Page:Chetyates00yateiala.pdf/305

 it up, and it means nightmare, or a sensation of depressing weight on your chest!) until the train pulled out. Then I stood there a while longer; but nobody went by. There was a little cigar store close to the track, and I took my valise over and set it close to the wall of that, and then I went back and took hold of the handle of the nightmare. It fought back; but I wrestled it over to the door of the store, and asked the young man in charge if he would be willing to keep it until I sent for it.

"He said he'd be glad to, and he set it behind the counter, and I started for the Inn. Father had told me just how to go, and, oh, Chet, wasn't it good—good—good, to breathe in that country air, full of the smell of the leaves that were fluttering down all over the board walks, and of the grass, and of the fruit lying under the trees in the dooryards? It was dark; but I knew just what every odor and sound meant, and I could hear the apples thud down onto the grass, when a little breeze blew, and I could scuff through the leaves that rustled all about my ankles. I'd been in the cities so much that I felt as if I were suddenly free again, and I wanted to wave my arms and just squeal with delight. You know I'm