Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1866-03-07
RAILROAD INCIDENT.
Tun M.HAAoRPHOsIS.

TIE MHTAAORPHOSIS.
We looked towards the young lady for
concluding tale of the train, and that
Scho herezade of our department, without
the least pretense of incapacity or hoarse-
ness, communicated at once the following
adventure :
although" she commenced, 81 am
often compelled to travel without COM
panion' (the commercial traveller sighed,)
"yet have l such dislike to the company
Of babies and sick folks that never make
a journey in ladies' carriage. Only once,
however, have l suffered any inconyeni-
ence through my unprotected condition,
and that exception occurred very lately,
and upon this very line. After | hal
taken my seat one morning at Haddington,
in an empty carriage, | was Joined jus. as
he train was moving off, BY strange
looking young man with remarkably long
flowing hair He was, of course, little
hurried, but he seemed, besides, to be 50
disturbed and wild that was quite alarm
ed for fear of his not being in his right
miud, nor did his subsequent conduct
at all reassure me. Our train was an
express, md he inquired eagerly at once
which was the first station whereat We
were advertised to step. | consulted my
Bradshaw, and furnished him with the re-
quired information. 1t was Reading
The yonng man looked at his watch.
madam" said he, II have but half an
hour between me and, it may be, ruin
Excuse, therefore, my abruptness. You
have, l perceive, a pair Of scissors in your
work-bag. Oblige re If you please, by
cutting off my hair
"sir," said 1, 81, is impossible"
Madam" he urged, and a lOok of Sc
we're determination crossed his features,
IL am a desperate man. Beware how you
refuse me what l ask. Cut my hair Off
short, close to the roots-immediately;
and here is a newspaper to hold the am
brosial curls."
| I thought be was mad, of course; and
believing that it would be dangerous to
.hwart him, | cut off all his hair 20 the
last lock.
"Now, madam" said he, unlocking q
small .portmanteau, "you will further
oblige me by locking out of the window,
as l am about to change clothes"
OF course l looked out of the window
for some time, and when he observed,
Madam, ! need no longer put you to any
inconvenience" | did not recognize the
young man in the least.
Instead of his former rather gay cos
tune, he was attlred in black, and wore a
gray wig and silver spectacles; he looked
like respectable divine of the Church of
England, Of about sixty-four years of age;
to complete that character, he held vol
ume of sermons in his hand, which-rhey
appeared SO to absorb him-might have
been his own.
II do not wish to threaten you, young
LADY," he resumed, '.and l think besides,
thai can trust your kind face. VIII
you promise me not to reveal this meta
morphosis till your journeys end %
81 will, most certainly" sald 1.
At Reading the guard and person il
plain clothes looked into our csr
''You have the ticket, my love-" SAID
the young man, blandly, and looking at
me as though he were my father.
"Never mind, sir we don't want them,"
said the official, as he withdrew with his
companion.
81 shall nov leave you madam" OBJ
served my fellow traveller, as soon as the
coast was clear ''by your kind and cour-
ageous conduct you have saved my life,
aud, perhaps, your own"
In another minute he was gone, and
the train was in motion. Not till the
next morning did | learn from the Times
newspaper that the gentleman on whom
had operated as hair cutter had committed
forgery to an enormous amount IN Lon
don few hours before met him, and
that be bad been tracked into the express
train at Haddington but that, although
the telegraph had been put in motion and
described him accurately, at Reading,
when the train was searched, he was no.
where to be found
@-A fellow out West being asked
- IL !, I - L