the old lady had observed, but nebbe,
the Lord viii forgive me, for jis' this
one time; and thar amt no other time
| for me-
That last night she could scarcely
sleep, 50 intense was her excitement.
Towards morning she fell into an IN
easy s1urnber from which she was
| suddenly awakened by the sound OF
a steam whistle quite unusual at
thar hour only five O'Clock
Land sakes. what's that won-
der?' Miss Patience asked but there
was no one to answer. She arose and
made her toilet partaking Of her sim
/ Die breakfast. of bread, and butter,
and coffee, prepared over night. Then
! she proceeded to array herself in
1.-The little old-fashioned black straw
bonnet, which went well with her
black alpaca gown, and well-worn
black shawl. Her old-fashioned car
pet bag had been packed over night
She drew on her cotton gloves took
the big gingham umbrella and the
carpet bag, supplemented by paper
i of sandwiches, and with farewell
/ glance around the. silent room. LETT
the house, locking the door behind
her. She turned in the direction of
the railroad station, and began to
climb the long hill which led to it.
Ten minutes to six by the station
q clock, when Miss Patience entered
the, little waiting room. startling the
station agent With demand for a
round trip ticket to New Orleans
The agent knew her. of course. but
never within the memory Of mortal
man. had Miss Patience gone upon a
journey before.
. "'Haint got long to wait, have l,
! Mr.. Jones?'' she added, "the trains
due at six. and did surely hurry
You see" (the poor old face aglow
with proud triumph and delighD I'm
goin' down to New Orleans TO see
" Mardi Gras!"
She stopped short, startled by the
look upon the agents face. 1t was
the look of downright sorrow
Why. Miss Patience" he began
apolosetically, IF I'd only known you
/ we're going I'd have sent you word
The schedule was changed yesterday
and the train-it--it went through
. at five O'Clock. Didn't you hear the
whistle? The train has gone!
Gone"
The word dropped from the poor
old lips like stone. To you-who
thinIa' no more of "a pleasure trip than
you do Of a last years dream. this
may all seem very small and trivial;
but it was everything 70 this lonely
old soul. And there would be no other
:. excursion. and she had not the money
to go upon the usual trains
Miss Patience srasped the handles
Of her old carpet bag in both tremb,
! ling hands, and sunk upon the hard
wooden bench near by
Gone she repeated blanlllE-
acknowledgement
: She sat still for time, speaking
: no other word Then-slowly, trem
= blingly. she staggered to her feet
{ and still carrying the carpet bag
went slowly. feebly, out Of the wait
ing room, and began to descend the
: long red hill which wound back &c
/, her lonely home Once or twice. she
l paused TO take breath, and one hand
was pressed against her heart, as
i though she were in pain.
: Comet" she murmured brokenly
, her half-blinded eyes scarce seeing
I the way that she was taking.
= Back to the old brown house al
l last. The door was unlocked; she
I staggered over the threshold; to the
/ window. the familiar rocking chair
: She sunk down into its wooden depths
S and leaned her head upon her hand
p and all was still