The Era-leader. [volume] (Franklinton, La.) 1910-current, 1920-11-11
He Fell Down

Nothing" he observed, nothing
makes one so dissatisfied with himself
as what I've just been doing-unless
it 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-
ically asked the girl who was trying to
be especially nice to the popular bache-
lor. "Some people are 50 tiresome J"
ooh, these weren't!" the bachelor
promptly protested. "They were very
nice people. And they were here just
fifteen minutes. Now it does seem as
though I should be able to engineer
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 betterl" he told her
gloonily, when the fifteen minutes
are spent in railway station!
II don't know what 1t 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 atrociousr
The ensuing crash you hear Is the
breaking off Of diplomatic relations he.
tween Genevleve and joint Or else
1t 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
thought he fancied that tiresome girl.
"Or this Is what happens. I brisk
into the station spick and span and
smiling and when Genevieve appears
on the platform my whole heart surges
In my throat, I am 40 glad to see her.
We'll, hello, Jen! I cry. Hello, JOel'
says she. We shake hands fervently'
Then we look at each other and smile,
"Did you have q good trip I ask
'Finep says she. Train was on time?
offer brightly. yes, 1t was says
Genevieve.
"We look at each other again. It's
Just fine you could get down here To
see mel! Genevieve begins. Great !
say. I've been crazy to see your
"'So've II says she. Awful dusty
tripr Was the cur crowded?' I Gsl
anxiously. No-not very says she
We walk up and down. My, but it:
fine to see your I say.
II scramble wildly, trying to think
Of all the things I had planned to nsi
and tell her. Nothing doing. Sim
ply great to see your It's just spleen
did you could get down here!' sh'
counters. We walk up and down.
look at my watch.
"'Genevieve!' shrieks her mother
suddenly appearing, If you don't hur
~ we'll miss that other train! Where
upon I grab suitcases and sprint, hui
Genevieve and her mother onto thei
train and wave sweetly at them q
they pull out. depart feeling vague
ly like twenty.nine cents and activel
disgruntled with Genevieve. She
not the girl ! thought her-and I
hate to say what she's thinking abou
me.
! "Or else / promise to see her o
when she departs for the East. Their
are FIVE or six other people there d.
ing the same thing. Genevieve,
t dressed up like horse and bugg,
! with a huge bunch ut orchids thu
n some other fellow has sent ner, bean
at us all. We stand In a semlcircle.
assure your trunk Is checked?
asked, Sure your tickets are a
II rightT inquiries Johes brightly. 'Hor
j: You have a good trip offers Smit
enthusiastically. Long silence. Som
body coughs.
"'Sure you don't want some Iflag'
T. zines? I began again. Hope the CO
isn't crowded. Smith offers dublousl,
4 He coughs. You'll be there at Jul
3 1928 tomorrow says Jones, frownin
at his watch. He coughs. Looks
though a lot of people are going
say desperately. This train always
e on time volunteers Jones.
"Don't forget to WRITE says Smitl