The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-12-01
WA IT A WARNING?

"A@ - - " &A@eA'A4'N
It happened a matter Of fifteen years
ago, in 1856. I was an engineer on the
V. C.. railroad, and running the "Amos-
keag," 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 delicate and feeble ever since
its birth, and just at this time was confined to
her bed, with sort Of slow fever Brooks,
as was natural, freited good deal about
her, and laid off day or two as often as
he could find substitute.
The 25.h day Ct Scp.cmbcr-I can never
forget that date-beween three and four
o'clock in the morning, we were running
on q down 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 plainly as l did. We
were not running at full speed, so to re-
verse the engine and stop the train was
not an affair Of many minutes. Brooks
and I jumped out together, and went
round in front of the engine, whore we
found-nothing.
The fire, which I saw az plainly as ever
I saw anything in my life, and which
Brooks saw, too, had disappeared utterly
and entirely. We went up the track half a
mile or more, but found no vestige of any
thing to denote that any fire had been built
upon the track, or anywhere near.
Brooks turned to Inc, with a white
face.
"My God, sir, what was it ?"
~ wish 1 knew" 1 said. "Fifteen min
utes ago would have taken my oath there
was fire, built by some stupid idiot or
designing villain, on the track. Now-I
can't understand IT,.
aNor I-nor l." said Brooks, slowly i;
ayou don't suppose, sir"
He stopped, confusedIy.
"Suppose whatl ?" I said, as we stepped
on board the "Amoskeag" again.
"Ihat it's warning, or omen Of danger,
SIR"
This more firmly spoken.
"Pshawr p
But, for all my affecta!ion of contempt
I was puzzled and confounded. Yet I
tried to convince mys"lf that it was merely
an optical delusion, and nothing more. But
my success was doubtful.
The next morning I could see that
Brooks was growing nervous and anxious
I, too, was not witholt a little lutter Of ex-
element at my heat, though I should
hardly have cared TO own it. It is,
perhaps, needless to state that this nights
experience corresponded in every particu-
lar to that Of the one preceding. The same
seeming fire blazed and glttered on the
track in front of us. The train was stopped
again. Again we seorched around and
upon the track for long way ahead; again
we found simply nothing!
I don't deny that the repetition Of this
mysterious occurrence impressed me with a
STANCE feeling Of commingled dread and
terror. And Brooks-the mans set white
face fairly frightened NE. There was lit
tie conversation passed between us that
night. l think we both felt too deeply for
speech.
The third night, Brooks Vane and I
stepped on board the "Amoskeag' with
much the same feelings, I think, as men
who 60 knowingly 10 their own death. AS
we passed out of the station 1T Is. within q
mile or two Of the fatal place, Brooks turned
to me.
"Mr. Deane-" he stopped.
$50 on
ut may seem foolish to you, but l think
something will happen 10 the train tonight
If l should be killed"
"Pshaw! brooks, don't get such ideas
into your head. l."
II know all you would say, Mr.. Deanc
but I'd rather you'd hear what I've got to
say"
"Well, / am liste.inl:"
81 want, if you survive mo, that
you should promise to lend my wife help.
ing hand if she should need one Her folks
are well-otf, and will be good to her,
think; but they are cut in Kansas, and it
will be pretty hard lines for her at first,
before she can hear from them, and she'll
need friends, POOR girl" He stopped,
brushing his hand across his eyes.
"If she ever needs help" I said, i'm
pressed, in spite of myself, by his earnest
ness, and sharing bpsid;; much of his APP
preheusion, "y vii" ard l will stand by