The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-09-11
JACKS GREAT PERIL.

I never saw such Il change in II man in
my life! When we last met, Jack
well, must not give his real name, con-
sidering what am going to relate, so
I'll call him Jack Pallant--was, rs he
had ever been since / knew him, one of
the lichtcSt- hearted. chceriest fellows in
the world. full of fun and up to every
thing. and as gentle and tender us Il
woman. Will! the courage of 4 lion. And
now, what did 1ird him? Even though
but three months had elapsed, he had
become L grave, detected, saddencd man
in word, hardly recognizable. either
mentally or physically. | was shocked.
and of course he saw that was. He
came 20 see me, indeed, the moment he
heard I WAS in town, that might learn
from his own mouth what had happened,
instead otat secondhand.
Jack had always been more or less a
spoiled boy-only sons are always more
or less Spoiled-and having lost his
mother when quite 4 child, it was not
wonderful that his poor old dad made
much of him. But he had taken the
spoiling kindly. and beyond making him
perhaps n little idle and thoughtless, it
had done him no harm. There was no
harm in the fellow; he spent more money
than ne should, butt many young soldiers
do that without coming to much grief
in the long run. and his father. soldier
before him. regarded the failing leniently,
paid his bills and looked pleasant. Be-
yond adding that he was rather short,
dappcr little fellow. Inccd not say much
more about him; | have only to try and
put into coherent shape the strange and
tragical business which had so fearful!y
altered him.
lie was coming to town one autumn
evening for few days leave from Gun
nershOlt, where he was quartered. | can
see him as plainly rs if had been there,
springing into the first carriage that
offered room, without regard to who was
in it; for he was the least faStidious of
men, without the slightest particle of
"hawhaw" pride and nonsense, or that
ssand-oil-iS)mcSS Of manner, too usual
with men in his position; ready to make
himself happy wherever he was, or in
whatever company.
But it so happened, it appears, on this
occasion that he got into an empty car
riage; ut least lie thought so, for it was
twilight, and he did not observe for the
first moment the figure Of a woman,
seated in n further corner, dressed in
dark clothes and thickly vciled.
The sudden discovery that he was not
alone rather startled him for a moment,
and it may be. as he said, that the eve
ming before having been I guest night Ut
mess, his nerves were not quite up to
their usual tone. He Was not the lad,
however, To be long in such situation
without making some remark to his fel-
low-traveler, though in this case IN un,
usual hesitation to do so came over him.
owing to her mysterious appearance and
extreme stiffness. The between-lights
of the carriage lamp and the evening SKY
prevented him from discerning details
but there she sat, perfectly rigid, anC
with not vestige Of her face visible
through the thick black vail.
"Ahem! ahem!" he said at last, shift
ing one seat nearer to her and nearly Cd
posite; Il hope | have not intruded OF
YOU; thought the carriage was empty
/ may be disturbing you, l fear" III
would say anything, in random sort O
way, to break the ice, as he called it.
No answer. A long pause. "Ver
singular" he thought; and he moved t
a seat exactly opposite to the figure
making another commonplace observa
ton. No response, or any movement.
"Asleep, I suppose" he said to him
self: and he sat quietly watching hc1
while the train ratified on for a mile {
two. A station was reached and stoI
page made, with the usual accompan
M Snts of screechand whistling and slau