The Era-leader., 1919-01-30
He Fell Down

makes one SO dissatisfied with himself
as what I've just been doing-unless
1t is going to the train to see anybody
off! I've merely been down to meet
some people going through, and heav-
en- knows that's bad enough"
"Were they here long?" sympathet-
icaIly asked the girl who was trying to
be especially nice to the popular bache-
lor. "Some people are so tiresome"
"Oh, these weren'tl" the bachelor
promptly protested. "They were very
nice people. And they we're here just
fifteen minutes. Now it does seem as
though I should be able to engineer a
sprightly conversation for fifteen min
| utes, doesn't it?" he inquired In an
injured voice.
"The very idea! Why, of course"
declared the girl who was trying to be
nice.
".You know better" be told her
gloonlly, "when the fifteen minutes
are spent in railway station!
II don't know what it is about the
atmosphere of trains and tootings and
engines and suitcases humping your
shins-but you know perfectly we'll
that it transforms the most intelligent
person into a gibbering idiot!
"My goodness says Genevieve as
the train pulls out and John fades
away in the distance, 4 think I have
been mistaken in that man after all |!
He has no brains, intelligence or SYM
pathy in his composition, and now I
think Of 1t his necktie was atrocious! |!
The ensuing crash you hear Is the
breaking off of diplomatic relations be-
tween Genevieve and John! Or else
it Is John going through town, and
as Genevieve waves farewell from the
platform he smiles dutifully and then
retires to the smoker for two hours to
mediate on why In creation he ever
hought he fancied that tiresome girl.
"Or this is what happens. I brisk
into the station spick and span and
smiling and when Genevieve appears
a
on the platform my whole heart surges
In my throat, I am 40 glad to see her.
We'll, hello, Jen!' I cry. Hello, Joer
says she. We shake hands fervently.
Then we look at each other and smile.
"Did you have good trip?' ask.
'Finer says she. Train was on timer
I offer brightly. Yes, 1t was,' says
Genevieve.
1--WE look at each other again. It's
just fine you could get down here to
see mer Genevieve begins. 'Greatr
I say. I've been crazy to see your
"'So've II says she. Awful dusty
tripv WAS the car crowdedT I ask
anxiously. 'No-not very says she.
We walk up and down. MY, but it's
fine to see your I say.
IT scramble wildly, trying to think
Of all the things I had planned to ask
and tell her. Nothing doing. Sim.
ply great to see you! It's just splen.
did you could get down herel' she
counters. We walk up and down. l
look at my watch.
"'Genevieve!' shrieks her mother,
suddenly appearing, If you don't hur.
ry we'll miss that other trainP Where.
upon I grab suitcases and sprint, hurl
Genevieve and her mother onto their
train and wave sweetly at them as
they pull out. I depart feeling vague
!y- like twenty-nine cents and actively
disgruntled with Genevieve. She is
not the girl l thought her-and I'd
hate to say what she's thinking about
me.
"Or else I promise to see her of
when she departs for the East. There
are five or six other people there do.
ing the same thing. Genevieva all
dressed up like a horse and buggy,
with huge bunch nf orchids that
some other fellow has sent iler, beams
at us all. We stand in a semicircle.
Sure your trunk is checkedY Il
asked. Sure your tickets are all
rightT inquiries Jones brightly. Hope
you bave good trip offers Smith
enthusiastically. Long silence. Some
bods coughs.
"'Sure you don't want some maga.
zines? 1 began again. Hope the car
isn't crowded. Smith offers obviously.
He coughs. You'll be there at Just
1928 tomorrow says Jones, frowning
at his watch. He coughs. Looks as
though lot Of people are going I
say desperately. This train always is
on time volunteers Jones.
"Don't forget to write,' says Smith.
"'All aboardp shouts the conductor
and we hustle Genevieve on board