Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-11-09
Selected StortI.
ROMANCE In A RAILWAY.
BY JUSTIN MCCARTHY.

ROMANCE IN A RAILWAY.
BY JUSTIN NJ 'CARTKY.
Two young barristers, travelling from
London to Liverpool, took their Sc
evening in first class carriage of the -
O'Clock express at the Euston Square Sta.
tion-a station known, venture to think
to every American who has ever invaded
the old country. There were only two
ether seets occupied in the compRrtneni
entered by the two young men. Two Ia
dies-at least, lady and her maid-were
sbe other occupants. The lazy was young
and pale and pretty; the maid was fresh
bloorling, round-eyed north country gi,l-
the moment she spoke word her accent
made it plain to one of the two advocates
himself from the lakeland of Northern
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 of. They
both, especially the one who seemed tc
lady, kept necessarily casting expectant
eager. suspicious eyes about the pla tform,
as if they looked for or dreaded the arrival
of somebody. These little facts the two
barristers, accustomed to note small things
and construct them into evidence, observ.
ed almost unconsciously, 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, and said, in q
low tone: "It is all right, Cunningham.
He is not here. Thank Heaven|
''He can't come now" said the other.
sit would not have mattered much even
if he did, y the elder observed. '.He sho aid
not have exchanged word with her-not
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
said would never have been spoken were
she near enough to hear it. One of our
lawyer friends, however, did hear it-1n
fact he could not help himself; he had no
choice but to hear.
The elder Of the two speakers had taken
farewell of the girl when he put ner into
the carriage-that is, he kissed her very
coldly, and said good-by, and added few
whispered words, which seemed to be
something in the nature of caution or q
menace. Now, as the train moved off, he
only nodded q 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 whirled
through the pleasant suburbs of that side
OF London, and away into the open coun-
try. Tho young lady seemed very melan-
choiy ana absorbed. She replied grace
fully to few civilities and attentions Of
fered by 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. hut
for 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
all its autumnal charm and melancholy
grace around it.
Oul two friends talked together on many
subjects, at first in a low tone, then, as
the young lady appeared 70 be asleep, or
wholly absorbed In her own thoughts, they
began to speak a 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, tortufing, hair-hfting,
blood-chilling 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
berlsnd lass, who could hardly sit still in
her seat, SO great was her interest, ex-
citement, and superstitious dread.
81 don't know" said one of the two
young men. Lewis Rossmore by name,
s'why railways should be supposed to have
necessarily banishea ghosts. I can quite
Imagine ghost making Lis appearance in
this very train, for instance"
Scan you 2" replied Fred Sargent. 81
confess I can't; but think you Mortimer,
near the Scottish border, have more imag-
lnatIon than we prosaIc cockleys,"
At the same time he happened to glance
at the young lady in the corner, and hei
pale, sad face seemed ghostlike enough in
the gray evening light Sargent thought
for moment of the legend of the company
who sat one evening telling ghost stories
until at last the turn came to pale, young
lady who had been silent ali the time, and
who now, when invited to contribute hen
share to the entertainment, said, in low,
toneiess voice, ''I have no ghost story tC
tell, but am a ghost myselfi' and SO
vanished.
''Yes, pursued Lewis Ressmore; 81 car
easily imagine it; and l think it could bt
done with 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 passee
one of the only stopping places. Behold
as the train is rushing at full speed acros
the open country, fifty miles an hour, ant
the evening is growing dark, ike this, the,
suddenly perceive that one of the seats ha
an occupant, whose presence was not OBJ
served before"
Goods sake don't We 60 on in that way,
broke in the Cumberland girl, unable t.
contain herself any longer. Don't ye e
on, gentlemen; it's enough to raise ghos
right i the midst of Us all r
The young men laughed at first, but tn,
superstitious fear of the poor girl was 81
obviously genuine and profound tia
Rossmore discontinued bis goblin inven
ton, and they treasured her and talked
for q few moments of something else
Then the train stopped for five minutes a.
the only station where it was to make any
halt during the long journey. No one go
out Of the compartment in which oul
friends were, and no one got into it; an(
when the train had fairly moved off, ant
our3wo friends felt secure against furthe
disturbances, they settled themselves To-
sleep. The young lady appeared to be al
ready asleep.
Both young men slept Suddenly louc
shrek caused both to start up and rut
their eyes.
It was the Cumberland girl who haC
given the alarm.
Il IS a ghost its ghost p she cried
THAT'S what comes of your deviltry ant
your talk-you've brought a ghost amou,
Us T.
The evening had sunk into almost com
plete darkness; the one lamp, the bighes
luxury in the way of illumination, to which
even first class passengers in an Englisl
express are treated, was burning very dim
ly; but it needed little light to see tina
there was fifth figure in the carriage-th
figure of man. There he was assuredly
eil Slender man, STOPPING because O
the lowness OF the root, and apparentl.
about to take his seat, which was vacant
opposite to that on which the Young lad