The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1877-04-07

ing through the window Of the carriage
outside. Then | began to think that
my friend WHO snt on the other side oi
the panel WIS perhaps not enviably sitr'
atcd after all. There are shades attend
mt on shadows, it appears, and ghosts
have other spirits to haunt them. This
face that was glnrinS in upon the man
outside, had it my representative in the
world Of sense? I could not tell; but as
S,on rs We Ind passed the lighted ianc.
tion scatcd myself oil the opposite side
Of the carriage and put the window
down. At TINT moment There WIS vio.
lent conclusion. I was thrown forward
agIinst the opposite side Of the carriage,
aNd for some moments, although not un'
conscious. I did not know much of what
was going on about me.
When I came thoroughly TO myself l
found that there had been I'M accident
on tho line. The cutting through which
wo were passing had given way, block.
ing up the truck, and the engine had
been thrown of. No one was seriously
hurt, fortunately; but it would be some
honrs before the line was cleared suili.
GENTLY for the train to proceed. The
passengers could walk back 10 the juno
ton nnl wait till tho line WIS clear, or
they might sit still in the carriages that
had not left tho line. For myself I pre-.
ierred to rcmnin by the side Of the rail.
way and watch the operations for clear.
ing it,
By.and.byc the moon rosc upon the
scene. We were in cutting Of loose,
sandy soil. On the top Of tho banks
was fringe OF trees, which, I found,
formed n portion Of Il wood Of consider
able size. Several small trees had fallen
down with the sand that had slipped
from above. The land-slip had made a
Cup in the bank, and there was sloping
mass Of debris between tho top Of it and
the level Of the line. Three or four
plate layers were alrcady busy at work
shoveling away at the sand, aud the
officials Ind telegaphed for II lot Of BAL
lnstmen. who would be down in half IN
hour. The night was fine, and the moon,
Ms havc said, hal already risen. The
dark tirwood above looked mysterionsly
inviting. made my way up the slope
Of the ,bnuk, and found myself i'll the
gloom OF the wood. There was u foot
path, saw, that led into the darkness.
The pleasant cIlm below, the fresh fra-
GRANGE OF the frs, the whisper Of the
winds among their tops like the murmut
Of IN agitate1 sea, the dim viStas OIL
either si1e like the Gisles Of some dark
encd minstcr-thcsc things led me along,
and I followed the path into tho recesses
OF the wood. It did not lead me far. In
about half mile l suddenly came to III
opening in the wood, and found that
had reached the railroad ut another
point; III fact, this was the main line,
aud the patti formed diagonal to the
right angle produced by it and the
branch along which the train had rlli
from the junction.
As + stood pccriug out from between
the stems Of two yonng fir trees, looking
up and down the line, / became conscious
that somebody was watching nc from
below. There WAS small signal box by
the sitle Of tho line, which was not, "
far as I could see, connected with the
signal and from this box / was pretty
certain that I had seen a human head
prOtr1Ided and rapidly withdrawn.
Curiously enough, too, the glass window
ut the side Of tho box, which ought ]
thought 10 look up or down the line,
looked sideways, 20 that anybody in the
box could watch the wood without being
himself perceived. Now I felt con-
vinccd that somebody was watching ne
from this window. I determined to make
certain. There was kind Of track side
ways down the cutting, which was not Il
deep one, and lightly descended this to
the level of the rails. 1t WIS darker here
tlRn in the wood even, for the moon had
not yet cleared the tree tops. l proceed
cd cautiously along, crossing the line &c
as to get on tue blind side Of the signal
box, and had almost reached it when
suddenly figure sprang from the box
,lnd I saw steel barrel glistcM in some
stray rny Of light.
"WhO goes there Z" shouted n soldier S
yoico right in my ear.
"a friend" / said calmly, although l
was little startled.
My challenger had n policemNn's lamp
hung to his belt, the light OF which he
turned full upon nc.
II beg your pardon, SIR" he said
81 didn't startle you, i hope?"
"You did n littlc." I said. 81 didn't
know tlat our rAilways wcrc 30 well
guarded. Whats yourregimcnt, scntry?"
"Oh, I'm not exactly II seutry," Baid
the man with sort Of laugh. And yet
he looked like Il soldier he had II car.
biuc in his llnud, and wore military
cap.
'What are you, then ?" asked.
Tin wardCr OF the convict prison. II
"Ah," sud I, "then you arc looking
out for somebody"
"PerhRps l am, sir, said the man,
rcservcdly.
"All right; good night" I saitl, and
thought to myself: If you are, l hope
you won't catch him"
For my own part, I know q no more
wretclled fate than to ho Hntombel in
ono OF our English convict prisons.
Their ORDER their science, scrupulous
clcanliness, their inoxorablc system,
appal the soul far moro tllnn clnnking
chains and nQisome dungeons. don't
know whether, after ull. I hadn't US soon
5e prisoner as 4 warlcr. The prisoner
must stay there; it is wonderful how 4
mind that is Mt all healthy retonciles it.
self to tho inevitable; but TO bc n wartler,
and know thRt you can get out at tht
sacrifice OF your bread aud butter -.
Indecl, gracious powers, I should think
that tho temptation to dance jig dowr