The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-01-03

4 PATHETIC DEATn.BEn.
An Old Couple Who HAD Lived Together
Forsy.E,gh Years, Killed BY Tho Cara.
Engineer Dimmick, OF the Chicago
express, said he had been in nervous
dread OF an accident from the moment
he pulled out of the Lake Shore depot
in Chicago. writes VIM. H. Maher in
the Toledo Blade. This had made him
unusually careful, but as he reached
Shermau's crossing a little behind time,
lie began to lose his fear; he opened
the throttle of old 80, intending to gain
a few minutes in the remaining eight
miles between there and Toledo. He
started to signal for the crossing, just
this side oftlle trees, when, horrorl he
saw . farmer driving furicusly toward
it as if to cross ahead Of the trainl
It was suicidei
Dimmick sent out q heart.breakinR
signal to the brakeman, reversed the
engine, put on air brakes, knowing all
the time the train could not be stopped
this side of the crossing, and then shut
his eyes andprayed.
When the engine stopped q part Of
the wagon was on the headlight. the
horses were distributed along the track,
and two old people were lying near the
fence.
Dimmick was the first to reach them.
They both breathed. Was there q ply.
stefan among the passengers? Yes, two.
A Lt,rio1 nv oS,,s,,nAs1 n,, .~...l-
ton. The man was undoubtedly fatally
hurt; the woman probably 80.
They were tenderly carried to Mr..
Richards house, near by. and the ply.
sicians told that il they would
stay until the local practitioner could
lie found o locomotive would he sent
hack in an hour. They agreedt to stay.
The bell rang; travellers hurried to
their places; some with white faces at
The thought that it might have been
themselves; others full of the import
ance 9 participation in the event would
give them and their story, and others.
forgetting themselves, thinking only of
tho sorrow brought to others.
Mr.. Richards placed his house at the
command Of the physicians. Stimu.
lants were administered, and when the
family ductor and. the children OF the
sufferers had arrived, the father was
moaning, but tho mother had opened
her eyes.
Late in the night, after hours of
faithful and incessant labor over them,
the mother spoke.
SLOW is fatler?"
He is still unconscious. but is we'll
taken care of. Here is something for
you; now don't worry; don't think; Just
{ o to sleep again." Her son spoke to
her.
must go to father"
"You mustn't think of it. mother.
You are very badly hurt yourself. You
must he very quiet"
II must go to father; lie needs me-"
The physician looked at her keenly,
saying in a low tone to the SON.: II think
We had better fix q place for him near
her. She will never he content other
wise.
The son coaxed and argued with her.
but it was of no avail. They moved
her bed beside her husbands; she at
tempted to take his hand, but could not.
His stcrtorious breathing made no inn
preston upon her.
us father going to die?" she asked.
The weeping daughter nodded. "You
must keep quiet for your own sake,
mother"
We've been married over forty-eight
she said to the doctor, "but
we've known each other all our lives"
you mustn't talk mother"
I'VE was raised side by side; he took |
care on me when we went to school
together; he's always took care on me.
Put me on my side, SOS I can SEQ him
better"
"Mother, you must stop thinking and
talking" She paid no heed.
seems if ta'n't but little while ago
since we was married, but it's forty.
eight years. We was talkin' of our
golden weddin' this very week. Ben!'
The son put his hand on her lips to
silence her, but the doctor whispered:
Better let her talk a little. She's be.
yond CONTROL"
The gray-haired husband seemed to
hear her call; he opened his eyes,
breatlled less noisily, struggled with
his voice and then managed to whisper,
Rachael"
@Here I am, Benjamin. aud turning
her eyes to tile daughter, put my hand
i'll his
They laid her poor, wrinkled hand on
his hard, knotty fingers.
Us it morning, Rachel?"
mo. it amt; you just lie still. You
see" said she, turning her ayes to the
Others. "he thinks it's time to get up"
"Rachael!' In a very low whisper it
came.
"Yes. Ben; Tn right here beside
you."
"Tell Jim to milk this morning.
ayes. yes; that's all attended to. Can
you e me?" |
ut is very light, wife, but-1-can't
The doctor motioned to the children
that the end was near.
Put my face on his, Susy; yes. /
know he's going, but faint for longl
Lift me over to him."
They lifted her face to his; his eyes
opened; he smiled-and passed away.
They carried the mother back to her
and were glad to see her quietly
go to sleep.
And in that sleep she crossed the
river to her Ben.