The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1870-11-19
SeIetteo Storu.
ROMANCE IN A RAILWAY,
By JUSTIN MCCARTHY.

Two young barristers, travelling from
London to Liverpool, took their seats on
evening IN first carriage of the five
o'clock express at the Euston Square Sta.
ton station known, | venture to think,
to every American who has ever invaded
the old country. There were only two
other seats occupied IN the compartment
entered by the two young men. Two Ia
dies-at least, lady and her maid-were
the other occupants. The lazy was young
and pale and pretty; the maid was fresh
blooming, round eyed north country girl
the moment she spoke word her accent
made 1t plain to one of the two advocates
himself from the lakeland of NortherE
England that the girl came from dear ole
Cumberland. Two gentlemen, one appa
rently theyoung lady's father, attended hel
TO the carriage door, and waited at the door
until the train actually moved off. They
both, especially the one who seemed tc
exercise parental authority over the young
lady, kept necessarily casting expectant
eager. suspicious eyes about the pla torn
as II they looked for or dreaded the arriva
of somebody. These little facts the two
barrsters, accustomed to note small things
and construct them into evidence, observ
ed almost upconscously, and by the sheer
force of habit.
The older man, whom both the youths
learned In Law assumed to be the father OF
the departing young lady, at last nodded
significantly to the other, ana said, in q
low tone: 1T is all right, Cunningham.
He is not here. Thank Heaveni"
HE cant come now" said the other.
ut would not have mattered much even
if he did," the elder observed. He should
not have exchanged a word with her moi
one word But I'm glad to escape scenes
and tears and confusion for all that"
The lady in the carriage had heard moth
Ing of this. She sat at the further side Of
her compartment. Doubtless what was
sad would never have been spoken were
she near enough to hear it. One of our
lawyer friends, however, did hear tin
fact he could not help himself; he had no
choice but to hear
The elder OF the two speakers had taken
farewell o. the girl when he put her into
the carriage-that is he kissed her very
coldly, and said good-by, and added a fe "
whispered words, which seemed to be
something N the nature of a caution or a
menace. Now, as the train moved of, he
only nodded farewell. He had formal
ly handsome face. regular, cold, and harsh
with thin lips and very white teeth
The train then went on, and soon whir!ed
through the pleasant suburbs of that side
of London, and away into the open coun-
try. The young lady seemed very melan-
choly and absorbed. She replied grace
fully t. few clYlilties and attentions of
Tered Oy the two barristers, but was evil
IDENTITY not much Inclined to any manner
OF conversation. She exchanged few
words now and then with her maid, but
f1t the most part remained silent.
1t was growing to be late in Autumn, and
dusk soon began to come on. The even
ing was soft and beautiful: the face of the
country looked tender and poetic, with
ell Its autumnal charm and melancholy
grace around 1t.
oui two friends talked together on many
sublacts, at first IN low tone, then, as
the young lady appeared 10 be asleep, or
wholly absorbed in her own thoughts, they
began to speak little more freely and
oudly. Something or other, perhaps the
gray poetic sadness of the evening set
them talking of the old world ghosts-the
dear, delightful. torturing, hair-!iftinp,
blood-chiihng spectres who used to haunt
our childhood. They actually began tell
ing each other ghost stories, and did not
observe the shuddering terror of the Cum
berland lass, who could hardly sit still in
her seat, so great was her interest, ex-
element, and superstitious dread
Il don't know" said one of the two
young men, Lewis Rossmore by name,
why railways should be supposed to have
necessarily banished ghosts. I can quite
Imagine ghost making Lis appearance in
this very train, for instance"
Can you2" replied Fred Sargent. 81
confess can't; butt think you Mortimer,
near the Scottish border, have more imag
nation than we prosaio cockneys."
AT the same time he happened to glance
Mt the young lady In the corner, and her
pale, sad face seemed ghostlike enough IN
the gray evening light. Sargent thought
Tor a moment of the legend of the com pany
who sat one evening telling ghost stories
unui al last the turn came to pale, young
lady who had been silent all the time, and
who now, when invited to contribute her
share TO the entertainment, said. in low,
tonsless voice, Il have no ghost story to
tell, but am ghost myself and so
vanished.
Yes, pursued Lewis Ressmore: Il can
easily imagine 1t; and / think it could be
done Sitb rather fine effect. Look here.
Sargent take note of this idea, and make
something Oft for one of the magazines.
Two people are travelling alone in a rail-
way-the express and have just passed
one of the only stopping-places. Behold,
as the train is rushing at full speed across
the open country, fifty miles an hour. and
the evening is growing dark, like this they
suddenly perceive that one of the seats has
an occupant, whose presence was not OBJ.
served before"
Gods sake don't ye go on in that way"
broke III the Cumberland girl, unable to
contain herself any longer. Don't ye &C
on, gentlemen: it's enough TO raise ghost
right j the midst of US air.
The young men laughed at first, but the
snpersutious fear of the poor girl was SO
obviously genuine and profound that
Rossmore discontinued bis goblin inyen
ton, and they treasured her and talked
for few moments of something else
Then the train stopped for five minutes at
the only station where ii was to make any
halt during the long journey. No one got
out of the compartment IN which our
friends were, and no one got into it; and
when the train had fairly moved of, and
our two friends felt secure against further
disturbances, they settled themselves for
sleep. The young lady appeared to be al
ready asleep.
Both young men slept Suddenlva loud
shrek caused both to start up and rub
their eyes
Ii was the Cumberland girl who had
given the alarm.
81 s ghost it's q ghost - she cried.
That's what comes of your deviltry and
your talK-you've brou. dt 3 ghost amoug
"