The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-05-05

scenery again and the c. 9ductOr and
the mOtOrman went out on the front
platform 20 smoke their pipes and en-
JOY a chat. Tom repaired TO the back
platform and lit a cigar.
There was no boat I'm sight save the
two tiny steamers that made daily
trips between the city and the head OF
the bay. The one city-bound had
rounded the point and the other was
too far away to be signaled. The only
chance was TO hail some passing plea
sure boat, and there was small chance
that such craft would come this far
down the bay.
For an hour there was quiet in the
car. Once or twice Tom turned to-
ward Lucy, but she promptly turned
her back and Tom turned his gaze to-
ward the bay again.
Presently the motorman and conduc-
tor raised one of the seats and drew
their lunch pals from the locker. Then
they returned to the front platform, ig-
noring the obvious hunger of their
passengers.
Tom saw that Lucy was gazing hun
grily at the feast. Cheerfully he
sprang up and entered the car.
Il don't want to annoy you" he said
diffidently, but will you lend me your
aid in teaching those fellows a les
son? l did some marketing for moth
er in the city, and / We a steak and
some other stuff in that bundle. We
can build fire on tie shore and cook
the steak on a stick. IS we used to
when we were children
For a moment pride and hunger
struggled, then hunger W Il, and pres
emily Tom was assisting Lucy down
tn
island, and by the time the fire was
built his mothers supplies were ready
for the sacrifice.
In addition to the steak, there was q
loaf of bread and even a box of fine
table salt of a sort not obtainable in
Bayview.
The fragrant fumes of hot meat at
tracted the crew of the car, but not
until Lucy and he had eaten their
MI did Tom permit the two men to
have morsel. Then while the mo-
torman too his turn as cook he and
Lucsy sought the other side of the
island.
The ice was broken now, and they
chatted as though such things as cook
ing schools and their evil effects up
on the digestion were unknown.
1T makes me think of when we
were little tots" cried Lucy, as Tom
lighted cigarette. You always used
to smoke cornsilk cigarettes after we
had one of our al fresco meals"
Those were great times" he err
sponded, with a laugh. DO you re-
member how we used to plan to grow
up as quickly as we could. so that
we might keep a real house and have
ice cream for dessert every day."
And we were going to make fruit
cake instead of the plain kind, and
have slice between meals when
ever we wanted it." supplemented
Lucy. 1T all seems so far away"
And yet it was so near" he re-
minded. Just because l happened to
feel as though l could not be serious.
no matter how hard l tried, / went
and spoiled it ALL"
But We were both wrong that
night protested the girl. Il should
not have been so serious"
What followed this remark is not
necessary for publication, and it was
some moments before the two return
ed to mundane interests.
Hurray." shouted Tom, and Lucy
looked at him in surprise. Then she
turned to follow his gesture of direc-
ton and echoed his cheer. The draw
was slowly swinging into place. The
current was on again.
Regreuully the conductor suspended
his culinary operations and the motor
man climbed back to his seat with 2
slice OF steak sandwiches between two
slices of bread.
Have you the ring stin?" asked
Lucy, as they left the car at their cor
ner.
II bring it over tonight" he
promised. I'll be over early. You
make a fruit cake and I'll bring the
cream"