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ld each other tightly and waited。 In the mind of each was the same thought。 〃I have come to this lonely place and here is this other；〃 was the substance of the thing felt。
In Winesburg the crowded day had run itself out into the long night of the late fall。 Farm horses jogged away along lonely country roads pulling their portion of weary people。 Clerks began to bring sam… ples of goods in off the sidewalks and lock the doors of stores。 In the Opera House a crowd had gathered to see a show and further down Main Street the fiddlers； their instruments tuned； sweated and worked to keep the feet of youth flying over a dance floor。
In the darkness in the grand…stand Helen White and George Willard remained silent。 Now and then the spell that held them was broken and they turned and tried in the dim light to see into each other's eyes。 They kissed but that impulse did not last。 At the upper end of the Fair Ground a half dozen men worked over horses that had raced during the after… noon。 The men had built a fire and were heating kettles of water。 Only their legs could be seen as they passed back and forth in the light。 When the wind blew the little flames of the fire danced crazily about。
George and Helen arose and walked away into the darkness。 They went along a path past a field of corn that had not yet been cut。 The wind whispered among the dry corn blades。 For a moment during the walk back into town the spell that held them was broken。 When they had come to the crest of Waterworks Hill they stopped by a tree and George again put his hands on the girl's shoulders。 She em… braced him eagerly and then again they drew quickly back from that impulse。 They stopped kiss… ing and stood a little apart。 Mutual respect grew big in them。 They were both embarrassed and to relieve their embarrassment dropped into the animalism of youth。 They laughed and began to pull and haul at each other。 In some way chastened and purified by the mood they had been in； they became； not man and woman； not boy and girl； but excited little animals。
It was so they went down the hill。 In the darkness they played like two splendid young things in a young world。 Once； running swiftly forward； Helen tripped George and he fell。 He squirmed and shouted。 Shaking with laughter； he roiled down the hill。 Helen ran after him。 For just a moment she stopped in the darkness。 There was no way of knowing what woman's thoughts went through her mind but； when the bottom of the hill was reached and she came up to the boy； she took his arm and walked beside him in dignified silence。 For some reason they could not have explained they had both got from their silent evening together the thing needed。 Man or boy； woman or girl； they had for a moment taken hold of the thing that makes the mature life of men and women in the modern world possible。
DEPARTURE
YOUNG GEORGE WILLARD got out of bed at four in the morning。 It was April and the young tree leaves were just coming out of their buds。 The trees along the residence streets in Winesburg are maple and the seeds are winged。 When the wind blows they whirl crazily about； filling the air and making a car… pet underfoot。
George came downstairs into the hotel office car… rying a brown leather bag。 His trunk was packed for departure。 Since two o'clock he had been awake thinking of the journey he was about to take and wondering what he would find at the end of his journey。 The boy who slept in the hotel office lay on a cot by the door。 His mouth was open and he snored lustily。 George crept past the cot and went out into the silent deserted main street。 The east was pink with the dawn and long streaks of light climbed into the sky where a few stars still shone。
Beyond the last house on Trunion Pike in Wines… burg there is a great stretch of open fields。 The fields are owned by farmers who live in town and drive homeward at evening along Trunion Pike in light creaking wagons。 In the fields are planted berries and small fruits。 In the late afternoon in the hot summers when the road and the fields are covered with dust； a smoky haze lies over the great flat basin of land。 To look across it is like looking out across the sea。 In the spring when the land is green the effect is somewhat different。 The land becomes a wide green billiard table on which tiny human in… sects toil up and down。
All through his boyhood and young manhood George Willard had been in the habit of walking on Trunion Pike。 He had been in the midst of the great open place on winter nights when it was covered with snow and only the moon looked down at him； he had been there in the fall when bleak winds blew and on summer evenings when the air vibrated with the song of insects。 On the April morning he wanted to go there again； to walk again in the silence。 He did walk to where the road dipped down by a little stream two miles from town and then turned and walked silently back again。 When he got to Main Street clerks were sweeping the sidewalks before the stores。 〃Hey； you George。 How does it feel to be going away？〃 they asked。
The westbound train leaves Winesburg at seven forty…five in the morning。 Tom Little is conductor。 His train runs from Cleveland to where it connects with a great trunk line railroad with terminals in Chicago and New York。 Tom has what in railroad circles is called an 〃easy run。〃 Every evening he returns to his family。 In the fall and spring he spends his Sundays fishing in Lake Erie。 He has a round red face and small blue eyes。 He knows the people in the towns along his railroad better than a city man knows the people who live in his apart… ment building。
George came down the little incline from the New Willard House at seven o'clock。 Tom Willard carried his bag。 The son had become taller than the father。
On the station platform everyone shook the young man's hand。 More than a dozen people waited about。 Then they talked of their own affairs。 Even Will Henderson； who was lazy and often slept until nine； had got out of bed。 George was embarrassed。 Gertrude Wilmot； a tall thin woman of fifty who worked in the Winesburg post office； came along the station platform。 She had never before paid any attention to George。 Now she stopped and put out her hand。 In two words she voiced what everyone felt。 〃Good luck；〃 she said sharply and then turning went on her way。
When the train came into the station George felt relieved。 He scampered hurriedly aboard。 Helen White came running along Main Street hoping to have a parting word with him； but he had found a seat and did not see her。 When the train started Tom Little punched his ticket； grinned and； although he knew George well and knew on what adventure he was just setting out； made no comment。 Tom had seen a thousand George Willards go out of their towns to the city。 It was a commonplace enough incident with him。 In the smoking car there was a man who had just invited Tom to go on a fishing trip to Sandusky Bay。 He wanted to accept the invi… tation and talk over details。
George glanced up and down the car to be sure no one was looking； then took out his pocketbook and counted his money。 His mind was occupied with a