Rock Island daily Argus., 1893-08-15
,.He's down in the south field.n

"He's down in the south field"
..Across the track" gasped Mrs.
Hammond And she hurried out of
| the house, closely followed by the
frightened boy.
see. motherr painted Charlie, as
| they sped along. ''See. the train is
stopping"
Something has surely happened"
groaned Mrs. Hammond.
Over the hill they ran, and just as
they came in full view of the train a
wild '.hurrah" fell upon the air. fol-
lowed b. another and then another.
"See the folks out of the carsr'
calculated Charlie.
Down in the midst of the tumult
| plunged the mother and son, where
they were confronted by strange and
touching spectacle.
Kate sat by the side of the track,
| tightly holding Ina, who was looking
from one to another and rubbing her
eyes.
Seeing the mother-for such they
! ir -nediately knew her to be-fall
upon her knees by the side of the
girl and baby. the rough men with
one accord removed their hats, and
| there was a momentary silence,
broken only by Mrs Hammond's low
| sobbing.
What does it mean?" she managed
! to say at last
1T means that this girl has saved
your baby's life," said one of the
j men
"A had just sent her away be-
: cause she was so incapable" sobbed
: Mrs. Hammond.
''All aboard shouted the con-
+ ductor.
Come, children. let's 60 home'
said Mrs Hammond in a husky voice.
/ ''f you please, ma'am," faltered
Kate. may kiss Ina?n
''Ies, Kate, you may kiss her, and
you may kiss her every and as many
times a day as you like. I'm going
to let you care for her after this. D."
'Am | going back to the house to
stay with you?" eagerly asked the
girl.
''Of course you are, my dear" re-
! p4Itu MIS-. IldIuLuOuu
And | won't tease you any more
said Charlie.
How glad l am" cried Kate. Il
will be good, and l know that l shall
learn to work.
Where's your carpet-bag, Kate"
suddenly asked Charlie, sas they
reached the top of the hill.
Il don't know; l guess l threw it
somewhere.
IN look for it." sa-. Charlie, and
he ran back in search of the missing
property.
What have you found, child?"
inquired Mrs. Hammond, as Charlie
came toiling up the hill. with some
thing in his hands.
''lt's the remains Of Hates carpet
bag" he replied, tossing down upon
the grass the torn old bag. which had
now certainly taken its last trip, for
the cars had gone over it
Il don't remember much about it,
only that l got there about the same
time as the engine"
And it might have been Ina. -
said Mrs. Hammond, turning from
the crushed and misshapen thing and
glancing at the winsome little lass
beside her.
That evening Kate, who had
strangely forgotten her shyness. at
Mrs. Hammond's request told them
the oiol, but thrilling story OF her
afternoons experience. She had
gone but a few steps from the house
when she saw lying in the pathway
one of Ina's little shoes. A short
distance further on she found the
mate of it.
"And," said she, IL hurried along
till l reached the top of the hill. The
train was over by the crossing and
just then | saw something pink down
on the track. Then l ran as fast as
! could and waved my carpet-bag. 1t
was red, you know, and | thought
pr'aps they d see it. They saw me
coming, | s'pose. for they whistled
and whistled and tried to stop. but
couldn mot right off. ! don't re-
member much about it, only that |
got there about the same time as the
engine did. / grabbed Ina pretty
quick and / think | rolled right over
the bank. 1t seems like dream. =
she added slowly.
'.Wasn you afraid ?r asked Charlie.
"Of what 90 inquired Kate.
"Of the cars. "
Il didn't think anything about
that. l was thinking of Ina, that
she would be killed" replied the
girl simply.
Mir. Hammond rose quickly and
went to window. where he stood for
moment, wiping his eyes.
kate, he said, Il want you to
give me your carpet-bag. 1t is use
less to you now"
And the old thing was actually
wrapped carefully up and laid away
in closet. And whenever Mrs. Ham
mond feels out of patience with Kate
she has but to look at the carpet-bag
h., 1