Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-10-01

Laura. Whoever supposed trains
didn't turn around and take people
home after they had carried .nem
away? How did you get home, any
way?
For a few minutes outside the
train things did seem brighter Uncle
Samuel was waiting at the station to
drive Cousin Laura home. Cornelia
sat up stiff and straight, and drove
the pretty brown horses. She knew
at once how to hold the reins and
whip. Uncle Samuel chuckled.
She's "a born horse-woman,' he
said.
The drive lasted only few min
utes, and then the lump came back,
bigger than ever. Cousin Laura hur-
ried Cornelia out into the garden to
pull the radishes for lunch.
Back in the house Cornelia made a
discovery. Cousin Laura's house,
with its pretty rooms, cool porches,
vines, and hammocks was only a
house. It wasn't home at all.
Cornelia went out and sat down in
one of her hammocks. She listened
to Cousin Laura's voice, but she
didn't hear much that she said. Over
and over on her fingers she counted,
"One, two, three, four, five, six, sew
en-, seven whole dats-and the
first one. not half gone
There's little girl lives across
the street." came cheerily in Cousin
Laura's voice. "She's just about your
ago, and
Cornelia couldn't hear any more.
Almost she hated the little girl
across the street.
I-think, Cousin Laura, I'd better
go-back home she said. s1'm-
maybe, I'm sick.'
You're hungry said Cousin
Laura. And lunch is ready. Any
way, Cornelia," she added, as they
sat down at the pretty table, 'you
can't go home until the four O'Clock
train, unless you walk.
After lunch Cornelia looked at her
watch again. One O'Clock, three
hours had gone since she left home
Three hours more must go before
she could go back-even if Cousin
Laura would let her go at four
o'clock.
Cornelia was out in Cousin Laura's
pretty garden. Cousin Laura had
gone to get the little girl across the
street Cornelia stood by the mignon-
cite bed. Its fresh. strong scent
made her think of beautiful cool,
sweet twilights, with the first stars
coming out slowly, and mothers
voice from the door calling, "Come,
now, dear, it's bedtime"
Bedtime? Even if these hours
were long in passing, bedtime was
coming sure and swift Every min
ute brought it nearer That dear,
voice in it and mothers kiss and
mother herself! How could it come
without mother?
Cornelia crawled under the fence.
She ran through the orchard. Broad,
beautiful fields lay beyond Far OFF
| was gleam of blue which was the
| river. 1t she could ever reach the
river, she could follow it home.
Cornelia was halfway across the
| first field when Cousin Laura's voice,
| painting and frightened, called after
her, "Cornelia, Cornelia, where are
| you going, child?''
Home" cried Cornelia. .1 can
walk, I guess.
cousin Laura hurried up. She
caught Cornelia's hand .'You can't
walk, dear. Wait! You shall go at
3.55- III put you on the train my
self. You'll get there that way much
sooner
Cousin Laura led Cornelia back
across the field In the orchard
was the little girl from across the
street. She stared at Cornell
in friendly fashion from tn
funnel of her blue checked sun-bon
net.
Cornelia pulled her hand ava.
from Cousin Laura's. She looked a
her watch. It was half-past one
Four O'clock wasn't far of now. 3.55
Cornelia calculated, was still nearer
Both came long before bedtime.
You got watch?" said the 1fttl,
girl from across the street. Il wisl
| had. I got goat want to see him
Let's run"
At half-past three Cousin Laur;
set out with Cornelia's suitcase. Sh'
crossed the street
"Cornelia," she called, .it's nearl.
train time. You must hurry
There was a rush, followed by /;
wild clatter and scramble. Arount
the corner of the house, at break
neck speed, came the goat He wa.
drawing small express wagon Or
the sea was Cornelia. She was driv
ing.
At sight of Cousin Laura and tht
suitcase, Corpelia's face grew sober
"Oh, it can't be time yet" sh.