Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-05-24

Hush" said Rosie as the bushes
mantled her cheeks. She hurried
away, to get supper, and while she was
at her work and was lettering On the
front door step newsboys came along
shouting, Extra! All about the great
railroad accident.'
Mother purchased paper, cast her
eyes over It, and then ran to the kltch-
en-. threw her arms about Rosie, and
began to cry. Dear child, Ben IS dy-
inc was all she could say. Rosie
shed no tears. Her face blanched.
| She ran for her hat and wrap and ask
ed: ''Where is hep
cat the hospital, " answered mother;
| ..but YOU shall not 90 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. [ went with them, and it
seemed / age that we had to wait in
the hosl1tal 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, top
| pied over on its side, and buried Ben
and Bob beneath the ruins. When
men came up to release Ben he SAID:
Get Bob out first; he's hurt worse
than l." 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 glazed as the train hands
bent over him and heard this:
Tell Ben to forgive. [ was the
cause of his losing his place as engineer.
put emery dust in the oil can of his
engine. That's why the journals burnt
out. was jealous Of him. Tell the
master mechanic"
Before the train reached the city
Bob was dead, and there seemed to be
little life left 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 cripple for life, Rosie
was on her knees at his side, and
smoothing his pale lrow.
Dear Ben" said she.
s'What is it, Rosie?" he mUrmured
you must get well for my sake"
but you said you would never
marry
THAT was before I knew, DEAR" ex-
claimed Rosie 4 supposed I was
doomed to be crazy like my mother
no, not my mother, but the woman
who made me believe | was her child.
| Father died last week, and Just before
| he breathed his last he told me the
truth. l was an adopted child, and
| there is no crazy blood iii my veins.
| Oh, Ben, | ana 50 happy, or l would be
! if you were we'll"
! There wasn't much strength left in
| Ben's arm, but it managed to stea
around Bosie's shoulder, and even the
dignified doctor looked not at al
shocked when her lips sought those 0.
| honest Ben.
Ben lived and-well, while I an
writing this in Rosie's sitting room she
! is at the window Of her cottage tina.
| looks out on the railroad track. ''Bon'>
| train is late, = says she.
No it isn't, Mrs. Ben" I exclaimed
$50 and get his supper"
just then there was roar and {
Whistle-Ben always gives a peculiar
wlistle rs he passes the cottage
| then the express rushes by, and w
catch glimpse of engineer Ben at th(
! window.
Ben is never late" I say, ant
Rosie, as she runs out into the kitchen
to get his meal, murmurs: ''Dear Benz
with great emphasis on the wore
| dear y Chicago Mail.