Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-10-18
had been alone. As it was, his kind
f,;o,,d No;) E,onLJin belped him down

friend, Neil Franklin, helped HIM dowr
stairs, called a cab, and gave the direc
tions to the driver: CAS- fast as yor
can 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 a sight met their gaze Oh arriv-
ing at Poltonsville!
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 difficulty
through the crowd they DOL found
Superintendent Rolton and were
directed by him where to find the in
iured passengers.
"This way, sir" said an elderly man
in the uniform. of a conductor, and very
soon Frank Arlington was bending over
a woman's form. A form covered with
O sheet and still in the last long sleep
of death.
A vision Of Merle, as he had last seen
her, arose 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 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 SO Frank Arlington started back,
exclaiming: "My God, this is not my
wife,"
Not your wife?" said the elderly
conductor.
This satclel was found grasped
tightly in her hand and in it garments
marked Arlington and several cards
and a picture, a photograph, which L
am sure, now 1 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 a 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 [ 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 your wife there"
said Conductor Reynolds, kindly.
Leaving the scene Of the accident,
they soon reached the hospital.
AS they entered the door, a 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 Daisyw
Frank Arlington turned with a glad
cry and caught the child in his arms.
"Tell me, for Gods sake, ismy child's
mother alive?" he said, grasping the
sisters hand in his great excitement.
Eyes, sir; and she is not seriously in
jured. 1 will take you to her." said the
sister, with tears in her soft, brown
eyes. "This way, sir"
A little later Frank Arlington was
lneeling by a small white cot, pressing
kisses of repentance on the sweet face
Of his wife.
ooh, Merle, Merle, my darling, for
give mel" he murmured in broken
tones. "Thank God you are alive and
[ may prove my love for you and our
dear baby by future devotions."
AS for Merle, with her arms clasped
around her husbands neck, she whis-
pered, "On!y love me Frank, and I will
forgive you everything"
Glove you, my darling wife; if I had
lost you it would have killed me-"
"Let us forget it all, dear Frank,
and begin life again; only remember
that no Il can love you as baby and I
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"
els 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 l put
the satchel on 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