Littleton College - Chatterbox Yearbook (Littleton, NC)

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THE CHATTERBOX. 257 Yes, look down there. And there, indeed, was Clee, just appearing over the hill. The late Miss Reel, remarked Annie, sadly. Poor Cleebus! Go back for her 2 cried the irate and relentless driver. HBy Mars, no! Wle are charged to run at the rate of 11,000 miles an hour for three years, and can not stop until we reach Mars. If we were to delay now we should probably be run down by a comet. Oh, there's no danger. Here, it's about time you took a fried-chicken-and-waflies tablet. This breeze gives one an appetite. And you would better adjust the oxygen tubes, weire coming to pretty rare atmosphere. Don't say a word to me for a month. I have just eaten pel- lets to last for five weeks, in order to devote myself undis- turbed to the guiding of the ship. And don't worry about your friend. She can come by the next express. Clee, meanwhile, had seated herself resignedly on her suit- case, and had the girls been within hearing distance they would have heard her remark philosophically, VVal, ain't the hull thing ridiculous ? 96 96 96 99 96' -X' 66 Five years later a Traveler, an earth-dweller, alighted from his air-ship on the planet Mars, and immediately start- ed out in search of the 1908 Colony. The long summer sea- son was in full swing. A wealth of green covered that part of the planet, and in the distance sparkled the water of a canal. On every hand were strange plants and animals. Carefully tilled fields gave evidence of human habitation. But where were the inhabitants? In a most unexpected fashion was his question answered. A shadow and a whirring overhead caused him to look up. He had barely time to observe that there were approaching him, in miniature air-ships, freaks of the strangest propor-

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2 5 6 T HE CTHATTERBOX. 4'Helen Earnhardt, said one, 'fYou know you can't take that band box! Oh, it's just my sailor,-such a little one. Please let me take it. 'flaucie Ross, have you put Chauncey in a safe place Z Certainly, I have. Do you suppose there'll be any mice for him in Mars ZW 'Tve lost my veil. I have an extra one. I'll get it for you. 'WVell,,' sighed Gertrude, anxiously, the Earth's a mighty dangerous place to live in, with its earthquakes and volcanoes, but sure thing, Mars may be Worse! And then a silence fell on the party. They Were sched- uled to leave in two minutes. It was to be a glorious trip, but oh! the uncertainty of it all. Lumps would rise in their throats, and tears in their eyes, in spite of their struggle for control. Bernice Hornadayf' some one exclaimed, What is the matter? I thought you were going to get that veil out of your suit-case for me. What! The Wrong suit-case? Oh, I must have exchanged it at the station, cried Ber- nice. Girls, look! And she held up a little boy's suit of clothes and a cunning pair of red socks. Shouts of laughter broke the tenseness of the strain. Well, laugh, if you Want to. Yes, put it in THE CHATTERBOX. I don't care. But I haven't time to go back for mine. We're off ! A flurry of handkerchiefs, hurried good-byes, last messages, and With a great flapping of Wings the ship rose from the earth. Slowly, at first, they soared above the treeetops, gradu- ally gaining speed. Tears were forgotten in the excitement and exhilaration. Suddenly a mighty cry arose. 4'Clee Reel is left behind I

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258 THE CHATTERBOX. tions, though evidently of the genus homo, before he was snatched up bodily by two of the odd creatures, swept rapidly thru the air, and unceremoniously deposited at the entrance of at large estate, intersected by numerous canals. From a little lodge there came out, to the unspeakable relief of thc Traveler, a fellow-earthlingl I am Clara Hearne, former resident of Earth, and Busi- ness Manager of CHATTERBOX, at present State Treasurer of the 1908 Colony. Yes, we're very glad to see you. An- nie Crews, the President of our noble colony, told us of your expected visit. Mabel VVest sighted your ship from the ob- servatory, and the native Martians were immediately sent to meet you. But business is business, and T must request that you pay me for the services of these Martians, buy a ticket of admission, and tickets for the canal ferry. You cross five canals before you reach the Executive Mansion. You may also purchase meal tickets of me. Pm selling them at a bargain to-day. Yes, we accept United States money. No, I can't change twenty dollars. But that's all right. Now, don't be mercenary and grasping and try to End any- thing smaller. I can use this. Good day. Very glad to have seen youf' uVVellI gasped the Traveler, as he hastened on, in his heart admiration for the fetching business methods of the plucky treasurer, in his pocket-book-not much of anything! Arrived at the ferry landing he looked in vain for the boat, and then laughed at his own stupidity as one of the inevita- ble winged vehicles sped towards him. May Spence. Her Ship, was written on the prow, and the graceful boatwoman directed the craft of her name with unerring skill. fWVelcome, Traveler, she cried, in a deep, stentorian voice. Would you cross the broad canal? Your ticket, please, and I will bring you safe to yonder shore.