Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1869-11-18

DuttoneG closely, out l saw MS lace
was very pale and eyes cleaned
witk unnatural fire.
/ "Whatin tie world has happened,
Rogers ?''said I. "You look as glum
as if you we're going to your Own
funeral"
"Mr. Woodbury." said be ear
nestly. ado you believe in pre-
sentiments 2"
"No," said /, @I certainly do not
They are all old women's !"
"Perhaps so. wish / could think
so, said he sadly. 81 have been
trying hard TO-"
"What is it, Earl? Anything
gone wrong with Laura 7" for i did
not know but the little jade had
been playing off with him after the
manner of women.
"NO. You will laugh at me, Mr..
Woodbury., but I must tell some
body or ] shall go out of my wits, y
said be half laughing, sand before
heaven, / tell you it is all truth. -
Tuesday afternoon I took hand
Car and went over to Rocky River
bridge. | do not mind confessing
that / went on purpose TO get a
glimpse Of her home--perhaps Of
herself. ! stood at one end of the
bridge-looking across at the house
--enrap:ured at the sight Of a scarlet
shawl which | knew was hers, flirt-
ing in and out through the frost-bit-
ten shrubbery ofths garden.
"And while | was looking at her
l heard footsteps, and gIancipg up,
I Saao myself coming from the OPP
posite side of the bridge! ! was
dressed in this suit Of waterproof
my face was as pale as death and
my wide-open eyes we're blank
and expressionless.
''Sir, you think l arm dazed but /
am telling you only The truth
While / stood staring at the vision
it disappeared, and weak and tremb-
ling / came back to town. By the
next day-yesterday, ! had reasoned
myself out of belief in anything
of the kind. 1t was a hallueina;
ton, l said, and to prove it SO, l
would 60 out there again and see if
it would appear for the second
time. / went again yesterday and,
sir, the same thing was repeated |!
It will come once more-and then /
shall 60 to my death !"
"Nonsense!" said l. 'sCome,
Earl, be honest, and confess that
you had been taking too much
whisky"
81 never drink anything, as you
know, Mr.. Woodbury." returned he,
"and this thing was fearfully real.
And Of one result, | am satisfied
| IF | 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 taken of
for tonight p
Taken off ;! what the deuce do
you mean 2" snapped I-"this road
runs trains as advertised! Coward
ly engineers to the contrary not
withstanding."
He looked at me sadly, reproach-
fully-and could have kicked my
self for the way l had spoken to
him.
'It was not on my own account,
SIR" said be; "but it is only few
days till Thanksgiving, and the train
will be a full one. IF there is any
accident it will be e bad one."
Accident said / contemptu-
ously, "fddlestick. Come in to-
morrow and let Us laugh at you"
He bade me good night giavely,
and went out.
Presently the clock struck twelve
and | heard the three sharp success
sive whistles, that told me the train
was nearly ready.
A strange feeling of apprehen-
1
sion seized me. What il anything
should happen 7
Yielding to an impulse that would
not be controlled. ! threw on my
overcoat, turned cut the gas, locked
the office and buried over to the
depot in season to catch the rail of