The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-09-07

the one I had taken two years before
How different was 1.-The wan-faced, ,hol-
low-eyed invalid, 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 Ula. ..
Nothing interested me now-nothing
amused me-all was wearisome and mo-
notonous. 1 leaned from the car-win-
dow as long as could, to catch the last
glimpse of poor Joe, who,
with a smile on his lip, but tear in his eye"
stood upon the platform, waving his hat
to me as we moved away.
After that, sank back in my seat, t,too
sad and despondent even to cry, and lay
there as we sped along, thinking of moth
ing, caring for nothing but the memo
ries from which they were trying to
force me to escape.
did rouse up little as the conductor
approached to collect my fare-the re-
membrance of the one-eyed man and his
nice little mother recurred to me the
first time for many months. This con-
ductor, however, was not my old ac-
quaintance, being sallow, dark-eyed,
cross-looking man, as different as posi-
BILE from the other one. I felt little
disappointed at first, but after he left
me l leaned my head back again, and
thought no more about the matter.
After while 1 fell into a doze, which
lasted until the call of Lancaster
twenty minutes for dinnerl" ringing
through the cars, aroused me, and in
formed me that we were just entering
that city.
sat up then, sleepily and languidly.
1t was warm day in early. October,
and the windows of the car were lower
ed; leaned my elbow upon the sash,
and looked out upon the scene before
me. As was thus gazing, drowsy and
Indifferent, neither caring nor thinking
much about what 1 saw, noticed man
upon the roadside, little in front of
the car in which 1 sat, gesticulating vio-
lently with his hands and arms.
The next minute I was sitting bolt
upright in my seat, my heart leaping
almost into my mouth with sudden
fright, for, in the gestures that were be-
ing made, recognized the signal which,
two years before, the one-eyed conduc-
tor had told me meant" danger ahead"
The cars were not moving very rapid
ly, and during the moment that we were
passing by the man who had given the
signal, had full view of him-his face
being turned toward the cars, and his
eyes meeting mine so directly that 1
could have spoken to him had 1 chosen.
l recognized him at once-it was the
one-eyed conductor, and, seeing that, 1
was worse scared than ever, being now
quite confirmed in my belief that an ac-
cident was impending; for knew that
he must occupy some responsible posi-
ton upon the road, and could, therefore,
have made no mistake in the matter.
No one else, however, either inside or
outside of the car, seemed to partake of
my alarm. The cars were slackening
their speed, but that was because we
were approaching a station, and from
no other cause that could ascertain. I
had not intended getting out of the cars
until I reached the end of my Journey
but had been so startled by what had
seen, that could not sit quiet in my
seat.
1 got out with the rest of the passen-
gers, but did not follow them to the ho-
tel; stood upon the platform, gazing
up and down the track uneasily, but
could see nothing at all that could awak-
en- apprehension. t
The one eyed conductor was nowhere
to be seen, though l watched the road,
in the direction where we had passed
him, for some time, expecting every mo-
men to see him come into sight.
A porter, trundling a wheelbarrow,
| passed me, and of him yentured timid-
ly to enquire:
els there anything the matter with
the engine or with the trackY"
"Not as 1 knows on" he answered
gruffiy, and passed on.
was still terribly uneasy; l was GER
| tain that l had not been mistaken in the
man or the signal the latter, especially
remembered-a forward motion with
both hands, as if directing the cars to
back. 1 could recall distinctly the face
and gestures of the conductor when he
had explained it to me, as also his words,
eff ever you see that signal given, pre-
pare for flying leap, for the probabili-
ties are you'll soon have to take it )" and
the longer dwelt upon what 1 had wit
messed, the more convinced did 1 become
that the signal had not been given
causelessly.
1 went into waiting room to sit
down until 1 could determine what it
would be best for me to do. felt a
most invincible repugnance to returning
| to the cars and continuing my journey
the excitement and worry had made me
sick and faint, and felt that / ran a
great risk of becoming i'll before reach
ed my journeys end, even if there was
no other danger to be dreaded. What
if should stay over at Lancaster until
the next day, and telegraph to father to
come to me there? And at the same in
slant l remembered that there was in
my traveling-satchel, in the little outer
pocket, where it had rested undisturbed
for two years, the card which the old
Quaker lady had given me, bearing the
name and address of her daughter, who
kept boarding-house. That remem-
brance decided me if could find lodg-
ing at that place, ] would remain over
night in Lancaster. lt d" -t . u.
There. were plenty of conveyances
around the depot, and summoning dri-
yer to me, showed him the card, and
asked him if he knew the address.
Certainly, num-" he said, promptly
take you there in ten minutes; Mrs.
Elwood's clearinghouse; quiet place,
but excellent accommodations, num-"
Thus assured, / entered his carriage,
and he fulfilled his promise by setting
me down, after short drive, in front OF
an unassuming, two-story frame house,
whose quiet, orderly appearance made il