The Hardin tribune-herald. [volume] (Hardin, Mont.) 1925-1973, 1937-12-31

zines on the little stand. The apples
were beginning to wither, the chocolate
was stale and the magazines out of
date. Out of sheer boredom, however,
a passerby would occasionally buy
something.
Anita's heart was beating a little
faster. The noon train was the one
event in her life. Her heart always
beat faster before the train came in.
They had the Ostens to thank for the
fact that the train stopped at Thaya
instead of Katie. The Ostens had
rupt Count Grunne, and built a paper
factory. The CStens-incredibly rich
and fashionable ~people-had worked
things so that now the train stopped
at this insignificant little town.
Anita had been born in Thaya and
grown up in Thaya. She knew nothing
Of the world beyond the bump roads
and old-fashioned people OF this little
town with its 5000 inhabitants. What
she longed for was the world of the
played tennis, wore pretty clothes,
squandered money and had all sorts
of exciting adventures. But she knew,
too, that dreams led nowhere, so she
had married Karl Ammer, the station.
master, a man of weight and official
OlRIuCy-llOG d lldG1vC VI 411dyo x4O "oo
precise and punctual as the station
clock. Anita was fond of him.
The train came roaring in at such a
rate of speed that Anita'S heart, as
always, stood still for a moment, lest
it should forget to stop. But it did stop.
breathing heavily like an o~verstrained
horse, and behind the windowpanes the
peared. Anita had taken a post behind
the little stand, her nervous hands fus-
sing with the apples. A. few people
trickled from the cars to the platform.
ANY beer?" asked a man:
"No-I'm sorry" she was forced 10
In her dreams, Anita always saw her
self boarding this same train and rid
ing away-dressed in dark gray, her
hands smartly gloved-everythlng
bought with the money earned rou
the sale of beer, for which she couldn't
afford a license.
The engineer jumped to his cab,
white steam started kissing promptly
along its heavy wheels: Lips parted,
glide by-slow, faster. faster. A man
was looking from the window Of a first,
class compartment, his glance reSCeo
for a moment on her. It seemed to her
that the glance carried q message. Sne
smiled. The train wound round a curve
Anita's gaze followed the tracks for
a moment, restless, questioning. hen
She returned to her flatiron: ,,
At 1892, just after they'd flnlsheo
supper, the last freight train was as
patched. Then came a respite I'LL mo-
Anita loved the midnight even better
than the noon train. It approached WIN
huge blazing eyes, its windows alight.
MYSTERIOUS people still sat IN n din-
ing cars, drinking out Of tall glasses
The dark compartments OF the sleep
ing cars sheltered lovers. Anita often
thought Of those unknown lovers, c
ing through the world IN a railway
train.
No one could have dreamed that the
stationmaster would be 50 upset when
Anita started on her trip to Vienna:
A great-aunt, who had been only g
legend in Anita's family, had died; and
Frau Anita Ammer had been asked to
come to Vienna for the funeral services,
and to take over a small legacy. Nc
time at all for, the stationmaster to
apply for leave, that he might accom-
pany his wife. SO now she was on her
way, alone, with that familiar beat Of
expectancy In her breast. The whistle
h1ew. the train 00Ned mast the mid.