The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1868-05-27


and that my apparation formed the substrat
nm Of sensation story which subsequent
appeared in the county weekly newspaper
under the title Of 1.-THE Phantom Stoker OF
the Hauhted Locomotive"
| Never ss.all / forget tie sensation Of death
like sickness with which I sank down again
as we plunged on through the blaokness
with the breath from the bay becoming cold
err and the wheels of the locomotive hissin,
thousands Of sparks from the track. =
a few thin rays Of light at length thinl,
diluted the darkness. How eagerly watch
ed for the breaking of the day How
strained through the decreasing gloom, striv
ing to cctch tie first faint intima.ion Of branch
Or bush! How long it was ere / realize,
the scene around me, ere I could guess 10,
far I was from Clifton, or calculate tLi
chances for re-cne I . =
The full dawn came at lest, and I rsssg
nized that we were on a solitary track, witt
bluffs Of snow on one side, and the fr6zei
river on tile other. " : - . : I
My limbs were so surah l could hardly
move ; my jaws SO firmly set that my teeth
were past chattering. 1 was 80 worn with
protracted horror that was grown almos,
Indifferent to my fate. -
| determined, however, that would make
one last effort to save myself, and as soon as
my eyes had grown familiar with the dazzling
snow, which had at fsrst blinded and distract.
ed them. would give one desperate leap for
life. Whilst [ was making this resolve the
aspect of the scene changed fresh horror
seized me, and became aware that ere ten
minutes more had passed, we should be thun-
dering over the new bridge, over the half
flashed portion Of which the track had not
yet been laid!
Tbs old feeling, which always attends hor
ror, OF the heayt's !ssping to the throat. and
then violently beating, aid of the slckening
sense Of terrible aud sudden death, came over
me, and into globule of time all the happy
scenes OF my youth and childhood were com
pressed say Them all distinctly reeog
mixed them all at once; I felt them all acutely
The full horror of my fate closed over me-
ard there was singing in my ears
| thought saw the bridge within a few
feet of me, and heard the ice cruoe It's Jaws
between my mangled limbs ! threw up my
arms to the cold heavens with ons despairing
cry, ere endeavored to nerve myself fer the
fatal leap
At that moment saw al the edge Of the
bluffs, which we're extremelrow al that point.
form which at that time I did rot recogize
The next moment heard shout, and the
whiz as Of body learing through the air.--
Then the view swan, aid The horror faded,
and when | came to myself the locomotive
was standing ssone-stilI within lew yards OF
the fatal bridge. and the sweet blue eyes of
Walter Howard were beamiug compassionate
ly over me, and his arms, which held me,
we're shattered and bleeding
Let me say the little | have to say as brief
ly as possible. This is the way I got my hus-
band !; this is the way the Cyclops made its
trial trip.
At the time tue ballast-train jolted against
and started it, the workmen, Tommy amongst
them were at too great distance for them to
overtake it and leap aboard When we passed
Arabtown Station MY signals of distress had
attracte9 the attention of one sensible man.
the telegraph operator, who telegraphcd to all
interMad;ate stations, SO that every possible
chance Of a collision might be avoided. The
great dread was les. the powers of the locoma-
tive should not be exhausted ere the unfinished
bridge was reached The station nearest that
point happened tofhe tic ore to which Walter
aud the other directors had made their iinRes
tigating trip The telegraph messages which
arrived had among them one from Elizabeth
apprising him Of my absence WHICH she had
fortunately discovered by coming 10 mig room
at ap early hour of the morning. Without
moments hesitation he had rusked toward the
fatal SPOT; he lad per,led his life and limbs by
leaping from the bluffs, with the precision of
an athlete which, because Of his gentlensss,
| had never given him credit for being-upon
the flying engine.
That leap manned one Of his arms for life.
and both of them Tor many weess w con
yalesceace lasted lew days. Our csarsship
lasted ai'few mouths; our honsyAlooa vii last
for ever.
FRIENDSHIPS Friendships areto valua
bic to be uHappreciated. They need to be cllti
vatsd, by faithfully showing ourselves friend
ly according to the best Of our ability. " a
thousahd Ways. By respect for our seniors,
by kindness to our Juniors, by Difference for
station, by care for reputation. BY improving
character, BY courtesy to our equals, by honor
able and gracious Intelligence of rivalry by
encouraging art and industry, by all the
abounding resiprocities Of good neighborhood,
and by mutual trust in the blessing of tho
Most High; in such ways we can multiply and
adorn friendships, and give them that scope
which is connected with fulness or JOY Cicero
celebrates Friendship delightfully."- aud it cele-
brates itself in every friendly heart. 1t fnds
healing words for wounded spirits. It separ-
ates pleasing from unhappy femembrances.
weighs their import, and conveys the latter to
the wilderness Of forgetfulness, and garnishes
and preserves the former in enchanting and
vivid recollections It makes enhancing music
in silent solitude; and In those quiet hours
when the heart eommunes with itself. it aids
the efforts of faith to believe in common and
eternal Father
DUST ON Books Perhaps the cheapest
method OF defending books from dast, is toe
afixing snail falls Of leather above the backs
Of volumes on the shelves }Then jhs aogSs
fit the cases, this Cd method is found to an
swer pretty veil. = Another was is to hsve
silken Or other lliads (silk is the best, being
| the closest fabric), to draw down in front OF
the tones during busting, or such tines as
the library is not in use; il also tends to keep
l q L..