Rock Island daily Argus., 1893-08-15
AN INCAPABLE GIRL.

81 declare, Nate thompson Is the
most incapable girl l ever saw" said
Mrs. Hammond to her husband. Il
cannot keep her after this week. l
expect she'll scald Ina, or burn the
house up or do something dreadful" "
1.-The girl has never had any chance
in the world, saij Mr., Hammond,
slowly. And she 5 young, remem-
ber She has dazed, dumb way, ]
think"
dumb, She is Dumb cried Mrs.
Hammond. I've talked and talked,
and the more l say to her the less
she has to say. and The more blunders
she makes She : such a stupid
thing that | dec are l have no
patience with her
The week will be gone before you
know it, Ada, and you'll be rid of
her
The strangest part of it is that
Ina likes her. She follows her about
and chatters to her necessarily. If
Kate answers her I is when l am
not in hearing.
There is some good in her if the
child likes her" said Mr.. Hammond,
nodding his head sagely.
Little Ina certainly had taken an
unaccountable fancy to poor, plain,
awkward Kate. Even 1O-year-old
Charlie secretly liked her, though he
took delight in teasing her and
watching the color come to her face.
II he had known how much he ad-
| ded to her unhappiness he would
have been more merciful, for he was
really a kind-hearted boy, only
| little thoughtless and mischievous
| Kate had gone out into the garden,
and while they We're so freely dis
cussing her shortcomings around the
evening lamp she stood gazing at the
moon, which was just rising from
behind the hills.
"Oh, do wish | knew more," she
soliloquized. "If Mrs. Hammond
wouldn't watch me all the time and
| look so cross when / do anything
wrong, l know | shouldn't make so
| many mistakes. And Charlie tor
ments me so that | don't know what
I'm doing. But Aunt Jane is so
cross that l dread to 60 home" and
the girl clasped her hands over her
face and wept silently.
Kate" called Mrs. Hammond
from the door, Kate, come in now;
it's bedtime"
'.Yes'm." responded Kate, coming
out from among the fragrant lilies.
The week wore along and Saturday
afternoon came. Nothing really very
serious had happened, but Kate had
made many blunders and Mrs. Ham
mond was tired and discouraged.
Il can't keep you any longer,
Kate, said the good woman II wish
l could. but it seems to me that you
bother more than you help. -
This was bad news for kate-but
! not unexpected. She received her dis
| missal in silence. and in silence re-
+ paired to her little room to pack her
old carpet-bag. This done. she went
out into the yard and walked about,
inhaling the fragrance of the flowers
and whispering words of farewell
Then she returned to the house and
asked Mrs. Hamn ond if she might
kiss Ina before she went
"Why, she is fsleep,n said Mrs.
Hammond. But you must come over
and see her some day"
Thank you, l will" said Kate,
turning to 20.
Il pity Kate, - remarked Mrs Ham
mond. half to herself, and half to
Charlie. who was in the house, dis
consulate on account Of the death of
his pet crow.
why do you pity her?" asked
Charlie.
because her home is so very un-
pleasant. She has no mother to love
her, as You and Ina have. my dear. -
Then why didn't you let her stay
here, mother"
We'll because { was so hard to
teach her anything" said Mrs Ham
mond, a little uneasily.
| 'Why, she's going across the
/ field" exclaimed Charlie. as he stood
watching the departing form of the
| girl. There size has started to
run. Whew: she mas gone over the
hill like a shot."
The train is coming" said Mrs.
Hammond, looking quickly up from
her sewing, as the shrek of a loco
| HOIIHe leI upon IHe dlJefnOOn
silence. run in and stay with Ina.
Charlie You know the train always
awakens her. / didn't think It was
so late. "
Z" 'Tain't here yet" said Charlie,
| going leisurely to the cool bedroom.
where Ina always took her afternoon
nap.
why, mother" he cried. coming
back almost instantly, ''she isn't
| there"
You must be mistaken, child.
The room is dark, and you didn't see
her.
Come and see for yourself,
mother" "
Sure enough, Charlie was right
| Ina was not there.
Pale with apprehension and alarm,
| Mrs. Hammond hastily searched the