The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-11-23
Bonnie BeM the Machinist.


stiIl her first child. now a. quick little
thing OF years; and as simpson at
times took, a worNng. NJ and helped her
with the slop work az which she slayed,
there were slight CLEANS OF sunshine
even I'm her obscure existence. One week
her husband siaycd With her every day,
but then he made up pS Tor i by taking ,si ,s
Tuesday, and consumed "a great deal
more than he had earned. IIe went home
then for more money, and ~ elL9e tnere was
relsome. At last he took up a. heavy
board to fling at the woman who was
had run in. as children will do. with the
idea OF protecting her mother, was
struck with the hard missile on the back
OF the head; The child, after tne ,t nrst
hurt; but next morning II did not get up
promptly as was It's wont, saying feebly-
m goin' peep akaln. nanny; heady
Lotions of vinegar and whisky pro-
dueed no impression on the swelling, and
startled her mother by saving
NO get better, mammy-be shut I'm
box the morn"
Poor Bell sat up the long night through
sewing as for dear life. and soothing
the child at intervals by carrying her
about the room: but Simpson was reused
before morning by a dreadful commotion
In the room, and blinkngly saw a neigh
bor trying TO cover the dead child from
Its distracted mothers sight
A whisper OF this affair somehow reach
ed the office, and the msdical inspection
OF the child's body was such that L went
after Simpson at once. and with great
zest
There was no evidence. OF course. that
he had been the in1urer OF the child or
indeed, that IL had not merely fallen and
fractured its own skull. but there was a
firm impression that he was the guilty
one; and while was away getting Simp-
son, in half-fuddled condition, in his
favorite public house. another went along
10 question Bonnie Bell sharply as to the
cause OF her childs illness and death.
Poor Bell was not in a fit state TO be
troubled much. or IT Is not likely she
would have been arrested too and IN her
terror and half-crazed condition, she firm
ly declared that the child had never been
struck on the head but had simply been
weakly, and died a natural death. AS
soon as she was left alone. however. she
went to neighbor and learned that her
husband had been taken away 10 the
head office by MGovan, and she at once
took alarm.
HE will come TO me next, and question
me TIL he gets me 10 swear away my
mans life,' she said: and then she got
back 10 her own room. quite sure that
her husband would be hanged for the
crime, and as sure that he would escape
II she only kept out of my way.
Whu ike 10 nave seen my Dalrn nap
pit I'm the grund." she feverishly thought;
but maun get away frae here"
Away, but whittier? She knew of no
hiding-place. and 1t was more by instinct
than reason that she turned her face i'm
the direction of the hills of Fife-that in
stinct which prompts a wounded hare to
make for it's familiar form, or a bleeding
bird 10 lutter towards its nest. Homei
early home-there would be the sea be-
tween us; and away in a quiet hamlet.
oradled in the hills. and far from any
railway station; no detective, she thought.
would ever look for her there. Bell kissed
her dead child and glided out of the
house. and In a few minutes was speed
ing towards Grantcn on foot. She paid
her passage across TO Burntisand, and
then resumed her journey on foot. She
had "a shilling or two in her pocket, but
was SO afraid of being seen or traced,
tha she avoided every house and spent
=. @ night I'm open air | am not sure II she
ever thought of eating, but almost the
only trace got OF her was when she was
within six miles OF her home. she had sat
down in sheer exhaustion opposite cot
tage door; and the woman of the house,
noticing her woe-begone look and marble
face, brought out and offered her a cup of
milk. Bell drank the milk mechanically,
and then the woman looked round, and
ventured to say. inquirngly-
You have nae BARNS?
mo, no-nae bairns," said Bonnie Bell