New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-07

Z pdrteu. Inc OLD laQy was heIped out OF the |
ain by her son, and we saw her moment
ter upon the arm Of another gentleman, whom
q supposed to be her son .in-law, walking
risky up little hill that led from the station
D the heart Of the village.
Our journey came to q conclusion in due time,
nd the last saw of the one-eyed conductor
'as when he stood on the platform of the cars.
elping us out with our baggage, which he had
arried for US where we had been sitting.
1t is not my purpose to detain the reader
With any details OF my private history, further
han is necessary to give just comprehension
II what is to follow. Two years had elapsed
before l was called upon to take the second
Journey, to the events Of which what have
already narrated forms necessary prelude
This time l was journeying alone from Harris
burg to Philadelphia, upon visit to my pa
rents, whom had not seen since my marriage.
had been having good deal of trouble.
l was very ill for some time after my baby's
birth, and before had fully regained my
strength my little boy was taken ill. He had
the shooping cough, and after had nursed
him through it the whole summer he took a
cold in the fall that brought it back upon him
and finally killed him. | was 80 weak and
myself that could not struggle with
my grief as should have done pinned and
moped and wasted away until the doctor said
that il did not have change of scene, or some
thing that would arouse me and cheer me up,
he would not answer for my life.
1t was the most unpalatable advice to me
that he could have given. l did not want to
be cheered or amused; did not want to leave
home and the dear reminders of my lost baby !;
above all, did not want to leave my husband !;
for, in my foolish dsspondency, felt a super
stitious dread that he would be taken FROM me.
1t was impossible for him just now to leave his
business to go home with me; they were ex-
pecting heavy order at the foundry, which
kept all hands working almost night and day.
He promised that he would join me as soon
as he could but after what the doctor had said
he would not hear of my departure being de-
layed a minute longer than could be avoided !;
so he wrote to father that would be in Phila-
delphia on certain day, in order that he might
meet me at the depot and having put me in
the cars at Harrisburg, and seeing me safely
started on my journey, he know there was very
little doubt but that 1 should reach Philadel-
phis after a comfortable, uninterrupted half
days ride.
Alb! how different was this trip from the
one had taken two years before How differ
ent was 1.-The wan faced, hollow-eyed inva-
lid in my mourning robes-from the shy,
blooming girl, in her bridal array, who found
so much to amuse and interest her in that brief
journey.
Nothing interested me now-nothing amused
me-all was wearisome and monotonous.
leaned from the car window as l could to
catch the last glimpse of poor Joe, who,
"With smile on his lips and tear in his eye, T"
stood upon the platform waving his hat to me
as We moved away
After that, sat back in my seat, too sad and
Respondent even to cry, and lay there as we
sped along thinking of nothing, caring for
nothing but the memories from which | was
trying to escape.
did rouse up little as the conductor ap
preached to collect my fare-the remembrance
of the one-eyed man and his nice little mother
occurred to me the first time for many months.
The conductor, however, was not my old &C.
quaintance, being a sallow, dark-eyed, cross
looking man, as different as possible from the
other one. felt little disappointed at first
but after he left me l leaned my head back
again and thought no more about the matter.
After awhile fell into q Dose which lasted
until the call of Enthusiastically minutes
for dinner" ringing through the cars, aroused
me, and informed me that we were just enter
ing that city.
l sat up then, sleeply and languidly 1t
was warm day in early October, aud the win
dOws of the car we're lowered leaned my
elbow upon the sash, and looked out upon the
scene before me. AS / was thus gazing,
drowsy and Indifferent, neither caring nor think
ing much about what l saw, noticed man
upon the roadside, little in front of the car
in which l sat, gesriculating violently with his
hands and arms.
The next minute was sitting bolt upright
in my seat, my heart jumping almost into my
mouth with sudden fright, for in the gestures
that were being made 1 recognized the signal,
which, two years before, the One-eyed conduc-
tor had told me meant danger ahead"
The cars were not moving very rapidly, and,
during the moment that we were passing by
the man who had given the signal, had fall
view OF him-his face being turned toward the
cars, aud his eyes meeting mine so directly
that could have spoken to him had chosen
recognized him at ence-it was the one-eyed
conductor, and, seeing that was worse scared
than ever, being now quite confirmed in my
belief that an accident was impending for |
knew that he must occupy some responsible
position upon the road, and could, therefore,
have made no mistake in the matter.
No one else, however, either inside or out
side OF the car, seemed tepartake Of my alarm.
The cars were slackening their speed, but that
was because We were approaching q station,
and from no other cause that could ascertain
had not intended getting out of the cars until
had reached the end of my journey, but had
been so startled by what had seen that could
not sit quiet in my seat.
l got out with the rest of the passengers, but
did not follow them to the hotel. stood upon
the platform gazing up and down the track un-
sasily, but could see nothing at all that could
awaken apprehension.
The Oneeyed conductor was nowhere to be
seen, though watched the road, in the direc-
lion where we had passed him, for some time,
expecting every moment to see him come into
sight.
A porter, trundling wheelbarrow, passed
me, and of him l ventured timidly to inquire !:
Z" Is there anything the matter with the en-.
CINE or with the track? 2"
"Not as | know on he answered gruffly,
and passed on.
l was still terribly uneasy; was certain
hat had not been mistaken in the man or the
signal the latter, especially remembered-a
forward motion with both hands, as il directing
he cars to back. l could recall distinctly the
ace and gestures of the conductor when he
aae Explained it to me, as also his words, elf
- r. VI see that signal given prepare for
s"' leap, for the probabilities are you'll
Z ave to take it ;" and the longer dwelt
Jun snat bad witnessed, the mere convinced
80 lscome that the signal had not been given