The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1875-07-31
WAS IT A WARNING ?

IL ndppeneu WaICer OF nlleen years
ago, in 1S5.- / was al engineer on
the V. c. railroad, and running the
" Amoskeag," on the night line from
N. to st. A. 1t was good ten hours
trip, leaving N. at seven p. NJ, and
getting into st. A. at five A. NJ, or
just about daybreak. Brooks Vane
was fireman A young fellow, only
about two years married to as sweet q
little woman as you'll very often see.
They had one child-a baby, three
months old Mrs. Vane had been de-
licate and feeble ever since its birth, and
just at this time was confined to her
bed, with a sort of slow fever. Brooks,
as was natural, fretted good deal
about her, and laid off a day or two as
often as he could find substitute.
The 25th day of September can
never forget that date-between three
and four O'Clock in the morning, we
were RAINING down a grade about forty
miles from st. A., when noticed, some
fifty rods in front of us, what looked
like fire built exactly on the track,
straight ahead. Brooks saw it as plain
ly as | did. We we're not running at
full speed, so to reverse the engine and
stop the train was not an affair of many
minutes. Brooks and jumped out to-
gether, and went round in front of the
engine, where we found nothing,
The fire, which saw as plainly as
ever saw anything in my life and
which Brooks saw, too, had disappear
ed utterly and entirely. We went up
the track half mile or more, but found
no vestige of anything to denote that
any fire had been built upon the track,
or anywhere near.
Brooks turned to me, with a white
face.
"My God, sir. what was it 2"
wish knew" sail. Fifteen
minutes ago l would have taken my
oath there was fire, built by some stu
pid idiot or designing villain, on the
track. Now-1 can't understand it,"
"Nor I-nor L." said Brooks, slowly;
"you don't suppose, sir"
lie stopped, confusedly.
"Suppose what 2" l said, MS we
stepped on board the Amoskeag"
again,
Z" Thai it's warning, or omen of
danger, sir"
This more firmly spoken.
" Pshaw |"
But, for all my affection of contempt,
/ was puzzled and confounded. Yet 1
tried to convince myself that it was
merely an optical delusion, and nothing
more. But my success was doubtful.
The next morning l could see that
Brooks was growing nervous and anxi-
Gus. |, too, was not within little flut.
ter of excitement at my heart, though
/ should hardly have cared to own it
1t Is, perhaps, needless TO state that
this nights experience corresponded in
every particular to that of the one IRE.
coding, The same seeming fire blazed
and glittered on the track in front of
US. The train was stopped again.
| Again we searched around and upon
the track for q long way ahead again
we found simply nothingl
l don't deny that the repetition OF
this mysterious occurrence impressed
me with strange feeling of comming-
led dread and terror. And Brooks
the mans set white face fairly freigh-
tened me. There was little conversation
passed between us that night. think
we both felt too deeply for speech.
The third night, Brooks Vane and ]
stepped on board the " Amoskeag'
with much the same feelings, l think,
as men who 90 knowingly to their own
death. As we passed out OF the station
at B. within a mile or two of the fatal
| place, Brooks turned to me.
Mr.. Dean" he stopped.
| $50 on"
1t may seem foolish to you, but
think something will happen to the
J train tonight. If / should be killed
Pshaw | Brooks don't get sucl
ideas in your head. /"
81 know all you would say, Mr
Dean, but I'd rather you'd hear what
I've got to say"
"Well, l am listening"
81 want, If you survive me, thai
you should promise TO lend my wife g
helping hand if she should need one
Her folks are well-Off. and will be gooC
to her, l think but they are out il
Kansas, and 1t will be pretty hard line:
FOR her at first, before sho can hear from
them, aud she'll need friends, pool
girl" lie stopped, brushing his hanC
across his eyes.
" II she ever needs help" l said, i'm
pressed, in spite of myself, by his ear,
nestness, and sharing besides, much O
his apprehension, "my wife and / will
stand by her. She shan't want for {
friend while we live. But don't ge
blue, Brooks. All this may amour
to nothing" trying to speak cheerful.
but with partial success only.
He shook his head moodily, but diC
not speak. We neared the mysteriou
place. l turned my eyes for one mo
ment from the road In front to attent
to some slight duty. looked bacl
just in time to catch one glimpse of
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