Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1908-06-13
The Meeting Of Two
Of F ate's Currents.

wears. She looked at a shelf over
fireplace and tried to speak. The boy,
knowing she wished to speak of some
thing on the shelf, took up various ar
ticles on it, at every one of which his
mother gave negative sign till be
came to small lacquered box, at
which she began to mutter. lie took
down the box, went to the bedside. put
his ear close to her lips and tried to
distinguish what she wished to say to
him. But he failed. The mother died
before she could make herself under
stood.
After all was over and the dead ha,.
been laid away the little fellow closely
examined the lacquered box. 1t was
locked, and he had no key to open it.
Taking ii to locksmith, be procured
a KEY and unlocked the box, but found
1t empty.
The boy was left with nothing and
was Obliged to make his own living.
The few articles Of furniture were
sold, realizing only few dollars. His
home had always been in the country.
and he sought an abiding place and
work on a farm.
Farmer Simpson agreed to take him.
He was to DO chores and such light
farm work as boy Of his age might
be able to Go, such as feeding the
stock. milking the cows and wedding.
He was permitted to go to school for
a portion of each day, though this was
for his employers as well as his own
benefit, for little Belle Simpson, seven
years old. was sent to school, and the
boy was her protector over the two
miles between the farm and the school
house
And so Benny Rengeralt grew up the
protector of child who came to be
woman. Strange that her father should
not have expected that the two would
pass from the friendship of childhood
to the love of youth. In truth he never
realized that his daughter had grown
to womanhood till after it was too
late. Then when he began to consider
which one Of the neighboring we'll to
do farm ~ sons she would take for
husband be discovered that she and
Ben were welded together. They might
be parted, but it would be like tearing
up two clipging plants by the roots.
Nevertheless he resolved to do So
Ben was twenty-five years old and
had accumulated nothing. Indeed, he
had never been paid anything to accu-
mulate. He was told to go, and there
seemed nothing for him to do but get
might But be had been an apt scholar
and was fairly well educated. He re-
solved to 20 to the city and seek
business situation. When he parted
from his sweetheart she told him that
she would never marry unless at some
future time she might marry him.
Five years passed. Ben was receiv-
ing a small salary. Neither he nor
Belle had married. but Farmer Simp
son was as memorable as ever
Fate works in strange grooves
While all this was passing one of her
other currents was flowing On to meet
the one recorded. One day woman
seeing a red flag before a house, en-
tered and found an auction. She
bought several knickknacks, including
an old lacQuered box. 1t was coming to
pieces, and she secured it for Is cents
Some months after this purchase one
of Ben Rengeralts friends called his
to Il personal advertisement
which concerned him. 1t said that il
be would call at a certain street and
hear something to his advantage. he
was naturally very much surprised
and went at once to the place desig-
mated. He was received by an elderly
lady
care yon Benjamin Rengeralt?' she
asked.
II am
Did you ever see tina. box?' point
ing.
Ben looked at the box
No lie said. II never saw 1t be-
fore"
She saw that be was endeavoring to
recall something and gave him time.
Ihat quick springing plant memory
had taken root in his brain, and while
seconds were being licked away it was
growing, 1t had been excited by the
box, which he had not seen for nearly
twenty years. Again it stood on the
shelf over the fireplace. Then he saw
his mother looking toward it, her eff
forts to tell him something concerning
1t. her failure.
Yes be said 1T belonged to nv
mother. When she was dying she
tried to tell me something about it,
but her voice failed her before she
could DO SO. Where did you get it?'
II bought ii at an auction, intending
to use it for trnkcts. But it was COM
ing to pieces aud tried to glue it to-
gether Failing in this, tried to fas-
ten it with nails. Under the hammer
ing it broke apart and revealed a false
bottom. See
She took out the upper bottom and
disclosed small paper book with
printed Oh the cover. She
opened it and showed him his name.
1t was savings bank book. There
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