The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-05-03
FAITHFUL DA1.'.

| ~N"soio ahS uuu lOuuu Tue conductor
convcrsing with two women. "Oh, but
you must take her somehow he heard
the younger Of the women exclaim in a
distressed voice. "You see, there amt
any other way to send her, and her moth.
or expects her sure, and she'll be at the
station to take her off, and she'll be a
real good girl and not trouble you one
bit. Won't you, Bessie?'
"Say, I'll kinder keep an eye on the
kid. If that's all you want" Dan said
awkwardly to the women. Don't know
much about children, but guess some Of
the women will tend to her." He gave
an inquiring glance at the conductor.
"All right; I'm willing. Jump aboard,
will you? We're late now" And the
conductor waved his hand.
Dan seized the child and placed her
lightly on the platform, and the train
began to move. He listened to the part
ing directions Of the two women and
threw back the silver half dollar one of
them tried to slip into his hand with
toss Of his head as he shouted, II amt
no porter, and I'm a-doin this to 'blise
you"
Then he took her into the car and left
her to amuse herself with the rolls of
lozenges while he made trip through
the other cars.
BY the time he got back she had made
friends with a lady across the aisle, who
offered 10 share her berth with the child,
and before the afternoon was over she
was playing games all over the car, and,
10 Dams infapso chn
on eating supper with the man who had
made the greatest fuss over his berth,
but who, Bessie insisted, Cooked Just
like grandpa"
He slept soundly, for the day had been
a tiresome one, but after awhile he began
to dream. He thought that Bessie had
chewed gum till she grew smaller and
smaller and finally was nothing but lit
tie sugar image, which be was about to
eat when
Crash!
Dan was awake now. In an instant he
was rushing toward the sleeper.
There was second crash, and a tear
ing sound, and the end of the car was
torn off, and cloud Of steam rushed in
and about him. a4
The shock threw him off his feet, but
he crawled on. He must reach the Sleep
err. There was Bessie; he had promised
to take care of her. 1t seemed ages be-
fore he reached the platform. Overturned
on the track before him was the sleeper.
The dim gray light of the early morning
just showed its outlines. Further than
that he could not see.
He could hear cries inside, and through J
one of the windows head was thrust.
With his heels he broke the glass Of the |
window nearest him; then he crawled Oh
to the next and next, breaking each in
turn, until finally he reached the fourth.
This was where Bessie was.
Here he crawled in, but there was no
one in the berth.
1t was lighter now. The sun must have
come up very quickly.
Then smell of smoke revealed the
cause. The broken lamp at the end Of
the car had set the bedding on fire.
Through the broken windows people
were rushing, men and women, and there
were gfoans and shrieks on all sides.
Suddenly from beneath a pile Of cloth
Ing he saw tiny hand thrust out and he
heard stifed cry.
Eagerly he pushed aside the heavy
blankets and pulled the child out. BY
the light Of the flames, now rapidly near
ing them, he could see how white she
looked, and her eyes were closed.
Could be be too late?
He tried to climb out of the window,
but the seat on which he stood, broken
1y the crash, fell beneath his weight, and
he was thrown back into the car. He
struck heavily, and there was a sharp
)ain in his head, and little Bessie almost |
ell from his arms.
He seized the broken bell rope that hung
rom its rings, and, placing the child on
lis back, bound the cord around and
round, thus binding her tightly to him.
Then he tried second time to gain the
window. This time there was hand
eld down to help him, and in moment
lie felt the soft grass beneath him, and
here was sudden movement Of the lit
lie body pressed close to him.
Then there was terrible whirring 1
ound in his ears, and the blacklist night
eemed to settle over everything, and he
ecame unconscious.
News of the disaster Travelled fast, and
hen the train bearing the wrecked pas
nngers drew into Detroit there were
undrcds Of anxious friends inquiring for I
Soh otiohS hISi "CiC u iiS |
aces were white with horror as they lis s
ened to the story of the dreadful COLI q
on. s
I'd faced mother, while her husband
andered hither and thither in vain 5
arch for their child. !
"a little girl with blue eyes?" repeated a
le Of the passengers after him. t,
LET me see, there was one, but-herc,
,rter, perhaps you can tell the gentle
an" And the passenger FASTENED away. :
There was one child killed, sir" the
rter replied slowly. II hope it amt %
urs, I'm sure. Just step this way, U
ease."
He turned to do so, with tears binding
) eyes, but tiny hand caught hold Of
3 coat and childish voice cried: II,
DON'T run away, papa! Amt you glad ~
see Bessie?" II
4 told the ladies I'd see she got to you
fe," Dan explained as they were being y,
wen to Bessie's home. P,
Even now his head was dizzy, and there .,
re queer pains running through his
ly. =:
Yes" cried Bessie, with a happy =. w
Ugh, as IL recalling some pleasant time. rs
was an awful funny going to sleep y;
those funny boxes with curtains. Then ny
woke up and was under q great big co.
Up Of blankets. slg
Dan was real good to me, Dan was, n
all his lovely candy got burned up to Il
hing, and l just think you ought to II
e him some now, cause he took such {
ID care Of me" we
Ter sweet face was upturned and her uc:
I'd was slipped into Dams, and he has al
swallowed big lump in his throat as r. ~
Il didn't do nothin."-Ex. az
nge. go
AL