XIX 
ONCE UPON A TIME 
ULY it was, and in Wisconsin and on the 
Soo Line on a cool delicious day after a 
heated term superheated when the country 
had been at smother for days, and heat prostra- 
tions had been the headlines on which newsboys 
had done business with their strident voices and 
busy industry. Then came the rain, a whole 
night of it across the State and across the States 
for aught I know; but it was the State I crossed 
so that I speak with unwonted information. 
And the air was refreshing like a touch of cooling 
at the hand of the sea. 
The clouds cluttered up the sky in huge dis- 
hevelment of thunder heads, but frowsled heads 
torn and tossed about like haycocks after a 
rain, no single cloud of any definite form but all 
as if they had been having a romp with the 
wind and had had decidedly the worst of it. 
And, to be sure, I was watching. When I 
watch not the doings of the outdoors I shall be 
dead. Till then, am I all eyes for the sights 
abroad upon any day and all nostrils to inhale 
the happy fragrances and all ears to catch the 
momentary sweetness of passing song of happy 
146 
