Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1871-02-23
VOLUME XVI.

| the sun had risen, on Christmas morning,
that we got sufficient hands together to
clear the line.
Twenty five peop.e were killed in this
awful accident, and over thirty severely
injured.
The news of the disaster had reached Net
| tleton some hours previous to my arrival !;
and when 1 had briefly narrated the pain
full facts of the case, asked leave to go to
my room, feeling perfectly unable to take
part in the Christmas merry -makings. l
was glad enough to throw myself on
the bed; and although could not sleep,
the quietude of the place, and the calm
rest which l enjoyed, soothed my nervous
frame and cooled my burning brain:
| thought over the events of the short time
which had elapsed since l left London,
and could not help connecting my mysteri-
Gus fellow traveller in some way with the
accident I was no believer in ghosts;
and yet what was the meaning of that
mans mysterious entrance at London
Bridge, and his still more mysterious dis
appearance? Was it fancy? Certainly
not. Could it have been warning of the
coming danger? I could not answer my
self, but continued to ponder and argue
until could not bear to be alone, so got
up and went down into my uncle's library.
| | sent for Bessie by one of the servants,
and in very few moments my dear girl
| and myself were together. l told her all
my adventure. At first she laughed at me
and called me superstitious goose; but
when she found me serious she was an
noyed and gave me good lecture, which
she finished up by telling me that had
been working too hard and too late at my
chambers, had overheated my brain, and
therefore fancied all manner of stupid
things, I promised not to allude to the
ghost" as she termed my railway COM
panion, during my holidays; and I kept
my word.
The few days leisure that had allowed
myself went quickly enough; and my
Nettleton visit was soon thing of the
past, and was once again hard at work
in the Inn. AT times my thoughts would
turn to the events of Christmas eve; and
though strove to Grace the recollection
from my mind, could not forget my fell
| low traveller. read books on spiritualism !;
and in spite of arguments with friends,
and several serious conversations with my
relatives became believer in ghosts.
kept the truth from Bessie, for l knew
that she would be broken-hearted if she
knew that had become disciple of the
spiritualists. I was very unhappy and
very unsettled; my health was none of
the BEST my spirits were low; and my
energy tagged considerably. So the long
year passed away, and Christmas came
again. was, as usual, to spend my few
days holiday at Nettleton, and l found
myself once more in a first-class carriage
by myself at 5.55 on the Oath day of De-
cember.
The whistle was sounded, the engine
shrieked, the train moved, the door opened,
and he entered the carriage, smiled in the
same deathlike manner as he had smiled
twelve months ago, took his seat, produced
the black book, and read in silence. I do
not think was very much surprised at
seeing him, for he had been in my minds
eye" all the year; but cold perspiration
came over me felt sinking at my heart,
and burning, throbbing pain flew to my
head. "Man, if man you be-" | said, fix
ing my eyes on the figure, "if you have
come to warn me of my coming danger,
speak to me. am brave enough to hear
the worst" He lifted his eyes from his
book, yawned, closed the volume, and set
tied himself to sleep. "No," l cried,
"you shall not evade my question; you
must answer me. What will happen?
Why are you here?" He reused himself,
and looked at me with a smile upon his
hard lips; he then took out small pocket
book and wrote on page, which he tore
out and handed me, these words: We
shall meet tonight.
1 read the five words over and over
again, but could not fathom their meaning.
l was painfully certain in my own mind,
that some other terrible calamity of some
kind or other would happen before long,
and that 1 read my warning on the piece
of paper held in my hand. l kept my
eyes fixed on him for some time but ma
ture at length ruled, and fell asleep-not
into sound slumber, but into troubled
fretful series of dozes of an unrefreshing
and feverish character. 1 was aroused by
the train slackening speed, and, on looking
out of the window, found we had arrived
and Nettleton junction, and I aeds the only
occupant of the carriage! Hastily gathering
my traps together, got out of The haunted
carriage, and inquired of a porter if my
uncle had sent over any conveyance for
me. Yes, there was the dog-cart. Before
leving the station l asked the station
master if LIE was sure that the train from
which l had alighted was the express from
town. "Yer, SIR" was his answer;
Through from London Bridge" What
an awful ride had on that dark G christmas
eve! At every turn of the road I thought
we should be overturned; whenever the
horse improved his pace l made up my
mind that he had bolted; but in spite of
my fears, we arrived safely at Nettleton
House, and received hearty welcome, as
of yore.
Ali agreed that I was looking far from
well. "Bless the boy" said my aunt
you look as pale as though you'd seen
ghost" I stammered out something about
the closeness of London, and went up
stairs to dress for dinner
How got through the meal have very
little idea. Bessie must have thought me
very stupid, for I made few remarks, and
answered her questions in monosyllables.
There was to be a dance, as usual, in the
evening, and was engaged, of course, to
Bessie for the opening quadrille; but I
made so many foolish blunders, and as nv
sweetheart tolatme, looked so very unwell,
that was fain to leave off.
Come into this room, DEAR" Bessie
said it is cooler there, and more quiet"
We entered. / started back with look
of horror on my face for there, By the man.
te1-shelt, stood any mysterious qailsoay COM
panioaa, aoith a glass Of sherry in has hand
Bessie" I said, earnestly, come away;
come away, for heavens sake!'
"Why, what ever is the matter, Charlie?
You look so terribly frightened" she said
But needed her not, for 1 could not
think of anything but the phantom before
me. He approached, with that cursed
smile upon his lips, and held out his hand
Bessie looked up laughingly at his face,
and said, Charlie, won't you shake hands
with Doctor Linton?"
Who-who is he ?" asked.
Why, Doctor Linton, the deaf and
duan6 gentleman"
For moment my brain whirled round,
and can remember but indistinctly what
Immediately followed. I saw bessie MAX
ing signs with her fingers, and the doctor
replying to her in the same. This is what
I learned in calmer moments:
The doctor was deaf and dumb, and
season ticket holder ON the line; and as
he could not always make the porters un.
derstand him, he was allowed private
key. He lived at little village some five
miles the London side of Nettleton, and
the managers of the line stopped the 5 :55
for him out of courtesy.
So NV ahost Eanished 1gith the exnlana,