Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1872-12-20

ton; and found myself once moro In O
} trstrclsss carriage by myself at 5:55 on the
24th Of December.
, The door opened, and HE entered the
: carnage, smiled in the same death-like
manner as he had twelve months ago, took
his seat, produced the black book, and read
in silence. / do not think 1 was very mach
surprised at seeing him, for he bad been in
my minds eye" all the year; but cold
Persplratlon came over me- felt a sinking
a. NY heart, and an aching, throbbing pain
new 10 my head. " STan-if man YOU be-
SAID, fixing my eyes OH the figure. "if
you nave come to warn me of any coming
danger, speak TO me now. / am brave
enoughsto hear the worst" lie lifted his
eyes from his book, yawned, closed the vol.
ume, and settled himself to sleep. "No.r
| cried, "you shall not evade my question.
Yoa must answer me. What will happenP
Why arc you here ," He reused himself
ana looked at me with smile upon hIs
hard lips ; he then took out small pocket
oook, and wrote on page, Which he tore
out aud handed me, these words, "We
shall meet tonight
read the five words over and oysa
again, but could not fathom their meaning.
was painfully certain, in my own mind,
tnat some other terrible calamity of some
kind or other would happen before long,
ana that read my warning on the piece
OF paper held in my hand. / kent nv
eyes liked on him for some time: b1t na
lure at length ruled, and fell asleep-not
into sound slumber, but into a troubled.
1retlul series OF dozes of an unrefresbin,,
feveTlsh character. l was aroused by the
tram slackening speed, and on looking out
OF inc window found we had arrived at
Nettlcton junction and was the oply oc.
cupant of the carriage! Hastily catherine
my traps together, got out of the haunted
carriage, and inquired of q porter if my
uncle mad sent over any conveyance for me.
es, there was the dog-cart Before Ieay-
| Ing the station L asked the station-master
if he was sure that the train from which I
had just aliShtcd was the express from
| town? eyes sir' was his answer.
''through from London Bridge" What an
awful ride had On that dark Christmas
eve! AT every turn of the road 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 the Nettleton
House, and received hearty welcome, as
| of yore.
All agreed that was looking far from
we'll. Bless the boy" said nv aunt
"you look as pale as though you'd seen q
ghost" l stammered out something about
the closeneSs of London, and went I'D
stairs TO dress TO-. dinner.
How got through the meal have very
little idea. Ressie must have thought me
very stupid, for made few remarks, and
answered her questions in monosyllables.
There was to be a dancc-as usual-in
the evening, and was engaged, of course,
to Bessie for the opening quadrille but l
made so many foolish blunderO, and, as
my sweetheart told me, looked 90 very un-
well, that was fain to leave of.
"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
mantel-shelf, stood my mysterious railway
companion with glass Of sherry in his
hand.
"Bessie," said earnestly, "come away;
come away, for Heavens Sake."
"Why, what ever is the matter, Charlie 2
You look 50 terribly frightened,'' she
said.
But needed her not; for ] could moi
think of anything but the phantom before
me. He approached, with that cursed
smile urOn his face, and held ont his hand
Bessie looked up aughingly at his face,
and said, I'Charlic, Won't you shake hands
with DR.. LiDtOn?"
"Who-who is he ?' asked.
"sFhy, Doctor Linton, the deaf and
dumb gentleman"
Fora moment my brain whilled round,
and can remember but indistinctly what
| Immediately followed. / saw Bessie max
ing signs with her fingers, and the Doctor
replying to her in the same manner. This
is what learned in calmer moments.
The Doctor was deaf and dumb, and IL
season ticket holder on the line; and as be
could not always make the porters under
stand, he was allowed private key. He
lived at little village some five miles from
the London side of Nettleton, and the
managers of the line stopped the 5:5J for
him out Of courtesy.
So my ghost vanished with the explana-
ton. shook him warmly by the hand,
and, with the assistance Of my Bessie, in
formed him Of my doubts and fears, al
which he laughed heartily. My spirits
soon returned, ..and by the time the las
dance was announced no one was happier
than myself. Bessie and / were married
the following Christmas, aud conspicuous
among our guests was my First class
Ghost