The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-08-11
Worrying Over
Emily

ITS terrible to be born to worry"
said the girl who likes to talk. "The
worst Of 1t is that you not only have
to worry on your own account. but
on everybody else's. The people who
simply won't shirk duty. for some
body has to worry, and I'm usually the
one!
"Now. Emily does very we'll as a
friend. The only thing I have against
her is that she is so undisturbedly
calm. don't believe any mundane
happening would jolt Emily in the
least. Possibly one reason for her
solidity of emotion is that she is
large and weighs an awful lot and so
moves slowly.
IF she hadn't moved so slowly the
other night shouldn't have got SO
mad at her, for things wouldn't have
happened as they did. She and l
had been beguiled into staying to
dinner at a married friends on the
North side. because the married friend
said there wasn't a particle of danger
in the two of US going home to the
South side alone, since Emily was sc
large that nobody could carry her OIL
and that In case of panic could cling
to her.
Our elevated cars seemed terribly
crowded for some reason, and we
were in quite jam when we arose
to get OF at our station. It was the
station after the one where insisted
we should alight. but Emily was firm
She said 1t had to be the right one
because 1t simply was the right one,
and that was all there was to it.
When'I emerged on the platform
and Strengthened my hat and shook
on the swarms of humanity that had
flooded out with me turned to speak
to Emily. but she wasn't there. She
waved an agonized hand to me from
the door Of the moving elevated train
Emily was SO bulky that she got
wedged in the door in the crowd and
couldn't escape in time.
1t was II o'clock at night, but I fig
ured that Emily would get of at the
next station and wait for me, realizing
that could hop on the next train and
follow her. did this. tripping lightly
out on the platform at the next sta.
ton with pleasant smile to show
that appreciated the joke.
Emily was not there. The wind
blew and it was very lonesome. am
tree to say that was scared to death.
There was nothing for 1t but to go
downstairs to the street, go up the
stairs on the other side and ride back.
for without doubt Emily had taken the
train back to our original stopping
place and probably at that minute
was wondering what had become of
me. So l went back.
"She wasn't there. asked the
ticket seller If he had seen a large
young woman with feather go by.
and he said he saw so many feathers
every day that he had got so he
couldn't tell whether it was a real one
Or just nightmare of brainfag,
| presume, but irritating at that Juno.
ture.
Just as l had given 1t up as hope
less. and had decided to take my life
In my hands and run for the Ran.
dolph street station of the suburban
train | had large, cold chill. had
remembered that in my handbag re-
posed Emily's change purse and she
hadn't a cent of money with her!
Now, no matter how large and snh.
stantial appearing a young woman
may be. it isn't at all nice for her to
ind herself alone down town at an
hour approaching midnight without
even car fare. think | wrung my
aands In my perturbation. | had vi
slons of Emily skulking up and down
The mysterious, dimly lighted CITY
streets in terror of her life, as was |.
matchmaking me. her recreant
friend; for no doubt she had figured
that l would wait on that miserable
first platform until she came back. in.
stead of playing hide and seek with
her.
We'll, couldn't find her nor helm
her, and there was nothing to do hut
eonS tuC SuUuIU du tram nome. ago.
nized to death. was so worried about
Emily that forgot to be scared on nv
own account and went three blocks
out of my way at 1880 at night to
break the news to her family that
had abandoned.
You can imagine my petrification
when. after I. with tears in my eyes
and trembling lips. had rung the bell.
Emily herself opened the door.
We'll, of all things!" she said in
surprise when she saw me.
"She still had on her hat and in
one hand she carr ed large and ex.
ceedingly luscious looking sandwich.
which she was leisurely devouring. /
just looked at her. l thought at the
time never had seen human coun.
tenance SO utterly calm and cheerfully
placid. The sight Infatuated me.
"'Will you tell me- demanded,
icily, what you are doing at homer
why shouldn't be at home?' in.
CURED Emily. pausing in surprise as
she was in the act Of biting the sand
wich.