Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1897-09-02
By Marie Louise Fowler.

Richard Grey sat IN a box at the
opera, silent and thoughtful. His
companions, three young men of the
club, had ceased to talk to him or
to try to draw his attention to the
stage. In fact it could scarcely be
Sid that he heard or saw anything
that went on his mind was so oc-
cupied with his own thoughts, which
to judge from his countenance were
not of the most cheerful character.
At length, as the curtain fell for the
last time, he seemed to shake himself
out of his revery, and, still silent, fol-
loved his merry companions as they
hurried away. OF course they all had
supper together, and the boys hoped
Dick" as they Familiarity called him,
would cheer up and make himself
agreeable, for as one of them re-
marked,
You are like the mummy at the
feast. We are not in Egypt, you know
although your thoughts may be, for
all l know. They are certainly far
enough away from here"
Richard smiled.
Don't mind me boys | will be all
right by and by a little knocked up,
you know One does not witness
railroad accident every day. o! it
was awful" and he shuddered. IF
you had been there, you might also
be silent"
The young men looked at him in
Quiringly and one exclaimed
20! | say old man, you were not
there, were you? | was at the office,
and as soon as the news came L went
down but there was nothing to be
heard except the noise and confusion
OF clearing away the debris, and OF
course | saw none of the injured pas
sengers for they had already been car
ried away"
The other young men had arrived
at about the same time None had
seen the wreck. Now they asked him
many questions and wondered why he
had not told them before. Richard
froWned, and rising, answered hur-
riedly:
Il did not want to talk about it.
1t was too horrible. Do not ask me.
That is why | went to the opera to-
night as usual, hoping to divert my
mind, but it was of no use. UGH l
shall never forget it. Good night,
Boys"
He turned abruptly and left the
room.
The boys stared at each other silent
ly for a moment, and then one ex-
claimed
Something else the matter. Dick
has pretty strong nerves. There is
something about this that we do not
know. Let him alone awhile; we
will soon find out what it is. He is
usually rather talkative But it looks
odd, doesn't it,"
When Richard left the club, he
walked briskly along for some time,
still with that strange, still look. He
aid not wish to ride. 1t seemed as
if the people would stare at him. He
would rather be by himself. o, that
awful wreck! He wished he had not
been near He was a good walker and
usually took long walks in the early
morning. 1t was a habit with him and
had always made him feel strong for
the day. This was the only time he
had ever found cause to regret one of
those pleasant rambles.
He hurried on. O! If he could but
get that horrible sight from his mind;
and the little girl! Who was she?
Was she hurt? he wondered. She
might be dead. He had seen a beauti
tul girl carried away unconscious, if
not dead. She was young and slight,
with soft, curly, light hair which
looked like a halo around her sweet,
pale face There had been woman
with her, crying and calling upon her
to open her eyes. The woman must
have been her mother. She had called
the girl Helen, and a few steps away
from the scene of the accident Dick
had picked up a small lOcket, which,
when opened, was found to contain a
picture of the beautiful girl with
Helen" engraved on the back. He
was sure it was the same He had
recognized it from his remembrance
o. the face, seen only for a moment
in passing. Strange, too, he thought,
that he should remember.
At length he reached his own apart
ment, let himself IN with his latch
key, and, turning on the lights he drew
the tiny trinket from his pocket.
Opening it, he gazed long and earnest
~ upon the sweet young face. Then,
placing it carefully away in his desk,
he drew up a large. easy chair and
smoked two cigars, still with the same
half sad, half thoughtful look in his
eyes.
For several days he went about as
in a dream. At the end of a week lie
thought of a young friend, a physi-
clan, and decided to call upon him,
thinking perhaps he might find out
from some doctor at the hospital if
a young lady answering that de-
scription was there and also partic-
ulars concerning her. This the young
doctor readily agreed to do, and Rich
ard awaited with impatience the result
of his inquiries.
In three days the doctor called upon
Dick, only to tell him that a young
lady answering that description
named Helen Section, accompanied by
her mother, had left the hospital that
morning, the young lady having en-.
tirely recovered from the shock, am