The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1880-11-24
A Railroad Scene.

On Friday morning a bright little girl
was placed on the O. r, I, & 2. train from
Kansas City to Davenport, the person
who brought her TO the cars requesting
the conductor to be very particular and
deliver the child into the hands of nobody
but certain persons at Muscatine, who
would be at the depot in that city for the
purpose of receiving it; and the CONDUCTOR
promised to comply. The child seemed con
tented enough. and the passengers near her,
| as well as the conductor, were pleased with
her beauty and brightness. At Fairfield.
Iowa. a nicely dressed aud handsome
woman. rather dashing 10 appearance
entered the coach, and was walking
through il, when the child called to her
mama. oh mama" The woman
turned and asked. did you speak
to me, childP" And the child
replied, "Oh. mama, don't you know
mel am your little grill" and then
bounded towards her. The woman held
the child at arms length for a moment.
and then seemed completely overcome
sinking TO the floor, and clasping the child
to her in almost phrenzied delight She
stated to the conductor thai she was the
child mother. but had not seen the little
one Tor nearly three years; then he told
| her the directions he received when the
girl was placed in his care-aBd she begged
the privilege OF riding with the
child as far as Washington, to which
place she was ticketed, And SO the
mother aud child sat together-the child
in the woman's lap aud arms about her
neck the whole way. At W ashington the
woman asked if she could continue to
Muscatine and the conductor gave per-
mission; but before that city was reached
the woman was in an agony OF tears. At
! Muscatlne there was a sceue-as stirring
aud melting a one as ever was presented
on the stage. As the train stopped a
young man and woman entered the coach
the former going directly to the child.
s,iziug her, and rudely taking her from
the woman in whose lap she had been
riding -scowliug at the woman as if he
would like to crush her tn the floor Then
the childs mother fairly shricked in her
sobs: please oh please, let me kiss her
orce morel" The answer was brutal in
its rougbncss. Cd d-n you shalt never
kiss the child again!" The passengers
grouped around very much excited, aud
the conductor interfered:-I say she shall
kiss The girl If she wants to; it is her own
child, and she may do il, ADD he put his
hand towards the girl 10 hand her to the
mother. Instantly the man put his hand
to his hippocket, and told the conductor
to mind his business or he would put day
light through him-aud the conductor
Grssped him saying, you teke your hand
out OF that pocket. or I'll brain you-I say
this mother shall kiss her child" Aud he
held the man until the mother and child
had taken long embrace-and when the
child left her il was crying as if its heart
would break. and its mother was in a swoon
in seat. And there wasn't dry eye in
the car,
1t appears that The parents of the child
had separated-and now were meeting
over their child for the first time in years;
that the mother had gone into forbidden
paths. or vas charged with doing so, ADD
that the father had been granted deyorce
with the custody o! the child. which had
now been sent to him b. his relatives
| DGp. DEM 23d.