Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-01
His hesitation decided her RISING un

His hesitation decided her. Rising up
and Selling her sachels and parcel she
vacated the cabin for the promenade deck,
where she secured a seat on a hard stool
and raised her blue parasol TO keep off the
sun. She was thankful for the BOYS
warning. and she blamed herself for not
opening the parcel and offering him
doughnut, boiled egg and taste from
the tumbler of Jelly.
A quarter of an hour had passed and
she was feeling very comfortable when the
boy with white hair put in an appearance.
His face did not look solemn; it did not
betray mirth but there was deep concern
in his tones as he halted and exclaimed:
"What you here2'
Isn't this safe place?'' she anxiously
asked.
"Why, madam, you are in the center
Of the boat almost, and in case of a bust
the boat always breaks in two near the
center ~
He passed on, and she lifted up two
sachels and the parcel and walked aft, get
could. Her heart swelled little as she
thought of the boys disinterested kind
ness toward a stranger-a lone woman,
who might never have returned from her
trip but for the unexpected interest of a
forlorn orphan boy. She was wondering
if the boy wouldn't like to be adopted
when he reappeared, drew up stool, and
calmly said:
L have been through three or four eX-
plosions, and | tell you they are awtul
Last boat was on exploded both boilers
at once, and yet only one old man was
killed. He was sitting at the stern of the
boat, just about where you are nown'
Good stars! but thought l was safe
here!" she exclaimed, reaching down for
the sachels.
" If the end Of one Of the bilers should
blow out it would strike you exactly on
the chest!' he coolly continued, land
there wouldn't be a piece of your body
that couldn't put into this tin tobacco
boXr'
He suddenly became interested in a
passing steamer, slipped away, and she
lifted her bundles and walked to the other
end of the boat. She had come aboard
with the full confidence that the trip
would be pleasantly made, and she Won
dered how the public-the free American
people-could calmly permit a boat to
leave port laden with human beings who
might be torn to fragments any moment
by an explosion. She was wishing that
she had taken the cars, when the boy with
white hair sat down beside her and softly
began:
"YOu know that every biler has two
ends. If you were aft and that end blew
out you would be torn to strips. If you
are here and this end blows out, no one
will ever be able to recover a relic of you,
not even your spectaclesr'
Then [ amt safe yet?'' she gasped
In the midst of life we are in death!'
he solemnly replied. You may be safe,
but [ will not assume the fearful response
bility Of saying sou
She gathered up the sachels and the
parcels, entered the cabin, looked all
around and finally sat down in chair be-
hind the door. The boy with white hair
found her again after awhile. She had
almost fallen asleep, but his exclamation
speedily aroused her:
"What! Behind the door-right over
the larb0ard steam-chest!"
"Ain't this safe, either?" she gasped.
Madam, ten steam chests explode to
every one biler, and statistics prove it
The pieces tear, and grind, and splinter
and Kill in an awful manner. You can
sit there if you wish, but--but-"
And he went Downstairs, and | saw her
up at the smoke-stacks to see if there
wasn't a safe spot up there somewhere