The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1906-05-08
The Little Girl That
Swung on the Gate


41rfTr~r~ %ff'ff i'Ns'
Was bis faverite grandchild, an
sitter the Others. had gone RENAME
10 keep him company. He sat lookin
dreamily out on the landscape, whic
sloped away from where We were. lib
railroad ran Il short distance below
and train clallered by On grand
fathers face was singular expires
Sion
what are you thinking about grand
fatherf' asked.
occurred many years ago on a morn
ing just like this This islet me see"-
"'lhe 10th OF May" | supplied.
III was either the 10Th or near thai
dale that |. then Il young fellow OF
eighteen. was passing down there
Gully then there was no train there, but
the highway and rode in Il stage
coach The grounds OF this house then
extended 10 Tho road. the fence lining
It, There was gate down there, and
as | looked out at the stage window
y
ing csl IT, Her blue eyes were fixed on
the coach, and the mild breeze was
playing with her hair. which, with the
sun shining upon IT, WAS the color OF
those lances OF light that shine through
a wood on bright morning
1T was barely minute that saw
her. but youth is impresshle, or, rather.
when youngster Is impressed at all
he is impressed thoroughly.
"That was shortly before the canal
was built The mad gave way to the
canal or the towpath. and we who had
been used 10 travelling on tie coach
were now pulled along in boat by a
couple Of horses II was six years aft
er passing the place that | passed il
again ia canal boat about o'clock
OH q midsummer afternoon. The leaves
and the grass We're slightly Drowned
with a drought and the whirring OF
locusts had a hot sound As we loaf
ed lazlly by the place hoped might
/ expected to see her still little girl, I
though realized she must be older
She did not appear but Ms we We're
turning the bend beyond saw two
young ladies as | supposed stroliing TO-
ward us on the towpath When we
neared them recognized In one Of
them tall girl whose skirts reached
10 the tops Of her boots. my little girl
II SIX years before. ! had purposely
gone ashore aud gathered a few wild
lowers, hoping 20 be able to toss one
Q her. but not having seen her as we
,9sscd the house | had dropped them
n the deck. Now hastily gathered
hem, and as passed The two girls
aade an effort to toss the flowers
shore The distance was not great,
nj the flowers had no weight and
ropped into the water. Perhaps it
yas just as we'll for my move was
sther bold. aud my EFFORT baving fail
1 1t gave the girls an opportunity TO |
nigh at me, which they did.
Il was now quite sure that was !
,riously drawn 10 girl OF fourteen q
no In physique was probably as large
] she would ever be. | thought OF q
sr necessarily and on my way back
Oked for her again. had provided
.seif with some roses aud had tied
stone TO them. But was disap-
,inted. There was no sign OF her.
As the road had given place To the
NAL, 80 the canal gave place to the 9
flway There were no grades to be D
aud the engineers located Il
z track where the old towpsth was. u
I've years after having passed the e
ace on the canal | was one day APP .
oachlng II On train We had Just 't
r. W. few miles below. when the y
axes were suddenly whIstled down. "
d soon felt a slight shock. 1t was y
I 80 slight Ia front where. on going
rward. saw quite wreck. our III
ain having run Into the rear OF a %
eight train. Finding that We would
I get away For several hours. i de- ki
'mined 10 walk forward In quest OF II
2 girl had twice seen. on reach. u
Z the place ! passed on the other p'
lie and in the front yard saw a lady 10
ting on the porch sewing. Opening pI
? gate, | entered. The lady looked ~
. and was snre she was the one l 10
agbt. &c
II have had the misfortune, / said. ''
he delayed on the railroad. There h'
: been an accident no one hurt / ~
/ happy TO say and have walked IT,
ward to ask q few questions "a
She looked AT me ia some surprise
d asked me 10 be seated told her To
II sixteen years before had fallen m
love with little girl swinging on g
te. She gave herself up to reflection IA
: a moment. then said smllingly: hs
That little girl Is now twenty four ID
ars old. aud II you should see her I
u would doabtIess be cured of your hi
nauee "a
4 saw ber when she was fourteen wi
eplied. and nv shack,es we're only an
re firmly welded Aud ] told her OF In
owing the flowers To her The blood bi
Esd iDia 4ser rbeek 4enpestboasIs Al
Father. cried The voice ,pf au- e3i M
n,sp: .frdsl ;wifhiiE vim afraid b.
le you out there any longer YotfiI 10
e coId.'
Let him alone. GRANDMOTHER" l =.
d I've got him well wrapped IN. -
q telling me about the little girl