The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1869-10-09

""J" p'o"inS Oui ioou, uhuiHS iuuIl
with the rate of speed, with the grade,
with the carriages, with the ventilation,
with everything in short, for nothing
suited him. sis
Then upon one occasion he and had
had few words neither very pleasant
nor very choice. and he had called me an
old scoundrel, and 1 had returned the
compliment with interest After that
we were worse friends than ever.
One dark rainy night in November,
just after the nine o clock train had been
got off, and l was sitting in the Office try
ing to balance an account that would not
balance, the door opened and Earl Rog-
ers walked in. He had on his water
proof suit. the hood over his head, and
the collar buttoned closely, but saw
that his face was very pale and his eyes
CLEANED with an unnatural fire.
. "What in the world has happened,
Rogors?" said 1. "You look as glum
as if you were going to your own fune-
rail-"
Mr.. Woodbury." said he, earnestly
DO you believe in presentments 2"
"No," saii I. 81 certainly do not /!
They are all old -vomens whims !"
"Pcrhaps so. I wish / could think
so," said lie, sadly. "'I have been try.
ing hard to-"
"What is it, EarlY Anything gone
wrong with Laura?" for I did not know
but the little jad. had been playing off
with him after the manner of woman.
"No. You will laugh at me, Dir.
Woodbury., but 1 must tell somebody or
l shall 90 out of my wits," said he, half
laughing, "and before heaven, / tell you
it is all truth. Thursday afternoon 1
took hand car aud went over to Rocky
River Bridge. do not mind coniessing
that went on purpose to get glimpse
Of her home-perlaps of herself /
stood ut one end Of the bridge-lookins
across at the house-cnraptured at sight
of II scarlet shawl which | knew was hers
fitting in and out through the frost bit
ten shrubbery of the garden.
"And while l was looking at her |
beard footsteps. and glancing up, / sa,o
my$rIf comirg from the opposite sai1e OF
tic briiye.' l was dressed in this suit of
water proof-my face was as pale rs
death, and my wide open eyes were blank
and expressionless la
"Sir, you think I am dazcd, but I'm
telling you only the truth While l
stood staring at the vision it disappeared;
and weak and trembling came back to
town. BY the next day-yesterday,
had reasoned myself out of belief in any,
thing Of the kind. 1t was halucina
ton, | said, and to prove it so, l would
go out there again and see if it would
appear for the second time. l went
again yesterday, and sir, the same thing
was repeated 1t will come once more
and then shall go to my death :"
"Nonsense J" said 1. "Come, Earl, be
honest, aud confess that you had been
taking too much whiskey."
"I never drink anything as you know,
Mr.. Woodbury." returned he, "and this
thing was fearfully real. And of one re-
suit | am satisfied. If 1 run the mail
train out tonight, | shall be killed, and
heaven knows what will be the fate of
the train | suppose it could not be tax
Ell of for tonight"
"Taken off! What the duce do you
mean?" snapped this road runs trains
as advertised Cowardly engineers to the
contrary Notwithstanding"
He looked at me sadly, rcproachfully-
and | could have kicked myself for the
way Thad spoken to him.
at was not on my own account, sir,''
said he, "but it is only few days before
Thanksgiving, and the train will be a
full one. If there is an accident it may
be bad one"
"Accident!' said l contemptuously,
"fddlestick. Come in tomorrow and let
us laugh at you.
He bid me good night gravely, and
went out.
Presently the clock struck twelve and
| heard the three sharp successive whis-
ties, that told me that the train was
nearly ready.
A strange feeling of apprehension
seized me. What if anything should