Beth Norvell

"Yas, sah; whole section vacant, sah, Numbah Five. Denvah; yas, sah,

suttinly. Oh, I'll look after de lady all right. You ain't a-goin'

'long wid us, den, dis trip? Oh, yas; thank ye, sah. Sure, I'll see

dat she gits dere, don't you worry none 'bout dat."

Winston walked restlessly down the platform, gazing up at the

car-windows, every ounce of his mustered resolve necessary to hold him

outwardly calm. The curtains were many of them closed, but at last he

distinguished her, leaning against the glass, that same dull, listless

look in her eyes as she stared out blindly across the waste of sand.

As the train started he touched the window, and she turned and saw him.

There was a single moment when life came flashing back into her eyes,

when he believed her lips even smiled at him. Then he was alone,

gazing down the track after the fast disappearing train.