Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1867-01-09

# die. Let them keep her at home?" If it
came, on those two occasions, only to show
me that its warnings were true, and 80 to
prepare me for the third, why not warn me
plainly now, And |. Lord help me! A
mere poor signalln. IN on this solitary station
| Why not go somebody with credit to be
believed, and power TO act? When L saw
him in this state. SAW that for the poor
mans sake, as well for the public safety,
what had to DO for the time was to compose
his mind. Therefore, setting aside al ques-
tion of reality OF uoreality between us, | rep
resented to him that whoever thoroughly
discharged his duty, must do well and that
at least 1t was his comfort that he understood
his duty, though he did not understand these
contounding appearances. Ia this effort sue
ceeded far better than IN the attempt to rea-
son him out Of his conviction. lie became
calm the occupations incidental 70 his post
as the night advanced, began to make large
demands on his attention /; and l lett him
the morning. | had offered to stay through
the night, but he would not hear of it.
That | more than oncs looked back at the
red light as assembled the pathway, that
did not like the red light, and that should
have slept but poorly if my bed had been
under it, l see no reason to conceal. Nor did
L like the two sequences OF the accident and
the dead girl. L see no reason to conceal that,
either.
But what ran moet in my thoughts WAS the
nvictIon how ought TO act, having become
the recipient OF this disclosure? | had proved
the to be intelligent, vigilant, painstsk
ing and exact; but how long might he remain
go, IN his state Of mind Though 10 "a su bor-
dinate position, still he held most Important
trust, and would (for instance) like to stake
my life on the chances of his continuing 20
execute 1T with precision?
Unable to overcome feeling that there
would be something treacherous IN my COM
mun icatIng what he had told TO his super
lois In the Company, without first being plain
with himself and proposing middle course
TO him, | ultimately resolved to offer to nc
company him Otherwise keeping his secret
| Tor the presently to tie wsest medical prac
'i'loner We coud near of In those parts, and
to take his opinion. A change in his time of
duty would come round next night, he had
apprised me and he would be off hour or
Two after sunrise, and on again after sunset.
| had appointed TO return accordingly.
Next evening was lovely evening, and
walked out early to enjoy |. The was not
yet quite down when l traverssd the field path
near the top of the deep cutting. | would ex
tend my w4lk for an hour, | said to myself, an
half hour and half an hour back, aud it
would then be time to go to my signalman's
BOX:
Before pursuing my stroll, l stepped to the
brink, and mechanically looked down, from
where had frat seen him. l cannot describe
the thrill that seized upon me, when close at
the mouth OF the tunnel, | saw the appearance
of man. with his lett sleeve across his eyes,
passionstely waving his right arm.
| Inc nameless horror that oppressed me, pass
ed in a moment for in moment saw that
this appearance OF man WAS man indeed 4,
and that there was q little group Of other men
standing al short distance, TO whom he seemed
TO De rehearsing the guesture he made. The
danger light not yet lighted Against its
shaft, little low hut entirely new TO me- had
been made Of some wooden supports and tar
psuln. |, looked no bigger than bed.
| With az irresistible sense that something wes
wrong-with flashing of seli-reproachfui fear
that fatal mischief had come o. my leaving the
man there, causing DO one "a be sent to over
look or correct what he did descended th-
notched path with all the speed l could maks.
" What is the matter P - ! asked the men.
gnalman killed this morning. sIr. :
Not the man belonging to that box?
| Yes, sir"
"Not the man | know
" You will roclg gnize him, sir. if you knew
him" said the man ~ho spoke for the others.
solemnly uncovering bis head and raising
the end of the tsrpaulin, Z" for his face is quite
com posed"
80 now did this happen, how did this hap
pen ?" asked, turning from one TO the other,
as the curtain closed 10 again.
" He out down by an en- zine, sir. No
man IN Eng land knew his work better. But
somehow he not clear of the outer rail. 1t
was just at broad day. lie had struck the
light and had the lamp in his hand the en-
gine came out of The tunnel his back was to-
wards her, and she cut him down. That man
drove her, and was showing how 1t happened.
Show the gentleman, Tom
Il Tne man who rough. dark drsss,
stepped back to his former place at the mouth
of the tunnel.
Coming round the curve in the tunnel, sir, 4"
he said, | saw him at the end, ike as if | saw
him down u prospective glass. There no
time to chs OK ,psed and knew him to be very
careful. As he didn't seem to take heed of the
whistle. l shut it OF when we running
upon him and called TO him a. loud | could
call.
"What did you say ?'
| said, below there Look ott !! for Gods
sake Gear the way
| started.
"Ah! 1t was h dreadful time, sir | never
left off ca ling him. put this arm before
my eyes, not 10 see, and | waved this arm to
to the last !; but it
Without prolouging the narrative TO dwell
on any one Of is curious crcu Instances more
than on any other, msy, in closing it, point
out the coincidence that the warning OF the en-
CINE driver iucluded not only the words which
the unfortunate signalman had repeated to me
as haunting him, but also the words which
myself-uot he-had attached, and that only in
my own mind, to the gestcuaton he had imi-
tated.