South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1870-06-24

j
No. said |. Il certainly do not Tbov
are all old women's whims
perhaps so. | wish l could think So
said he, sadly. i have been trying hard to-
What is it, Earl? Anything gone
wrong with Laura? p
No. You will laugh at me Mr.. Wood
bury, but must tell somebody or I shall
90 out of my Wits said he, half-laurhinr.
'and before heaven, tell you it is ali
truth. Thursday afternoon | took a hand
car and wont over to Rocky River Bridge.
| TO not mind confessing that went ON
purpose to get glimpse of her home
perhaps of herself. l stood at one end of
the rdge-lookiug across at the house
cnraptured at sight of scarlet shawl which
| knew was hers fitting in and out through
the frost bitten shrubbery of the garden.
and while was looking at her | heard
footsteps, and glancing up, sa,o mysc1f
coming from Mc opposite side ofthc Jriclgc!
| was dressed III this suit of water proof
my face was pale as death, and my wide
open eyes were blank aud expression less
Sir, you think | am dazed, but | am
telling you only the truth While stood
staring at the vision it disappeared and
weak and trembling came back to town.
BY the next day-yesterGay, had rea-
soned myself out of belief in anything of
the kind. 1t was an hallucination, | said.
and to prove it so, would 90 out there
again aud see if it would appear for the
second time. [ went yesterday, and sir,
the same thing was repeated 1t will come
once and then shall so to my death ?
Nonsense said 1. 'Comc, Earl, be
honest, and confess that you had been tax
ing too much whiskey.'
Il never drink anything, as you know,
Mr. Woodbury. returned he. 'and this
thing was fcarfully real And of one of
the results, am satisfied. If | run the
mail train out to night, shall be killed,
and heaven knows what will be the fate of
the train /! | suppose it could not be ia
ken OF for tonight
Taken of. What do you mean p snap.
ped this road runs trains as advertised
'Cowardly engineers to the contrary not.
withstanding
lie looked at me sadly, roproachfully-
and | could have kicked myself for the way
in which | had spoken to him.
st was not on my own account, sir, said
he but it is only few days before Thanks
giving, and the train will be a full one.
Il there is an accident it may be bad ONE
Accident! said | contemptuously sid
dlestick. Come in Tomorrow and let us
laugh at you
He bid me good night gravely, and went
out
Presently tho clock struck twelve and
heard the three sharp successive whistles,
bo
a strange feeling of apprehension seiz-
cd me, Whatif anything should happen
Yielding to an impulse which would not
be controlled, | threw on my ovcrcoat,
turned out the gas, locked the Office and
hurried over to the depot just in season to
catch the rail of the rear car and swing
myself on board
Earl Rogers was at his post, pale and ST.
lent, yet altered and watchful
BY The head light in the locomotive he
could sec the track for half mite head
and his keen eye scanned every inch Of the
way as The train swept on.
Past Roman station-past the Mill Cut,
pass iIilPs Embaukment, and they pung- g.!
ell into tic belt of woods which skirted
Rocky River
., -ue,'y as my S"IP. 'lou'l' ',le ou' ~
'.'' > oNcoH %hl'GnJI anu III uic" lis
y g.i ID 9u'cN anu 9"a'P
" "'' nc Sd" JuS' Dy''l' ','o rum warn
~ "'l'' mat oniy uC"'n anu uoS'' uc ion Jay
,.-,c,
''I oJU'n p'oo'D'y saw "'u1ol - Ir5P-
~, Ou, 'nl' 1 "1G ~, G t:. ~ "" D''iu
~, ~ " S'couu oid nc H'9ll',o
",''a''o " Nv ~, -
-, 80 'oVo'scd steam anu u'u V'''y 'u'pS
i' pug power 10 stop inc ualu.