The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-08-08

uerlul WuaJ lONely lanuscupcS llc Oi cuCh
side of our English railways; and when
you are travelling fast, and objects come
in sight, the next instant to be whirled
away, the Aeeting character Of the picture
elevates the commonest details. Our
train did not stop at many points but at
one of the principal stations which the
line passes,l just before entering tunnel
of some length, lamps were put into all
the carriages. | recolect, after we start
ed, watching the sides of the cutting,
which rose higher and higher as we went
on, till, with shrek, the engine rushed
into the tunnel and all outside the carri-
age was darkness.
People who are not in the habit OF
journeying much by railway have often
dislike to tunnels, am aware; but,
being constant traveller, had no such
feeling. and I could not, therefore, ac-
count for an unpleasant sensation which
l experienced on entering the tunnel on
this occasion = a chilly, uneasy feeling,
which increased rather than diminished
as we sped on. did not feel lonely, for
the light of our lamp fell brightly on the
face of my fellow-passengers. | could
see two of them were still sleeping.
My friend opposite had, for the first time
during the journey, put down his news
paper; and of two ladies in the carriage
with us, one was stroking the head of
little girl, who appeared to be the only
person at all uneasy except myself.
Mechanically l fell to looking at the re-
Election of my face upon the window,
which the outer darkness had changed
into a mirror, giving back the whole in
terror of the carriage. The uneasy feel
ing increased, and l suddenly became
impressed with the idea that the refec-
ton was not that of my face, but of some
one else's AS | looked, the conviction
strengthened 1t was not my face, 1t
was the face of man of about my own
age but the hair was light, and the
features were totally different from my
own. can see the face now it was
looking intently at me the thin lips were
pressed tightly together; and around the
mouth there played a peculiarly sinister
smile. The reflection of the whole inside
of the carriage was plain enough but be-
sides this figure, there was only one more
occupant | saw the reflection of none Of
my fellow-travellers sitting by me. The
other figure was that of woman, who
was standing up behind the first figure
The light from above seemed to fall full
upon her face, which was one of great
beauty, but disfgured by a look ofintense
hatred and scorn, which she darted out
of her dark eyes upon her companion
My only sensation now, recollect, was
curiosity and all fear had vanished
saw them as plainly as | now see my
hand, and noticed that the woman was
magnifcently dressed, wearing, in part
cular, blaze of jewery, that sparkled
stangely in harmony with the lurid ligh
of her dark and terrible eyes, She seem
ed for one moment to hesitate in some
purpose the next her hands were flung
up, and ! saw a red cord wind itself rount
her companions throat. 1t was clutcheC
with fearful fury. | saw two rows o
cruel cleaning teeth glttcring in concer
with those eyes But the victim | shall
never forget the CHASTITY grin Of agony
npon that visage, that deepened and deep
ened, and then went out from the face
that fell prone, the face of dead man
| saw for moment the woman's crue
eyes dart forth look of fiendish triumph
her cruel hands smitten together, he
mouth moulded into q cruel laugh. Thcl
we whirled out into the daylight, and
l saw my friend opposite quietly taking "
his newspaper again.
My emotions while witnessing the ter
r rible spectacle | have just described, CAV
place to lethargy which lasted while
remained in the train. My recollection
all seemed imperfect. My business, m.
destination, the place | had started from
t the time of day-I seemed confused OIL
all these points; and it was only when
= stepped into the street, and felt the coo
breeze on my face, that | recovered sell
possession. These disagreeable effects
Q however, passed off, as my thoughts wer
diverted into fresh channels. The rea
and tangible world in which | was NOV
e ing soon got the better Of the terribl
vision in my mind; and being natural
d impatient of morbid and superstition
- notions, | soon persuaded myself that
must have been sleeping in the railwa
u carriage, and that had been very muc
. frightenen with dream, due probably
Indigestion Pratical man as | profe'
=. to be, | was not going to expose myse
> to the ridicule of other practical indiviC
II uals by taking them into my confdenc
:, Time went on deted myself a little
" | travelled home by another route, sa
+ no visions and, in the course OF II mont
| only recollected the incident of the tn
at mel as should any other peculiar drear
!. the impression of which tho circumstanc
of busy working life had not oblitera
nd ed.
=. A few months after my journey to l.o
don, | had occasion to make anoth
:, journey of some length, in different d
- rection. got into the train, pass
IDS through the tunnel unscralchrd, aud foui
-. myself at nightiaIl in Il country town,
which | was a perfect stranger. to'
N lodging for the night at large, old-ias
ioned inn, which, in the coaching-day
al must have been place of some impol
-. ance. The town | speak Of was situat
in an agricultural district | had an o
rt' portunity Of seeing that the glory had n
to all departed from the old house a SEQ
or so of farmers fingered about the pla'
and for some time after my arrival
seemed life and hustle. Having view
the lions Of the town, which consisted
ly a circular market-place and an architt
ny tural pump, and having clambered ov
Die an old bridge, in fashion suggestive