The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-06-19


IL was the old story. Some one had
blundered We Were running behind
time and local express had smashed
into the rear car.
mo one in the smoker was seriously
injured. and, after little. managed
10 make my way ont and go in search
of my wife
The sleeper was wreck. Willing
hands were already tearing away the
wrecked ear and reScuing the poor
wretches within The air seemed filed
with means and groans. Around me
they were laying down the victims.
some living, many dead-hut Alice was
not among them ! joined the band Of
workers and we toiled with the strength
that God only gives to men at time
like that, tugging away at broken
timbers and releasing many a poor
soul from torture.
"A woman and child both dead" /
heard have near me exclaim.
sprang to his side There Law INV dar-
ling wife, her white face turned sp To
mine, but fixed, unmcaning. unrecog-
nizing. Our little one lay in her arms.
but the tiny head was crushed and the
child's blood had stained the mothers
hair and face
Little Dot was dead, but as placed
my cheek close to the mothers lips. i
fancied ! felt faint touch OF her
breath.
Willing hands bore them both into
the open air and laid them on a rude
couch Gently i took the child from
the unconscious mothers arms and laid
her, wrapped in my coat. on the soft
grass.
by that time the work of rcscuing
was about over. Help had begun to
arrive. and vet the scene If anything
was more heartrending than before
Men were seeking for lost wives or
striving, like myself, - rescue living
ones. Mothers Were calling for their
babies, and little children vainly asking
for their parents
Even in my own despair, nv heart
felt another psng when | saw them
bring forward black-robed figure
with little child at her breast, and
Law them near US. The baby gave a
little frightened cry and then seemed
to sleep in the dead mothers arms. II
was Alice's friend and her little one.
a relief car and doctors arriving,
Alice was made more comfortable and
a physician came to examine her. l
v i44 NitO-S AtH 4ii'ihtAiAN-
turned 10 me and said softly: She
is injured internally, l fear. II she
is conscious before the end, il is all we
can hope for
20. my God. how l did hope for it
How / prayed for it! Both To be taken
from me, wife and child. without
farewell word or caress.
Alice Law breathing faintly for
long time, and then the white lids
lifted and / saw once more and for the
last time IN this world the violet eyes
loved 81 dearly.
Gus. dear She whispered trying
to raise one poor manned hand Ia her
heart Where Is little Dot? Why have
you taken my baby away from Inc?'
What should | say? What could /
do? The sweet vol ce grew fainter and
the blue ewes almost closed.
- Gus, she whispered, am I going
In leave you? Am going 10 die?'
''She must have read the answer in
my face, for faint sigh broke the flut-
tcring breath.
Bring me Dot" she murmured.
Give me my baby before die
In utter despair hid my face in my
hands, when faint cry came Ia my
ears II came from the little mother
less babe lying near us. / lifted the
child and Laid her in Aicc's arms
The child nestled its little head con-
tendctlly into the dying womans neck
and one little hand was laid on her lips
Alice was very weak now, and had to
bend over 10 catch the few last words.
My little Dot She murmured.
Our little child, Gus, dear. She will
stay with You and love You in my
place
'.She kissed the little hand and said:
Love your father. Dot. Love him
always
She weakly Inotioned me 10 take
the child. and with the baby on one
arm and my dying wife III the other.
lay until the gray light came into the
eastern sky and stole over Alice. face.
But the light of life was fading from
her eyes. kissed her lips and felt her
last breath on my face.
.'Ny wife and child were together in
Heaven and there was nothing left
for me on earth butt looked At the
little child sleeping in my arms. Alice
had given her to me, and she. like I.
was alone in the world and SO she be-
came my little daughter, and YOU know,
Frank, how very dear she is to me-"
Gus had finished his story. There
were tears in my eyes as well as in his.
Noble old Gus, how I admired his hon
est. generous, loving heart. But men
say little tn each other when the tears
begin to fall. ami SO, with a silent hand
shake we left the room
The curtain was down and the last
act ready to begin n--Ethelyn riend, in
Chicago Saturday Evening Herald.