Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1888-03-01
LITTLE KATE AND /.

| ''iiP W iSttNe US iegacleS
or to sendpearlnecklaces, diamond or
naments, or thousand dollar bonds
ior wedding presents. was simply a
brakeman on the Eastern Michigan
railway, a long and lonely stretch OF
rails over desolate marshes. steen
mountain grades, and solitary sweeps
oil prairie land; she was the frightened
waitress in one of the restaurants
along the line. But when fell from
the platform when the great accident
happened, you heard of the great ac-
cldent, suppose, when there wa, such
shocking loss of life-it was Hates
care and nothing else that brought me
back into the world had so nearly
Quilted for good and all!
IL would have done it for ANYBODY.
Mark" said she, when l tried to thank
her.
Would your" said |. "But it isn't
everybody that would have done it
for me, Katel"
So | asked her TO marry me, and she
said yes. And took little cottage
on the edge of the Swampscott woods,
and furnished it as well as / could,
with red carpet, cheesecloth curtains
at the windows, a real Connecticut
clock, and set of walnut chairs that
made myself, with seats of rushes,
woven in by old Billy, the Indian, who
carried his baskets and mats around
the country, and Mrs. Perkins, the
parsons wife, made us a wedding cake,
and so We were married. Pretty soon
found out that Kate was pining a
little.
what is it, sweetheart?" said L.
Remember, it was contract between
us that we We're to nave no secrets
IRON each other! Areyou not perfectly
happy"
ooh, yes, yes!" cried Kate, hiding
her face on my shoulder "But it's
my mother, Mark. She's getting old,
and if could only go East to see her,
just once before the Lord takes her
awayl"
1t was then l felt the sting of my
poverty most. If | had only been q
rich man to have handed her out o
check, and said: $50 at once!" l
think | could have been quite happy.
Newer mind, sweetheart" said
stroking down her hair. well lay
up few dollars from month to month,
and you shall 60 out and see her be-
fore she diesl"
And with that little Kate was forced
to be content. But there wSs a hun
| CRY homesick look upon her face which
went to my heart to see.
"If was RICH" | kept saying to N.Y.
self. "Oh, if | was only rich"
One stormy autumn night we were
belated on the road, for the wind was
terrible, shaking the century old pines
and oaks, as if they were nothing more
than tall swamp grasses, and driving
| through the ravines with q shrek and
howl like q whole pack of hungry
wolves. And the heavy rains had
raised she streams so that we were
compelled to go carefully and slowly
over the bridges and keep a long look
| ahead for fear of accidents.
was standing at my post, in front
OF the second passenger ear, stamping
my feet on the platform TO keep them
warm, and hoping little Kate would
not be perturbed at my long absence,
when the news agent came chuckling
out:
Were to stop at Stumpville sta
| tion," said he.
Nonsense" said ], al know better.
This train never stops short of Wau-
kensha city, least of all when we are
running to make up fol lost time, as
We are tonight"
"0h, but this is an exceptional oc-
casion," said Johnny Mills (which was
the news agents name. "We're 60.
ing to put an old woman of. She has
lost her ticket, she says More likely
she never had one. Goes on as though
she had her pocket picked"
''It's most a pity, isn't it, toput one
off tonight" said l. Least OF all at
such lonely place as Stumpville sta
ton, where there are only two houses
and blacksmith shop"
Eyes, | know" said Mills, adjusting
the newspapers that he carried in a
rubber case under his arm. "But the
superintendent of the road has got out
new set of instructions, and he's
that particular that Jones wouldn't
| dare overlook a caseli this. There's
been so many confidence games play
ed on the road lately"
(Which is tine one?" said l, turning
to look at the end window of the car
which was at the rear.
'Don't you see? The old party at
the back OF the two fat women in the
red shawls. She's haranguing Jones
| now"
al see," said I. 1t was little old
| woman in a black silk poke bonnet, a
respectable cloth cloak, bordered with
ancient fur, and a long, green veil, who
was earnestly talking and gesticalating
with the conductor. But he shook his
head and passed on, and she sank
| back in helpless little heap behind the
! green veil, and / could see her take a
| small handkerchieffrom small basket
and put it piteously to her eyes.
| "It's too bad" said /. "Jones
might remember that he oroe had-h
he hasn't now a mother of his own. y
"And lose his place on the road, y
said Mills. mo, no, old fellow, all that
/ sort of thing does very well to talk
about, but it don't work in real life.
/ So he went into the next car, and
1 the signal to slack up came presently.
turned to Mr. Jones, the conductor,
who just then stepped out on theplat-
| form.
"Is it for that old LADY," said l, He
answered, Eyes" Said !, chow far
did she want to go?" ITO Swamp,
Scott" said he.
"You needn't stop, Mr.. Jones" said
/, 'I'll pay her fare"
| 'Youl" he echoed.
eyes, l." said /. "I'll take her to
NV own house until she can telegraph
to her friends or something. My wife
will be good to her, ! know, for th p.
| sake OF her own old mother out eastF
Just as youplease, said Mr.. Jones
"But when you've been on the road
as long as have, you'll find that this
sort OF thing doesn't answer.
II hope / shall never be on the road
| too long to forget my Christian CHAIR.
ty." | answered, little nettled. And
| Itook out my worn pocket-book and
HANGED over the money.
We did not stop at Stumpville sta
ton after all, but put on more steal
and ran as fast as it was safe to drive
our engine-and when, little past
midnight, we reached Swampscott
when we were due at 1880, Pierre Rene
the Frenchman, came on board to re
lieye me. and helped my old lady of
the train, Eat basket, travelling Dat
and all.