The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-12-14

which he mad spoken. On my trusting
that he would excuse the remark that
he had been we'll educated, and q hoped
I might say without offence,
perhaps educated above that
station, he observed that in
stances of slight incongruity in such-
wise would rarely be found wanting
ramong large bodies of men; that he had
heard it was so in warehouses;, in the
police force. even in that last desperate
resource, the army; and that he knew II
was so, more or less, in any great rail
way staff. He had been, when young
(if l could believe it, sitting in that
hut: he scarcely could,) student OF
natural philosophy, and had attended
lectures; but he had run wild, misused
his opportunities, gone down, and never
risen again. He had no complaint to
offer about that. He had made his bed
and he lay upon it: 1t was far too late
to. make another ~
All that have here condensed, he
said in a quiet manner, with his grave
dark regards divided between me and
the fire. He threw in the word "Sir,
from time to time, and especially when
he referred to his youth, as though to
request me to understand that he claim
ed to be nothing but what found him
He.was several times interrupted by q
little bell, and had to read off messages
and send replies. Once he had to stand
without the door and display flag as
train passed, and make some verbal
communication to the driver. In the
discharge of his duties l noticed him to
be remarkably exact and vigllant
breaking off his discourse at syllable,
and remaining silent until what he had
to do was done.
In word, shOuld have set this man
down as one of the safest of men to be
employed in that capacity, but for the
circumstance that while he was speak
ing to me he twice broke off with q
fallen color, turned his face toward the
little bell when it did NOT ring, opened
the door of the hut (Which was
kept shut to exclude the unhealthy
damp, and looked out towards the red
light near the mouth of the tunnel. On
both of these occasions, he came back to
the fire with the inexplicable air upon
him which had remarked, without be-
ing able to define, when we were so far
asunder. ,E gs,ss pagtsG
Said /, when I rose to leave him: "You
almost make me think that l have met
with contented man."
G am afraid must acknowledge that
I said it to lead him on.
II believe / used to be So" he re-
ioincd, in the low voice in which he had
first spoken; "but | am troubled, Sir,
am troubled"
He would have recalled the words if
he could. He had said them, however,
and l took them up quickly. -.
with what What is your trouble
"It is very difficult to impart, sir. 1t
is very, very, difficult to speak OF. II
ever YOU make me another visit, l will
try TO tell you."
"But expressly intend to make you
another visit. Say when shall 1t beI'
81 go off early in the morning, and
shall be on at ten tomorrow night,
sir"
81 will come Mt eleven
He thanked me, and went out at the
door with me. .sPll show my white
light, sir" he said, in his peculiar low
voice, "till you have found the way up;
When you have found it, don't call out
And when you are at the top, don't call
out"
His manner seemed to make the place
strike colder to me, but ] said no more
than Every we'll"
And when you come down to-mor-
row night, don't call cut! Let me ask
YOU a parting question. What made
you cry 'Halloa, below there" to-
night7"
"Heaven;knows," said /. Il cried some
thing to that effect"
"Not to that effect, sir. Those were
the very words. / know them wcll.'
admit those were the very words. l
said them, no doubt, because you were
below
"For no other reason"
"What other reason could / possibly
have"
''You had no feeling that they were
conveyed to you in any supernatural
wayio
"No.'
He wished me good night. and held
up his light. walked by the side OF
the down Line Of rails with very dis
agreeable sensation of n train coming
behind me), until found tho path. 1t
was easier to mount than to descend,
and got back TO my inn without ad-
venture.
Punctual to my appointment, / placed
nv foot on the first notch of the zigzag
next night, as the distant clocks were
striking eleven. He was waiting for
me at the bottom, with his white light
on. Il have not called out" said,
when we came close together: may l
speak now!' by all means, SIR
Good night, then, and here'smy hand
."Good night, sir, and here's mine"
With that, We walked side by side to
his box, entered it, closed the door, and
sat down by the fire.
81 have made up my mind, sir,' he
began, bending forward as soon as we
were seated, and speaking in tone but
little above whisper, that you shall
not have to ask me twice what troubles
me. took you for some one else yes
terday evening. That troubles me-
"That mistaken
''No. That some one else.'
"Who is iti'
81 don't know
"Like met" ..
~ don't know. never saw the face,
and the right arm is waved. Violently
waved This, way. F,~