The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1888-04-14

her. She realizes her fate. You
wouldn't have a maniac for q wife,
would youP"
What did Ben say but declare that
he would not behave that Rosie was
threatened with insanity. 1t was a
long time before we saw him, and then
he came to tell us that he had been
given job as fireman on Bob Fallon's
engine. Bob had ceased to come to
our house and l suspect he had learned
the sad story Of Rosie's impending fate.
She grew pale ana sad, and no ono
heard Ter laugh and sing as she us ed
to do. 1 grew almost afraid Of her.
One day came q messenger for Rosie
| with the words, '.Your father is dying;
comehome at tonce." A week passed and
Rosie returned dressed in black, which
became her well. Strange to say, she
| looked almost joyful, and her first act
was to whisper something to my
mother which made her look happy
and exclaim: "You don't say sol Now
YOU and Ben ---n
"Hushl" said Rosie, as the bushes
/ nantled her cheeks. She hurried away
to get supper, and while she was at her
work and was lettering on the front
door steps newsboys came along shout
Ing, Extra! All about tho great rail-
road accldentl''
Mother purchased a paper, cast her
eyos over It, and then ran to the
kitchen, threw her arms about Rosie,
| and began to cry. "Dear child. Ben
Is dyingl is all she could say. Rosie
shed no tears Her face blanched.
She ran for her hat and wrap and
asked. "Where is hep"
tAt the hospital" answered mother;
"but you should not go there alone"
At this mother put on her shawl and
the two went out to see poor Ben.
There was no supper for us that night,
to be sure. 1 went with them, and it
| seemed an age that Wo had to wait in
the hospital office. a brakeman who
had been on the wrecked train was there,
and he told us how it happened. The
engine had jumped the track, toppled
over on Its side, and Duliad Ben and
Bob beneath the ruins. Whom men
came to release him. he said: sect
Bob out frat: hos hurt worso than r."
as soon as they could they removed
Bob from under the wreckage and laid
him all mangled and bloody beside the
track, and then Ben was taken out
Bob's face had grown ashy and his
eyes were glazed as the train hands
bent over him and heard this:
Tell Ben to forgive. I was tho
cause Of his losing his place as engi-
noer. put emery dust in the oil can
Of his engine. That's why the journals
ground out. 1 was jealous of hiEa.
Tell the master mechanic"
Before the train reached the city,
Bob was dead; and there seemed to bs
little life lett in Ben. But he rallied.
and when we finally reached his bed
side he had regained consciousness.
While the house physician was telling
my mother that he would live. but that
he might be a cripple for life, Rosie
was on her knees at his side. and
smoothing his pale hrow.
''Dear Ben." said she.
"What ls 1t, Rosie2n he murmured.
"You must get we'll for my sake"
"But you said you would never
marry"
THAT was before knew, dear, ex-
claimed Rosie. 81 supposed T was
doomed to be crazy like my mother
no, not my mother, but the woman
who made me believe I was her child.
Father died last week, and just before
he breathed his last he told mo the
truth. T was an adopted child and
there is no crazy blood in my veins.
Oh, Ben, I am so happy, or would
be If you were well.''
There wasn't much strength left in
-Ben's arm, but 1t managed to steal
around Rosie's shoulder, and even the
digniled doctor looked not at all
shocked wien her lips sought those Of
honest Ben.
Ben lived and-wcll, while I am
| writing this in Rosie's sitting room she
Is at the window OF her cottage thaS
looks out on the railroad track. "Ben's
tram is late" says she.
"No it isn't Mrs. Ben.' T exclaimed.
eco and got his supper"
just then there Is a roar and n
whistle ben always gives peculiar
whistle as he passes the cottage--aud
then the express rushes by, and we
catch glimpse Of Engineer Ben at the
window.
"Ben is never 1ate.' say, and
Rosie, as slso runs out into the Kitchen
to get his usual meal, murmurs:
t'Dear Benl" with great emphasis on
the word 'sdear."