Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-02

The Iqll TEX NP" @"Ne IL 10 me.
yvatrhed htm few moments d
Iercs. then sd1 led with sudden L Z
of confidence. Grandpa lives aG y
house. and wsA[e going home SOD u
It gets warmth
The young mafl sewed on for
moments in sile1ce. At last the IA
was finished. and We carefully replace
the needle in his pocket
I'm going home. too.' he said grave
" as he handed her the bail. I'm
waiting for the train now"
And have you got Il mammal" she
asked. with sudden interest.
Yes. and she has been waiting for
me long. long time. Poor little
mother" the last too low for her TO
hear. AS the little girl was moving
away he called her with a sudden GEES
ture.
Il wish you would take this" he
said earnestly as he gave her a tiny
box of exquisite workmanship. Il
made it from a piece of ivory which
was found on a battlefield aud in
tended to give It 10 my sister. You
make me think of her"
But won't she want itF' Mildred
objected.
"She is dead" was the grave an
swer.
The little girls face grew sympa-
thetic.
I'm sorry" she said gently, land
I'd like TO have tbe box ever so much.
But | must ask mamma
Mildred ran off TO her mother. The
young man occasionally looked that
way and saw that the child was tell
ing her mother about him. He knew
that the mother was regarding him
with suspicion. For some time a dia-
logue that be could not hear was going
on between mother and child. Mildred
was evidently arguing for her new
friend, and her mother was quietly OPP
posing her. But the mother stood
firm. and at last the child returned
with disappointed air.
Mamma says I mustn't take gifts
from strangers" she said regretfully,
"but I'm ever SO much obliged, just
the same"
The sun spots moved slowly across
the grass and disappeared one by one
in the thicker shadows of the trees.
The young man watched them listless-
". At length a clock began to strike
in the distance. and he counted the
strokes carefully. When it ceased he
once more got up and began to walk
back and forth. But now his head
was erect and his left foot had lost
its dragging motion and on bis face
was q tender. expectant smile.
Mildred had grown tired Of her ball
and was watching the water as it fell
splashlnG into the broad basin of the
fountain. As the young man approach
ed she looked up timidly.
Are you goiag now:" she asked.
''Not for another half hour" he re
piled. II would rather wait here than
down at the depot For some mo-
ments he stood gazing at her. Evil
IDENTIFY her face brought UP some men,
DRY of the past, for be sighed as he
turned away.
A little later Mrs. Bradford was
aroused by excited voices. Several
figures rushed past her. For a mo-
ment she Gazed around wonderingly;
then she rose aud followed Near the
fountain was group Of excited peO-
pie. IN the open space beyond she
recognized Mildred playing with her
ball. What was the matter?
But even as she wondered came the
wild rush of a pair of frightened
horses into the open space. What fol-
lowed happened so quickly that she
could not realize it until it was over
Mildred was placed, sobbing. in her
arms. and a husbed group closed about
the silent figure on the ground.
lit was the bravcst thing l ever
saw" said one man in q low voice.
But a sad thing for the poor chap
and his people, If be had any" said
another compassionately.
what was it? What struck him ?"
asked one who caue up and joined the
crowd.
The child was playing near the
fountain. A runaway team came down
the road. making for the place where
the child was. all unconscious OF the
danger. He" pointing to the figure
on the ground, Jumped in, threw her
from under. and the whole thing pass
ed over him."
We'll, be went to his last home do
ing heroic act" said another. He
gave his life for little child"
Two guards from the penitentiary
came across the plaza and Joined the
group. A moment later one of them
gave a few quick directions to a hack
man who was Standing near
1T is No. 306," Mrs. Bradford heard
him say. Poor fellow. And he has
only been out a few hours. L must
telegraph to his folks
Mrs. Bradford waited until she saw
them place the motionless figure in the
hack. then walked slowly back to the
settee.
Under the live oak she saw some
thing glisten. Picking 1t up. she found
it was the little ivory box.
Here. Mildred" she said in a low
voice, you may keep it,"
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