The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1874-01-15

hut luckilv for me, was, with the exception
of few bruises, ,nahurt.. O, what sight was
Before mel The 5:55 from London-had run
into g. goods train, and lay before2me a wreck.
Women, children and men were buried beneath
the debris, whilst some, like me, had escaped
without a scratch. We rendered all the assis-
tance that lay in our power to the poor crea-
lures, and it was not until the sun had risen on
Christmas morning that we got sufficient hands
together to clear the line.
;, twenty-five people were killed in this aw-
full, accident, and over thirty severely wonn-
ded. .;. -.
The few days leisure had allowed myself
went quickly enough; and my Nettleton visit
was soon a thing of the past, and was once nee
again hard at work in the Inn. At times my
thoughts would turn to the events of Christ
mas-eve; and though strove to erase the re-
collection from my mind, 1 could not forget my
fellow. traveller read books on spiritualism !;
and in spite of arguments with friends. and
several serious conversations with my relatives,
I became a believer in ghosts. kept the
truth from Bessie; for knew that she would
be broken. hearted if she knew that | had be-
come a disciple of the spiritualists. was very
unhappy and unsettled my health was none
of the best; my spirits we're low, and my en-
ergy lattered considerably. So the long year
passed away, and Christmas came again. L
was as usual, to spend my few days's holiday at
Nettleton: and found myself once more in a
first.class carriage by myself at 555 on the 24th
of December.
The door opened, and he entered the carriage,
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 was very much surprised at seeing him,
for he had been in my minds eye" all the
year; but cold perspiration came over me i;
felt sinking at my heart, and an aching,
throbbing pain few to my head. "Man-if
man you be" said, fixing my eyes on the
figure eff you have come to warn me OF any
coming danger, speak to me now. l am brave
enough to hear the worst" He lifted his eyes
from his book, yawned, closed the volume, and
settled himself to SLEEP. "No," I cried, "you
shall not evade my question: You must an
swer me- What will hapPen'7' 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" go Z
+; T read the FIVE wordsoverand over again, but
could not fathom their meaning. was pain
fully certain, in my own mind, that some other
terribly calamity of some kind or other would
happen before long, and that read my warn
ing on the piece of paper 1-held in my hand.
Kept my eyes fixed on him for some time;
but nature at length ruled, and l fell asleep
not into a sound slumber, but into troubled,
fretful series of dozes of an nnrefreshing fever
ish character. Twas aroused by the train slack
ening speed, aud on looking out of the window
found we had arrived at Nettleton junction and
was 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 convey
ance for me- Yes, there, was the, dog-cart.
Before leaving the station asked the station
master if he was sure that the train from which
I had Just alighted was the express from town?
eyes sir" was his answer, Through from Lon
don Bridge" What an awful ride / had on
that dark Christmas eyeI At every turn OF
the road Thought we should be overturned
whenever the horse improved his pace made
up mind that he had bolted; but in spite of
NV fears we arrived safely at the Nettleton
House, and received hearty welcome, as OF
yore. -
All agreed that I was looking far from we'll.
"Bless the boy" said my aunt, "you look as
pale as though you'd seen ghost" STAN.
mpered out something about the closeness of
London, and went up stairs to dress for
dinner.
How l got through the meal have very lit
tie idea. Bessie must have thought me very
stupid, for made few remarks, and answered
her questions in monosyllables. There was 10
be a dance-as usual-in the evening, and I
was engaged, of course, to Bessie for the open
ing quadrille; but made so many foolish
and, as my sweetheart told me, looked
so very unwell, that was fain to leave of.
''Cone into this room, DEAR" Bessie said;
cit is cooler there and more quiet"
We entered. I 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" I said earnestly, "come away;
come away, for Heavens sakep
"Why, what ever is the matter, Charlie +?
You look so terribly frightened" she said.
But needed her not; for could not think
of anything but the phantom before me. he
approached, with that cursed smile -upon~his
face, and held out his hand. -,
! Bessie looked u p pAaughipgly ,at his face, and
said, Charlie, won't you shake hands wish Dr.
Linton?"
"Who-who is he?" asked
"Why, Doctor Linton, the deaf and dumb
gentleman" -
For moment my brain whired round, and
can remember but indistinctly what immedi-
ately followed. saw Bessie making signs
with her fingers, and the Doctor replying 10
her in the same manner. This is what learn
cd in calmer momepts.-
The doctor was deaf and dumb, and season
ticket holder on the line; and as he could not
always make the ,porters understand, he was
allowed private key. He lived at little
village some five miles from the London side
of Netteton, and. the managers of the line
stopped thej5:55' for him outof courtesy.
So my ghost vanished with the explanation.
I shook him warmly oy the hand, and, with
the assistance of my Bessie, informed him Of
my doubts and fears, at which he laughed
heartily. Ny spirits soon returned, and by the
time the last dance was announced no one was
happier than myself. Bessie and / were mar
ried the following Christmas, and conspicuous
among our guests was my "First Glass Ghost" I"