The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1888-05-10

took it mechanically, glanced careless.
" at the subscription and laid it un.
opened on the table. The room was
ghosrly still, the sharp click OF the
chips as they were pushed to the GEN.
ter of the table by nervous fingers,
only to make the silence more pro.
nounced.
Now and then a half muttered curse
forced it's way through tightly COM.
pressed lips and shot across the al
most deserted room like an invisible
missile of death.
The pile OF red and white ivory
chips in the center of the table grew
higher, and the white faces about the
table grew whittier, and harsher and
less human.
The hands we're called and Airing
ton slowly rose to his feet, his last
dollar gone to swell the purse OF his
pretended friend, Jack Caution. He
leaned against the table. and his
hand fell upon the telegram. He
took it up and slowly broke the seal.
1t read as follows:
ITO Frank Arlington-Come at once.
Railroad accident ut Poltonsville. Your
wife is dangerously hurt; little child killed.
Signed R. j. PoLToN, Supt."
Frank Arlington's face was as white
as death. "My God, boys, what does
this mean. My wife hurt in a rail-
road accident, little child killed. Mer.
ciful God. am I dreaming? 1t cannot
| be true"
Snatching up his hat, he dashed out
the door, not before a hand srasped
his arm, and a young man, almost a
stranger to Frank Arlington, said in q
firm voice, "Let me go with you, you
may need help"
And SO together they hurried on
until they came to Frank Arlington's
home. The home he had left that
morning with words of anger on his
lips, and angry thoughts in his heart.
The house was shrouded in dark
ness; no light glimmered from the win
dow to welcome his return. All was
silent as the grave.
To open the door and strike a.
match was the work OF q moment.
Then Frank hurried up stair to their
sleeping room. 1t was silent and emp.
ty-no wife, no baby; both gone.
1t was true then. the telegram, his
baby dead, his wife dangerously hurt,
perhaps dying. Oh, God! what should
he do! He was justly punished, for he
had not appreciated them, and now
God had taken one, perhaps both,
from him forever.
A little note fastened to baby's pill
low caught his eye. only a few lines.
II have gone away forever, Frank, my
husband. I could not stay, knowing that
| rf,,1 he vo cooca1 RI 1nyo ,a-hah onf 7
Farewell forever, and may God bless you.
MERLE"
I cannot say if Frank Arlington
would ever have reached the depot if
he had been alone. As it was, his
kind friend, Neil Franklin, helped him
down stairs, called acab and gave the
directions to the driver: GAS fast as
you car to the Central depot and you
shall have double fare"
They were just IN time, and when
the second extra pulled out for the
scene of the accident Frank Arlington
and Neil Franklin were among the
passengers.
What q sight met their gaze on ar
irving at Poltonville.
The wrecked coaches were piled one
upon another, while shrieks of the
most intense agony and deep groans
filled the air.
Making their way with great diff.
Guilty through the crowd they soon
found Superintendent Potion and
were directed by him were to find the
injured passengers.
"This way, sir" said an elderly man
in the uniform OF a. conductor, and
very soon Frank Arlington was bend.
ing over a woman's form. A form
covered with a sheet and still in the
last long sleep of death.
A vision OF Merle, as he had seer
her, aros before him, her small hands
clasped together, her blue Eyes filled
with tears, and he fancied he could
hear her pleading voice calling his
name.
He shook as with ague and grasped
the hand of his faithful friend for sup.
port.
Neil Franklin bent forward and lift
ed the sheet from the dead face. AS
he did so Frank Arlington started
back. exclaiming: my God, this is
not my wifel"
Not your wife?" said the elderly
conductor.
"This satchel was found grasped
tightly in her hand and in 1T garments
marked "Arlington," and several
cards and a picture. a photograph,
which I am sure, now / have seer your
face, is OF yourself. This is very
strange"
"Where is the child?" gasped Frank
Arlington.
Here, by it's mothers SIDE" said
Conductor Reynolds, pulling the sheet
farther down and exposing to view
the body OF a little boy apparently
about two years old, it's dark curly
hair brushed back from the baby
brow, the bright eyes closed forever.
"My God, this is awful" said Frank
Arlington. ''The satchel I recognize,
but this lady is a stranger to me, and
my child is a little girl. Oh, God!
where are they? This suspense is kill
ing me-"
"All those able to be moved, have
been taken to the hospital in Poltons-
vile. Perhaps you may find your
vile there" said Conductor Reynolds
kindly.
Leaving the scene OF the accident,
they soon reached the hospital.
AS they entered the door. q Sister
Of Mercy passed them with a child in
her arms.
As soon as the little one caught
sight of Frank Arlington, she held out
her pretty hands and called:
"Papa! Papa! take Daisyl"
Frank ARLINGTON turned with a. clad