The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1889-10-11

Aets bkOO0 Oe1Ote nln1, nof etletI nAu0e
clssped together, her blue eyes filled
with tears, and he fancied lie could hear
her pleading voice calling his name.
He shook as with the ague and
grasped the hand of his faithful friend
for support.
Neil Franklin bent forward and lifted
the sheet from the dead face. AS he
did 80 Frank Arlington started back,
exclaiming: MY God. this is not my
wife!"
Mot your wife?' said the elderly
conductor.
sThis satchel was found grasped
tightly in her hand and in it garments
marked Arlington aud several cards
aud a picture, a photograph, which 1
am sure, now I have seen your face, is
of yourself. This is very strange"
@Where is the child?" gasped Frank
Arlington.
"Here, by its mothers side," said
Conductor Reynolds, pulling the sheet
farther down and exposing to view the
body of o little boy apparently about
two years old, its dark curly hair
brushed back from the baby brow, the
bright eyes closed forever.
MY God, this is awful" said Frank
Arlington. "The satchel 1 recognize,
the picture is mine, but this lady is a
stranger to me, and my child is a little
girl. oh, God! where are they? This
suspense is killing me-"
"All those able to be moved, have been
taken to the hospital in Poltonsville.
Perhaps you may find yonr wife 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 rs the little one caught sight
of Frank Arlington, she held out her
pretty hands and called:
"Papa! Papa! take Daisy!"
Frank Arlington turned with a glad
cry and caught the child in his arms.
"Tell me, for Gods sake, ismy clild's
mother alive?" lie said, grasping the
sisters hand in his great excitement.
"Yes, sir; and she is not seriously in-
jured. I will take you to her." said the
sister, with tears in her soft, brown
eyes. "This a SIR"
A little later Frank Arlington was
kneeling by a small white cot, pressing
kisses of repentance on the sweet face
of his wife.
"Oh, Merle, Merle, my darling, for
give mel" he murmured in broken
tones. "Thank God you IRE alive and
1 may prove my love for you and on
dear baby by future devotions."
AS for Merle, with her arms clasped
around her husbands neck, she whis-
pered, @Only love me Frank, and I will
forgive you everything"
"Love you, my darling wife; if 1 had
lost you it would have killed me-"
"Let> us forget it all, dear Frank,
and begin life again; only remember
that no n can love you as baby and /
do"
"And the satchel, my darling, the
satchel that was clasped in the hand OF
that other, the poor woman who was
killed, tell me-"
as she dead? OH, poor lady!" and
Merle's eyes filed with tears. "She
sat in front of me and her little boy
reached out for my satchel, the bright
clasp caught his attention. So I put
the satchel OH the seat by the side OF
the mother and let him play with it to
keep him quiet" and at the remem-
brance Merle sobbed aloud.
Merle Arlington was not severely in.
jured; the shock had been very great,
but with good care she was soon able
to be conveyed home, and it was q
happy day for Frank Arlington when
he had his little family safely at home
again.
He loved his young wife truly, but lie
was easily led, and his ill-luck at cards
had made him unkind and unjust when
ut home. But all that is over now.
Years have passed since that terrible
railroad accident, the details of which
will remain fresh in Frank Arlingtoni
memory forever.
Their home is now a happy one
which proves without q doubt that
whatever rain may fall into each life,
God always sends some sunshine to dry
the tears.