Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1874-05-22
seletted Mlisfrllanp,
THE ENGINEERS WARNING.
BY vERaILIoN VERNE.

"This is my last trip, Ben; l feel i
in my very heart"
''Pshaw Maurice, you are unstrung
or maybe little superstitious, that's all
We shall make many trips after tonight
And honest Ben Logan strove to smile,
but failed sadly.
They were standing on the depot steps,
in the deep September cleaning, with
their snug railway jackets buttoned tight
ly up under their chins, waiting for a
signal from the conductor to change pla-
ces with the engineer and fireman of the
night train between Alton and Westport,
which had just arrived.
Maurice Lincoln's face, stern and pale,
looked even more than usually handsome
as he stood there in the glimmering OF
the lamps You would see, that in spite
of every effort to the contrary, some
great trouble was at work at his manly
heart.
"Well, Ben, perhaps | am trihe SUI
perstitious; and so, no doubt, would you
be, under the circumstances. In times
that have gone twas bad enough, but
now"
"What do you mean? I didn't know
anything had happened lately on the road
| know, of course, that there are some
awful places between here and Alton, but
you and / ought, by this time, to have
become accustomed to them"
eyes, Ben, we ought; but the way
things are going on, those very places
will yet be the ruin of me. But / will
not make you as gloomy as lam. / want
to tell you something, though and after
it's all over with, you will not blame me
for being so much upset. You remem.
Der Clayt Weston ?"
81 should think | did He was the
long-haired chap that tried to throw you
out of your position, last winter, because
he said you drank, and were not fit tc
hold so responsible situation. And he
well-nigh made out, too"
eyes, Ben; and would if it hadn't
been for you. God knows | never have
tasted drop since then, and thcn-why,
old fellow, twas him that urged me to it
and hadn't courage enough to refuse
/ tell you, he is an awful man. But
must make my story short. Perhaps you
didn't know it, but Arly Vaughn has
been my promised wife for more thar
three years and that she loved me az
much or more than | loved her, no one
dared dispute.
"For time all went well, and then
Clayt Weston, with his white hands, and
whittier face, came between us. For 9
long while / looked on, and saw Arly re.
ceiving his attentions, though | knew
with proud heart, that she hated him
as only woman can hate.
eat last grew jealous, and the result
was a quarrel, in which | told him never
to speak to her again, and Arly stood
with me on it. She did not like the fell
low, and had often told him she cared
never to see him again.
"The way Weston swore was terrible
to hear. The last words he spoke as he
left have haunted me night and day ever
since.
i swear by the hends below, nc
said, i never will rest till you, Maurice
Lincoln, are out of my way, and Arly
Vaughn is my wife. There are dark
spots along the route you travel, and
look to it well that you do not find your
self at the bottom Of one of them some
time with broken neck
"And / tell you, Ben, he was not a
man to make idle threats. Ialmost know
tonight will be my last If that comes
again / shall know that | am doomed ;
and twill, feel it.
"That? What do you mean? Are
you mad?''
Ben grasped his friends arm, and
shook him sharply.
"No, no. / am not mad. But it is a
wonder | am not. 1t was enough to
drive me crazy. just night before last
/ saw it first, and then again last night"
Maurice do explain yourself; you
must"
"Twas just round Holmes Gulf, Ar
ly's form, though so much i'm the shadow
that could make out little more than a