Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-06-19

very happy chatting with the good
natured Irishman and waiting nv COM
| ing.
1t was early in November, and
mother had dressed Freddie for the
| first time in a iaunty suit of velvet.
| with dainty velvet cap over his brown
| curls. when one morning | sent him out
| with Dennis until | was ready 70 start
! L was making my final preparation
! for departure when | heard piercing
{ scream under my window and Dennis
saying, BY jabers she's tainted. the
cratheri''
. While Freddie cried, Mamma
! pretty mammar'
L ran out hastily to see an odd
tableau. Dennis was supporting in his
. strong arms slender figure in mourn
ing. half leaning on the shafts, while
. Freddie clung to her skirts, sobbing,
! 'Mamma-mamma."
: Bring her in, Dennis l said.
| I'll do that same, sur" was the
reply as Dennis lifted the little figure
like feather weight, and crossing the
pavement came into the surgery.
shut out the curious people who fol-
lowed and Freddie chung fast to the
| black dress, never ceasing his loud
cries of ''Oh, mamma! 1t is my
mamma; come home to Freddie!
| Mamma-prettym ammar'
| The sound rang through the house,
reaching my mothers ears as she sat in
her room. She came hurrying down
the stairs and entered the surgery just
! as Dennis deposited his burden in an
arm chair. Comprehending the situa-
ton at glance, mother tenderly re-
! moved the heavy Grape veil and bonnet.
loosening a shower of brown curls
round marble-white face, still in
sensible.
At that moment the stranger opened
! pair of large brown eyes, as brown
and as soft as Freddie's own. and muir
INJURED, in faint voice: Freddie! Did
| see my boy?"
Then her eyes fell upon the child
and in moment she was on her knees
before him clasping him to her heart
kissing him, sobbing over him till
! mother broke out crying too, and was
obliged to assume my professional ex-
preston" by sheer force of will.
Come, come" l said gently. Fred
so much EXCITEMENT
This Quoted the mother in an in
stant and she rose, still holding the
childs hand in her own
1T is my boy!" she said looking into
my face.
! Freddie" 1 asked, lis this man.
map
Yes" said the little fellow, decided
ly; ''of course it is. My own pretty
mamma come from heaven!'
Come from heaven!' she repeated
with ashy lips and gasping breath.
They told me he was dead, my boy.
my Freddie-that he was run over and
killed! The nurse saw him fall under
the horses feet"
But you see he was not killed, :"
mother said in a gentle tone; 'but is
well and strong again"
And then motioning me to keep
silent, mother told the widow of the
child's injuries and recovery, of his
winning ways, and our love for him.
Il must tell you first who I ann our
visitor said. Il am the widow of Car
roll West, who died ofchoera in Liver
pool only two weeks ago.
when [ heard he was i'll [ went to
him at once, leaving my boy with my
i husbands mother and sister. | knew
they were not very fond of him, but |
had no choice. l found my husband
very i'll. but he was recovering, when
he had relapse. During all his illness
/ heard only twice of Freddie-once
that he was we'll, once that he had
been killed in tie street.
Il came home only two days ago,
and they would tell me nothing of
where my boy was buried-nothing but
the bare fact of his death. I-I-oh,
do not blaine NEIL was on my way
to the river to end it all, when | met
! Freddie
1t would be tedious to tell in detail
but, authorized by Mrs. West. | called
upon her husbands lawyer, and there
heard her story.
81 think" said the lawyer. contiden-
TALLY, that the Vests are the proudest
people | ever knew-proud of their
family, their money and their beauty.
d, Carroll West was the only son, Lucy
the only daughter when the old man
/ died. He left considerable fortune.
but Carroll has increased his share of
/ it to immense wealth. His mother
was very DESTROYS of having him make
great match, and proportionately
! furious when he married little dark
| eyed seamstress, of no family in par
ticular, and working for a living.
Carroll" continued the lawyer, chad
sufficient good sense to keep up his own
establishment until he went into a
! heavy cotton speculation that called
| him to Liverpool. Then he left his
; wife and child under his mothers care,
F., and before he went he made his will.
I Now. DOCTOR" said the lawyer. speak
| ing very slowly, and with marked en-
! phasis, that will leaves half his for
! tune to his wife, half to his child, but
! in case of the death of the child, the
half that is his goes to Mrs. West and
her daughter Lucy. If the mother dies
all goes to the child, to revert again to
the Vests, if he dies without direct
| heirs
! We could never tell whether the un-
! natural grandmother and aunt would
F.. have risked legal investigation. The
recognition between mother and child
! was complete, and the clothing we had
| carefully preserved was fully identified.
Mrs. West did not return to her
mother-in-law. For some weeks she