The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-02-04

heard father, who was stationmaster
here then. say that he never to the end
of his life should forget the look on
that poor creatures face, nor the awful
scream she gave when some laundering
fool jumped out of the train, which had
come i'll at last. some two hours late,
and bawled out: There's been the
most awful accident at --. and our
Mr.. Fraser is amop1 the killed."
Il wonder the shock did not kill her
outright" said.
1T nigh did. The poor little baby, as
never drew a breath was born that
night, and no one ever thought that the
mother would be long here. But the
doctors pulled her through somehow,
as regards her body, but her mind was
altogether gone for long while. She
was took away for years, poor SOUL
and the little house shut up. but after
Il time she came back here with her
maid. Sarah, who'd stuck faithful to her
all through. and the doctors said Mrs.
Fraser was cured leastways they'd
done all they could for her. 1t was
what they called an experiment, bring
ing her back to her old home, but it am
severed. for they say the poor lady grew
a sight more quiet and rational-lilte
after she was back in her old home
"She has always appeared perfectly
rational whenever / spoke to her." l re-
marked.
AYE, so she is, to talk to. But it's a
curious thing, ma'am, and perhaps u
mercitul one. too. that the poor lady
has clean forgot all that happened after
her husband left her. She doesn't I'M
derstand that she's a widow: she
doesn't count how the years have gone
by: she believes she's still a young
wife of fiveand-twenty, preparing for
the little baby that's soon to arrive,
and that her husbands only away for
day or two. Sarah manages to keep
her quiet and happy. just like child;
there's only one day in the year that
she grows restless. and that's to-day
the day of the accident. Somehow she
always seems to remember to-day. and
will come to the station TO meet her
husband. They've found il best to hu-
NOR her in this. Sarah coaXes her
home after the train comes in and
quiets her, and by tomorrow she'll
have, in way, forgot, and be only
looking forward in a general sort Of
style to her husbands return They
say she keeps his room and all his
things ready, just as he left them all
those years ago"
1t was a piteous little story, and my
companion and | were silent en- our
drive home. Howlittle any of us fathom
the tragedies which may have occurred
in our neighbors' lives!
As | walked up my garden I saw Mrs.
Fraser seated at her window, busy with
some sewing. The tears were gone from
her eyes and her countenance had re.
sumed its Nonted serenity of express
sion. She looked up as I passed and
nodded with bright smile.
Edward will be here tomorrow,
Sarah says" she remarked, "and yon
see | have some work-pleasant work
to keep me quiet while am alonc:"
She was engaged.
| turned away, sick at heart: the old
lady's fingers were busy with an in.
fant's shirt, the dainty cambria and lace
faded and yellowed by time.
And yet perhaps, as the stationmas-l
ter had remarked, the delusion was a
merciful one. In her own imagination
the desolate widow of 60 was still thd
happy girl-wife, the hopeful prosl
pectiye mother of nearly 40 years gone
by. Some dreams are happier than the
actual realities.-M Madame