The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-10-09
.CORNELIA
GOES
VISITING
BY ALICE e. ALLEN.

Have you put in plenty of clothes
mother?" asked Cornelia, anxiously
"Oh, yes, DEAR" said mother. She
smiled UP at Cornelia from the big
suitcase she was packing. You're tc
stay only a week. you know"
Maybe can stay two weeks,
said Cornelia, digging the toe OF her
sturdy little boot into the rug. "Cou
sin Laura said So"
Mother can't spare you," said
mother, "A week seems long time
to her."
A week didn't seem long time to
Cornelia when she and cousin Laura
took their seat in the train, and sped
away between green fields and woods
toward Cousin Laura's home.
Why, in week there were only
seven little short days and seven
! nights. And nights didn't count, be-
cause you were asleep and wouldn't
even know you were visiting.
Cousin Laura had found a friend
on the train. She leaned forward,
talking to her. At that moment her
voice foated back to Cornelia.
Sometimes" she said. IT lie awake
all night"
Cornelia looked out of the window.
In all her happy, healthy little life
she had never lain awake in bed
more than a half-hour. How could
any one lie awake all night? Suppose
she should,-one of those seven
away-from-home nights?
The train flew on Cousin Laura
talked, Cornelia looked out of the
window. That strange new thought
about lying awake brought with it
many new thoughts. Cornelia looked
at mothers little gold watch, which,
as a special treat, mother had let her
carry. 1t was half-past ten. Cor
nelia had been gone just fifteen min
utes.
A quarter of an hour! And in a
day there were how many quarter
hours? Cornelia tried to think it
out, but she couldn't. Her throat
ached, her shoes hurt. There was a
queer pain in her left side. She sat
very still for long, long time. Cou-
sin Laura still talked.
Cornelia looked at her watch again.
1t was twenty-five minutes to eleven.
Had, the watch stopped? No, it tick
ed cheerily.
Cornelia did some more hard think.
ing. After another long, long time
Cousin Laura glanced out of the win
dow. There's the river, Cornelia,"
she said. "We're almost home now.
What short ride!"
Eyes, Cousin Laura" said Cornelia
politely. She didn't mean that it had
been a short ride; but she had to
say something, and the eyes" slipped
over the lump in her throat as easily
as anything.
The lump was growing bigger ev-
cry minute. 1t tasted salty like
tears. The pain in her side was
worse, too. Maybe she was going to
be Ill.
cousin Laura" said Cornelia. Cou-
sin Laura, packages in hand, had
leaned over for one last word to her
friend.
Cousin Laura" cried Cornelia
again. The train was slackening
speed. II hink-perhaps-Id bet
ter go back. l don't feel very we'll"
"A touch of car sickness, my DEAR"
said Cousin Laura. "You will feel
better in the fresh air. Here we are"
81 think-Ill just stay on-and go
back" said Cornelia.
This train doesn't go back, child"
cried Cousin Laura. TT goes straight
on to the city. Hurry, dear"
Blindly Cornelia followed Cousin
Laura. Whoever supposed fains
didn't turn around and take people
home after they bad carried luem
away? How did Yea 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 ard 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.