The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-22
CHAPTER w.
THE TRIPLE TRAGEDY.

Twelve years had passed by and only
Moran and Luke were left at the Hubbard
house. Mrs. Hubbard had been deal
year, and John was in mis- old Indiana
home, and Marah, a pretty. sal-eyed girl,
who, if she was Becca's girl. bore her re-
senblance, kept house for her silent, hard
working Uncle luke Kind neighbors
assisted the young girl in the care Of her
slender wardrobe, and her neat ways and
tidy housekeeping were the wonder of the
village
Widow Stevens had aged rapidly of late,
and she had written to ask Rogers family
to end Christmas day vita her. "I5 may
be my last Christmas on EARTH she had
written, and Roger had overcome his
strange reluctance to visit Berlin, which he
had manifested ever since his marriage,
aud now the train was speeding them rap
idly over the New England road The
shades Of evening were falling, and the
lamps were lighted In the car where Roger
sat with his wife and 6-year-old son. There
had been long season Of rain, ana spots
Of green were visible in the folds outside
SIT will be a green Christmas, surely,p
Roger said, and Just then there was a great
creaking of timbers, a swaying TO and fro,
a plunge, a wild chorus of screams, and Roger
found himself pinioned under his seat una
BILE to stir limb. His little boy, who had
been reclining against his side, lay under
his arm, sobbing with terror. Opposite
Law his wife, white and unconscious Roger
tried to lift the arm that was clasped
about his boy, but it was useless A por-
ton of the roof had fallen across him. and
one end had plunged through the side Of the
car and held him a prisoner. The car had
already taken fire from the broken lamps,
and horrible slow death by roasting alive
seemed to stare him in the face. People
were rushing too and fro, and the scene
was one Of wild confusion. He shut his
eyes and tried to pray. Suddenly hand
touched him on the shoulder
"Brace yourself while pull, = it said. "I
think can extricate you"
He looked up into the face of pale-faced
woman Of 35-a face that suggested past
beauty and great suffering.
Great God! Becca,n he cried, show
came you hereg and his voice choked and
broke
81 was in the car ahead. It was
saved with the others from going over the
embankment," she answered, rapidly, all
the time using her strength to free him
from his prison. 81 saw you enter the car
at New York. When it went down tho
embankment / came as soon as | could
make my way. Push, push with all your
might, now"
"Save my wife-save my boy" cried
Roger, wildly, for he felt the flame and
smoke coming nearer and nearer. Never
mind me. Save my wife and child"
81 cannot save them until 1 have your
help" the woman answered. ''Once free
yourself, you can carry out your wife, and
[ can save your boy. Push, say, for Gods
sake, push"
He gave a superhuman effort, and the
cruel barrier bent-broke. He was free,
| but bruised and dizzy He leaned over tho
| postrate form of his wife, and lifting her
in his arms staggered through the smoke
and flame out into the night air. Close be-
| hind him followed Rebecca, with the boys
head pillowed on her breast. But her gar
ment had taken fire. and sheet of flame
developed her as she sprang into the open
air and flung the child, whose garments
only were sfnged, into his fathers arms
Before the frightened and excited crowd
about her could extinguish the flames she
had been burned beyond hopes of recov-
cry. They carried her into a house near
by, and as soon as his dear ones were pro-
nouncsd safe and sound, with only a few
bruises to worry over, Roger FASTENED to
the bedside Of his rescuer. She was dying
even then. AS she heard his footsteps she
looked up and smiled.
BURY me by my mothers side. and do
not let Marah suffer- she whispered, and
passed away.
Her words were puzzle 30 him. 'Marahi1
Who was Marahi Sine must have wan
Sdered in her own mind, he thought.
He had lived abroad so many years, He
had mover heard Of the waif left on the
Hubbard doorstep, and Becca, from the
hour be had told her Of his approaching
marriage, three months before It took
place, sic had vanished out OF his life, and
he had never seen or beard Of her from