The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-11-12
BY WAY OF
OZARK
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A<Copyright, by Bobos-Merrill Coz 4
By FRANCES WILSON

its tremendous significance no hint OF
the fact that though the stage coach
has practically disappeared from our
midst in the bobtail train its spirit
goes marching on. Accustomed to a
world that takes 4 shameless pride in
it's flyers" in trains as inexorable as
time and tide, how was l to suspect
that the bobtail train was a bit of old
time poesy set like jewel in the pro-
sale present; that coming by way OF
Ozark would involve a spiritual renas-
cence; that l should arrive at my
journeys end with heart quickened
and purified? Yet so it was.
| emerged from the sleeper at x.
into morning all blue and gold spar
kle. At the ticket window in the time
worn station | fluttered anxiously in
the background of several overstop-
ping Missourians who seemed to be
indulging lazy 1est for railroad in
formation. Stonily watched the clock,
whose long, gaunt finger was creeping
closer and closer to the decisive hour,
tormented by visions Of the Ozark
parting without me. In the midst of
my fidgety despair the foreground
shifted with the deliberation Of a stage
scene and l found myself next the
wicket.
Even In the preoccupation Of that
moment the severity of the ticket
agents face impressed me. Why so
unutterable gravity at so natural a
| question? Had | perchance outraged
some canon of railroad etiquette by
! asking when the train for Ozark would
leave, and, if not, what could be the
meaning Of the lurking dignity in his
glance? Puzzled, but not daunted, l
turned away.
There was, it seemed, time for the
lunch counter, a taste for which |
have untlinchingly preserved in spite
of tough steaks and stale sandwiches.
For me there has always been gla-
NOR about them, and | was soon dang
ling happily from a revolving stool,
awaiting wheat cakes and coffee, star
ing immodestly at the god-like profile
of the youth who presided over the
cash register and humming to myself
from sheer contentment.
The coffee and cakes were hot, the
| profile all too perfect. In the glow
produced by the three | quite forgot
that these joys were en- PEASANT until
my eyes happened to fall upon the
large, plain face of clock on the OPP
posite wall 1t was the sort of a clock
that one simply could not doubt. One
| knew that it had always done its duty,
always would. and in trice | had
ceased to bangle and was standing be-
fore the god, adjuring him by the nine
forty train to Ozark to make haste
with my change, to strike the mystic
keys, pull the stop and gather my
dimes and quarters from the drawer
prestssimo, an it please him. He was
not, | must confess, visibly affected
by my objurgations. He, too, eyed me
frigidly, and performed his solo on the
cash register tempo.
A big, putting, assertive monster of
an engine was at that moment bring
ing a train to a stop on the platform.
AS the last passenger alighted | pre-
scented myself at the steps, glowing
with triumph and half inclined to wave
my handkerchief at the ticket man and
curtsey derisively to the Apollo of the
cash register, for had ! not achieved
| that train in the face OF official cold
ness and encouragement that might
well have sent me some other way
| Jr af TIT, Nh,
protesting voice fell upon my ear.
| Dis yere amt youah train, lady.
Youah train, hits ovah yundah SOM
air Guess yo don need to rum"
This information, delivered by a col
ored porter had at least one redeem
ing feature. 1t was accompanied by a
grin, and | no longer felt myself an
offense In the land. With few proud
snorts and Kisses the great engine
dragged it's train away, leaving the
| platform to the Ozark train and me-
| | found it at last-an archaic day
! coach poignantly suggestive of the
days of Robert Fulton, coupled to
some fat-cars loaded with cinders
There was no engine in sight, but
one no longer wondered. Nothing now
seemed more probable than round
house filled with engines all haughtily
refusing to draw the train to Ozark.
From time to time loose jointed men,
and worn women with babes in arms
and fringes of them clingiDg to their
| skirts, sauntered in and disposed
themselves about with lack Of haste
| that was Ominous | vain | searched
their faces for some fixed intention Of
departure. Their intentions seemed to
be in the air
Two drummers, one stout, creased
and Of slovenly appearance, the other
spare and groomed, looked as If they
had once meant to, but had given it
up, and plunged into the morning pa
pers for forgetfulness. At last there
was final rustling of the papers as
they threw them aside, their news ex-
hausted. The Ozark train remained
immovable, and they began to eye
each other with interest, Frightening
as they recognized that they were OF
| the same brotherhood.
Hosiery? queried Falstaff, guided
he leaned toward Cassius interestedly.
Cassius shook his head.
Just outside hosiery, one might say.
Shoes" was his neat reply. Involun-
tarily | smiled-we all smiled cheerily
until happened to remember the dark
|