The Press., 1886-01-28
LITTLE KATE AND i.

] on, little Kate and l. We had no rich re- i lations to leave us legacies or to send pearl ! necklaces, diamond ornaments or thousand dollar bonds for wedding presents. l was simply a brakemen on the Eastern Michi. gan Railway, n long and lonely stretch of rails over desolate marshes, steep mountain grades, and solitary sweeps of prairie land; she was the bright-eyed waitress Tn one of the restaurants along the line. But when fell from the platform when the 1 great accident happened-you heard of the great accident, suppose, when there was such shocking loss of life--it was Katie's care and nothing else that brought me back into the world had so nearly quilted for good and all
 q would have done it for anybody, X Mark r said she, when I tried to thank Fher.
 'sWould you? said l. s'Bnt it -isnt every body that would have done it for me, Kate!'
 So I asked her to marry me, and slle said s'yes. '' And I took little cottage on the edge of the Swampscott woods, and I furnished it as we'll as could, with red carpet, eheese-cloth curtains at the win dows, and set of walnut chairs that | made myself, with seats of rnshes, woven in by old Billy. the Indian, who carried 1 and Mrs. Perkins, the parsons wife, made us a wedding cake, and so we got married. Pretty soon I found that Kate was pining little. 5 @ < ~~ e
 "What is it, sweetheart? ?" said I. ''Re- member, 1t was contract between us that we were to have no secrets from each oth- CT Are you not perfectly happy?'' fl q
 'Ohyyes, yes!' cried Kate, hiding her face on my shoulder. ''But its my moth CT, Mark She's getting old, and if I could only go east to see her, just once be- ! fore the Lord takes her away v It was then felt the sting of my pover ty most. If had only been rich man to have handed her out a check, and said {: "Go at onc'! v think I could have been qnite happy. .... .-.--.
 "Never mind, sweetheart. :" said I, strol = ing her hair. "We'il lay up few dollars from month t0 month, and you shall go out to see her before she dies !''
 - And with that little Kate was forced to be content. But there was a hungry, homesick look upon her face which went to my heart to see. . s. s.s s.r ,s-. 8 -s- One stormy autumn nigh we were be lated on the road, for the wind was terri ble, shaking the century old pines and oaks, as if they were nothing more than tall swamp grasses, and driving through the ravines with shriek and a howl, like whole pack of hungry wolves. And the heavy rains had Iaised the stream so that we were compelled to go carefully and slowly over the bridges and keep long look ahead for fear of accidents
 was standing at my post Ill front of the second passenger car, stamping my feet on the platform to keep them warm, and hoping little Kate would not be per- turbed at my long tbs ance when the news agent came chuckling out. 5* .5
 We're to stop at Stumpville station,' said he.
 Nonsense" said I, ''I know better. This train never stops short of Waukcsha city, least of all when we are running to make up for lost time, as we are tonight" "
 "Oh, but this is an exceptional occa- sion, said Johnny Mills (which was the news agents name) "We're going to put she says. More likely she never had one. Goes on as though she had her pockets picked" ;"
 (Which is the one p said I, turning to look at the end window of the car which was the rcar.
 Don't you see? The old party at the back of thanksEo fat women i'll the red silaSls .ssllg ls hnranguiDg JoneS, now
 T see, saidI It was little old wo- man in q black silk bonnet, n respectable cloth cloak, borAered with ancient fur, aud 1 long green veil, who was earnestly talk ing and gesticuating with the conductor. But he shook his head and passed on, and she sank back ill helpless little heap be. hind the green veil, and I could see her take a small handkerchief from Q small sl basket and put it piteously to her eyes. s ''Its too bad" said l. 'Jones iniRh remember that be once had-if he hasn't now-a mother of his own.''
 And lose his place on the road, said Mills. ''No, no, old fellow; all that sort of thing does very well to talk about, but it don't work ill real life. -s .--'s-.- -'.- /
 So he went into the next car, and the signal 10 slack up came presently. I turn ed to MT. Jones, the conductor, who just then stepped out on the platform 2
 ''Is it for that old lady?'' He answered "yes." Said 1, "How far does she want to go?" "To Swampscott," said he.
 .You needn't stop, MT. Jones' , said I "I'll pay her fare. 2
 tsYes, l." said 1. ''I'll take her to my own house until she can telegraph to her friends, or something. My wife will be glad to see her, know, for the sake of her own mother out east P tHtr
 "Just as you please, said Mr. Jones.
 We did not stop at Stumpville station after all, but put on more steam and ran as fast as it was safe to drivezour engine when, little past midnight, we reached Swampscott, where we were due at 7:3O. Pierre Rene, the Frenchman, came on board to relieve me, and helped my old lady off the train, flat basket, travelling bag and all. ! ? ''Am to be put of, after all ?" said sue, with 8 scared look round her.
 ("Cheer up, ma'am," said I, ''you are all right. Now, then-look out for the step Here we are"
 "And you are the kind man who paid my fare?" said she. "But my daughter and her husband will repay you when
 All right, ma'am, " said l. ''And now, if you'll just take my arm, we'll be home in quarter of an hour.''
 'But, said she, "wlly can't go direct ly to my destination ?''
 ''Its middling late, ma am, 5 said l, '.and the houses don't stand shoulder to shonl.