The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1867-04-24
2Nf AsHLAN IND, OHIO. WEDNESDAY, APRIL "a 1867.

,no even the newsD0ys grlnned as they
lid past aud accosted me with "How dye
10. Mr., Atvatef?'p yRAsa
Bpt all al opceo train slack sned ito
motion, moved more slowly still, aud came
TO dead stand still. I knew we were
an express thatstopped but twice before
we reached our fnal destination, and this
lonely pine,barren was certainly neither
Of out stopping pieces. ? 4 2 w ~
"What is it, Carewf" asked, swing
ing myself Oh to the ground where the
conductor stood with his lantern in hand
locking under car.
"Only Journal box heated. Confound
that Warren what made him report 'all
sound with such worn box as that p
These patent boxes are continually get.
ting hot 10 the shortest runs, and amt
fit for expresses at all"
"We can cool it in fifteen minutes, sir"
said one Of the brakemen, who had his
tow and water all ready for packing it
anew.
Fifteen minutes! and we just running
on time with the Lightning to catch us
at B--.I -.
ats too bad to get in behind the
Lightning train" l said
"Worse for me than MacLead; for
though Warren's to blame, l catch the
curses. Well, Truefit, do the best you
can u 2 ~ ~ " a@ t
In spite of True6t'e sapguine prophecy,
it was full twenty FIVE minutes before we
we're again under way. / had gone. back
to Isabel Mcleod, whose dilated blue eyes
were glancing from one to another in the
apprehensive agony Of terror that no one
but nervous woman can fully appreci-
ate.
"Frank-Mr. Atwater do tell me what
is the matter !"
"Only hot box'-there is no ocoa.
sion for uneasiness." g
"Upon your sacred honor,H"
"Upon my sacred honor. Why, Isabel
how frightened you are! I can SEQ you
'tremble, even here. What is the matter
ehildp
"Sit down and I will tell you" she
said. burr,edly, motioning me to vacant
selt directly back Of her. II know it is
a piece Of mad folly-a--a delus,on hui
| muatell sowebody, or ! shall go mad |!
/ sat down, leaning with my elbows on
The top of the seat she occupied, so that
my lace nearly touched her heavy black
veil ~ sssi t-i t.L~ - ~ -
"First, promise never to tell him
John" mas
II promise"
"Well, them" she went on, speaking 10
h husky, nervous whisper. "he is very pc.
culiar-fu!l of the strsngest fapeies :
When first married HIM I thought il
was superstition mersly y-now--"
She paused.
"Well, now 7" questioned.
"Now, do not know what to think
Oh, Mr.. AtWater, ought not to say SO,
i know, but | am the most miserable
creature in the world |"
"Isabel
II am He threatens sometimes to
shut me up in mad house, and perhaps
l should be happier there than be subject
TO his whims and cruelties. Why dc
you suppose he brought me here to. night !?
~ am sure | do not know"
"He told me-" she whispered, clasping
her hands tightly together as sue spoke,
"that VIC were coming to our death to
night, and we must come together! Oh
Frank, what do you suppose he means ?
"0uly to terrify you,' I said soothingly
"He Is bundle Of old Scotch supersti
tions, aud always was" ess
"And, Frank, once when thought
heard footsteps close behind us, and
turned my head to see, he jerked my aru
and told me not to look-that--oh, Mr.
Atwater, il makes my blood run cold now
that it was Death walking at our side +
"But, Isabel, surely you will not ALLOW
yourself to be Influenced by such folly as
this"
II told ,ou it was folly" she answered
dejectedly; but" 5aa I8ig. ~
A hand was laid on my arm at this mo
meni--the hand Of Carew, the conductor
Frank, look here, l wan. to speak /,
you" be said hurriedly. "Come here
out on the platform Y 99IQB. l'WN
Il followed him out into the storm,
darkness Of the march night, where hi
lantern cleaned like a sullcn, sbiftin.
eye. Ea 3a'sS s
"What is itR Anything vrongY'
"Yes, and no OF course you know
we're nearly half an hour behind time
With not quite thirty minutes between u
aud the Lightning"
"Yes. What OF itW
nWtll, that old fool Macleod hos turn
ed crusty, and says if We don't run out OF
the side track at Speedsville, the mex
station, and wait for the Lightning I,
ppss, he'll not be ansWerablo for the con
sequences"
"Wbo wants him to be ansverable 2
I demanded,l with considerable acerbity
GOT to say disdain.
"Well, he says it's a bad night, tract
slippery, aud ali that sor, OF thing and
suppose, it's AL very trueo But yor
know The Lady Frppkln Of old She1
keep the thirty minutes between US aod
the Liohtnin0. won'f she Yp