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

And let the thorn-prick hea!, and take my way,
Lapt in the golden calm Of dying day;
Glad that the night is near, and glad to know
That rough or smooth the way, have not far to
-nssSlc nssi opsnson.
NY sFIRST-CLASS" GHOST STORY.
I WAS seated in comfortable compart-
ment in a first-class railway carriage at
London Bridge railway station OF the Oath
of December. The weather was horribly
cold, and the wind was very high. / had
my evening paper already cut by my side,
and my BrddsltGao was in my hand; but
they were at present both unheeded, for
my thoughts were far away down the line
forty miles down to Nettleton, where I
was going to spend my Christmas holidays
with my uncle, Arthur Blucher, few
cousins, and Bessie Noland. When say
that my uncle and cousins were second
and third in my thoughts, need hardly
explain that Bessie was my sweetheart
rather an old fashioned word, but like to
use it. had won her after courtship of
twelve months; and | thought myself the
happiest of young fellows and the luckiest
of mankind. will not attempt to de-
scribe my Bessie,- for that can only be
done by photography. She was very
pretty, very sensible, and beloved by
everybody, and adored by me. l had
parted with her in the autumn; and
although every week brought me kind,
gentle letter from her, we had not met
since saying good-by at the yarmouth sta
tion, North Wales, when she went to
stop at Nettleton, and l returned to grim
old law in my chambers, New Inn, Lin
coins Inn. How slowly the time dragged
on, to be sure! There never could have
been windier or more cheerless Octo-
Der than in that year, nor duller or dark
er November. could find no charm in
the London theaters, in spite of the novel
ties produced. The newspapers were
stupid and the magazines barely readable.
My friends, too, somehow or other, be-
came wearisome. Johnson's puns fell flat,
RObinson's practical jokes lost their
charms, and Smiths and Jones's parties
bored me. | wanted Christmas to come as
quickly as possible, and yet Old Time
would not get on any quicker in spite of
my fretting. But at last the day arrived
for my departure. I had packed my port
manteau two days before it was necessary.
had studied my route until l knew the
stations by heart, and / found myself at
London Bridge station good half hour
before the train was advertised to start.
Immediately "my" train q had known
this 5.55 for SO many weeks that looked
upon it in the light of personal property
backed into its position insisted on tax
ing my seat, although the guard assured
me that we shouldn't be off for a quarter
of an hour, if then. Never mind I felt
happier and less restless in the carriage,
knowing that it was something somehow
connected with Nettleton and my visit.
Our train, according to the time tables, did
not stop anywhere after passing Croydon,
noring Reigate, Little Houghton and
RushIey. So, giving a shilling to the
guard, / requested him to lock the door,
and was left to my cigar, my evening
paper, my Brddsh0ao, and my Bessie.
The station was thronged with holiday
makers of all grades of society, pushing,
squeezing, laughing, shouting, but all bent
on one object-to get good places in their
various trains. Poor guards, how 1 pitied
them! and how admired their GOODNESS
and clearheadedness in the midst of such
Babel of tongues! Should we never
start, asked myself as I leaned out of the
window for the twentieth time. Yes,
surely those are "our" doors being slam
med to; that is our guard whistling and
holding up his hand; and that brisk, de-
termined whistle belongs to our engine.
We were off. AS we slowly glided out of
the station was somewhat surprised to
see tall, lank, white-faced gentleman
walk up to my carriage door-which I
paid the guard TO lock-open it, step in,
and take his seat opposite me. He was
most peculiar-looking individual His
face was very long, and painfully white
bis eye was bright and restless; his hands,
1noo h oIx l.. IL L., Al
pearance of possessing good deal of bone;
add to his eccentricity, his head was quite
bald, and shone like plain white billiard
ball. On entering the carriage he bowed
to me, and, after carefully gazing round
him, smiled such smile l-and taking
out black-covered book, coiled himself
up in corner and buried himself in it's
contents. This strange being puzzled me
considerably. What could he be? Per-
hapsa doctor. No-his appearance would
terrify any nervous patient. A lawyer
possibly an escaped lunatic more prob
ably. determined to speak to him; for,
though was not coward, l did not like
the man for now and then he would put
down his book, gaze on the lamp above
him, and laugh quietly; then fixing his
eyes on me for second, would relapse in
to smile, and continue his reading. "Do
you object to smoking?" asked-I own
with an effort. He took no notice of me.
/ repeated the question, but, in lieu of re-
plying, he twisted himself into an easier
position, and went on with the black
bound book.
81 shall not be at all sorry when we get
to Nettieton," l thought to myself, as l
threw my cigar away and took up the
paper; I don't relish this superhuman
fellow passenger at all. Well, as there's
may aswell make the best of it.a tried
any subject; SO soon gave it up, and tried
to lose myself in dream-land. But at first
I could not sleep; for whenever happen
ed to look up, found my horrible com
panion's eyes fixed on mine A cold pers-
piration came over me every time I looked
on him; SO I summoned up courage and
said, somewhat sharply, =" I think you are
very rude to stare at me SO, sir; if you
have anything to say to me, be good
enough to speak" He smiled, and looked
out Of the window for moment. sighed,
and changed his seat I must have soon
fallen into a doze, but how long 1 slept |
have little idea. When I awoke I found
the carriage oscillating violently, and to
my horror and surprise, nay companion
had gone! Yes, I was alone in the car
riage In another moment the air was
filed with shrieks of agony and yells of
despair, the escape of steam, and the crash
ing of wood. My carriage shook and
groaned, and then tottered over on it's side
down an embankment; but luckily for me,
I was, with the exception of few bruises,
unhurt. Oh, what sight was before me i
The 5 :55 from London had run into a
goods train, and lay before me wreck
Women, children, and men were buried
un der the debris, while some, like me, had