Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-09-23
Defying the Clock
and What it Did
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Seeing things is only state OF
mind, related the woman finishing
the sock There was yesterday
when looked at my tlmepiece and
exclaimed, Eleven o'clock. l must
hurry when it had no intention
Whatever of being IL o'clock. mas.
much as it was only 10.
Now, where on earth is that
child! | muttered, dancing madly
around. jimmy had been let out to
play ball, with the understanding that
he Was 70 be in at ii TO dress for
luncheon downtown with some out OF
town friends, whose young daughter
and hes were chlmmy. serves me
night tor letting him out OF my sight.
And yet he was crazy to go'
Il got dressed spasmodically be
tween dasAes TO the window looking
tor Jimmy. still glancins anxiously at
the time. You see, had firmly got
1t Into Eiy mind the idea that 1t was
ii and | could see nothing else. Then
] began to worry. could perceive no
reason for Jimmy's neglect to return
except sudden death, because he was
keen for the party
How could 80 and leave him ly
ing manged somewhere? Yet what
good to stay, when | couldn't get to
him? And maybe he was not mang-
led. ! alternated between these views
and the usual maternal wrath at de.
linquent offspring Working myself
into a just rage over Jimmys care
lessness and with just enough time
to catch my 1888 train, | scrubbed
note, which / left in conspicuous
place for Jimmy
81 told him, tho he did not deserve
in the least to come, that II he could
possibly get dressed and catch the
1888 TO come ahead-and TO be sure
and wash behind his ears,
"Then | tore for the train and on
the cross street met the ambulance
tearing toward me. My heart leaped
UP and Topped down and | stood
glued to the walk--tense. waiting to
see whether it turned down my street.
How ] wished | had not written that
cruel note | had left stuck on the
lamp! When he really was such a
good boy, such sweet, thoughtful
thank heaven, the ambulance
changed on in another direction l
moved my stiffened limbs and man
aged TO scale the stairs and reach
the platform in time to tumble onto
the last car My hat Was crooked
and there was dust on my shoes,
was carrying my gloves in my red
dened hands and hairpins were stick
ing out all ways In this state, as
e.ery woman knows, you invariably
meet the most eXasperatingly imma-
culate OF your acquaintances. Mine,
] found. was sitting right next to me
and had that kindly, superior air that
women wear when they know their
hair Is gittering, their complexion
powdered just right over the cold
cream, and their general effect band.
boxy.
amy dear cooed she, whatever
has happened to your Is it tele'
gram to come at once?'
$50 | told her my troubles. She
said serenely that 1t was too bad
and she was sure Jimmy was all
right.
~ got my breath, but | couldn't get
myself straight. You never can when
you've dressed in hurry with your
mind elsewhere found | had
gloves which were not mates and
fastened to the rendezvous simply
seethng at the world in general and
jimmy in particular. Still gasping
tore into the cafe. Every table was
empty. There was no sign stating
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