The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-10-02
JACKS GREAT PERIL.

JACKS GREAT PERIL.
Startling Story Of a Railroad Adventure
never saw SUCH a change III man in
my life! When We last met, Jack-well
l must not give his real name, consider.
ing what l am going to relate, so I'll call
him Jack Pallant-was, as he had ever
been since knew him, one Of the light
cst-hCartcd, :heeriest fellows in the world
full OF fun, and up to every thing, lno
gentle and tender as a woman, with the
courage Of lion. And now, what did !
find him? Even though but three
months had elapsed, he had become /,
grave, detected, saddcncd man.-in a word,
hardly recognizable, either mentally OF
physically. Twas shocked, and of course
he saw that l was. He came to see me,
indeed, the moment he heard was in
town, that l might learn from his own
mouth what had happened, instead of at
secondhand.
Jack had always been more or less Il
spoiled boy-only sons are always more
or less spoiled-and having lost his moth
or when quite child, it was not wonder
full that his poor old dad made much OF
him. But he had taken the spoilino
kindly, and beyond making him perhaps
a little idle and thoughtlcss, it had done
him no harm. There was no harm in the
fellow; he spent more money than he
should. but many young soldiers dc
that without coming to much grief in
the long run, and his father, soldier
before HIM, regarded the failing lcnient.
ly, paid his bills, and looked pleasant
Beyond adding that he was a rather short
dappcr little fellow, I need not say much
more about him: 1 have only to try and
put into coherent shape the strange and
tragic business which had 50 fcarfully al.
tered him.
Hc was coming to town ono autumn
evening for few days leave from Gun
ncrsholt, where he was quartcrcd. | can
see him as plainly as if had been there,
sprlnging into the first carriage that Of
Tered room, without regard to who was
IN it; tor he was the least fastidious Of
men, without the slightest particle OF
''haw-haw' pride and nonsense, or that
stand otfishncss of manner, too usual will
men in his position; ready to make him
self happy wherever he was, or in what
ever company.
But it so happened, it appears, on this
occasion that he got into an empty car
riagc, at least he thought so, tor it was
twilight, and he did not observe for tn,
first moment the figure of a woman, seat
eel in further corner, dressed in dark
clothes, and thlckly yelled.
The sudden discovery that he was moi
alone rather startled him for Il moment
and it may be, as he said, that the even.
ing before having been guest night al
mess his nerves were not quite ND to thei,
usual tone. He was not the lad, however
to be long in such q situation without
making some remark to his fellow travel
or, though in this case an unusual hesita
ton to do SO came over him, owing to hc]
mysterious appearance and extreme still
ness. The bctwcen-lights Of the carriage
lamp and the evening sky prevented him
from discerning details, but there sb,
sat, perfectly rigid, and with not yestiot
OF her face visible, through the thicl
black veil.
"Ahcm! alcm!" he said at last, shift
ing ono seat nearer to her and nearly on
posltc; ~ hope have not intrutlcd Q,
you; )! thought the carriage was empty.
may be disturbing you, l fear" Hc woult
say any thing in random sort of way
to break the ice as he called it.
NO answer. A long pause. Very singu
lar" he thought; and he moved to
scat exactly opposite the figure, maxim.
another commonplace observation. N,
response or any movement.
"Asleep, l suppose" he said to him
self; and he sat watching her while tn
train ratified on for a mile or two. 4 sta
tion was reached and stoppagc made
with the usual Accomplishments ofscrccc]
and whistling, and slamming of doors
but without producing any change in tn
occupant OF the opposite corner. TIL
train moved on. Cant be asleep" h
muttercd, "What's the matter with her?
The window was shut close; he let i
down with a tremendous clatter an,
bang, remarking that ''he hoped, as til
evening was fine, the weather warm an
the carriage close flor he declared to m
there was peculiar oder hanging abou
which struck him from the first, "sh
"OuAu AOt OD)eCC 10 u little air"
Still no reply. Then he said che tearc
she was not we'll; would she like him
ring the bell for the guard and have tn
train stopped again7' But nothing h
could say or do, elected any sign Of lii
from her.
Jack now became seriously alarme
and uncomfortable on her account. e
thought she could not be asleep, but ha
tainted. Suddenly it crossed his min
that she was dead. Night had now clo
ca IN, but as the last tinge of daylief
faaed from the sky, the carriage lam
gained its full power and revealed ever
object more plainly than hitherto.
Jack leaned toward the mot ionlcs
form. A long black veil, falling from
close-itting hat-likc bonnet, cnvclonc
nearly the whole upper part of her is
urc; indeed, on close inspection, it hardff
looked like an ordinary veil, but mo,
like large black silk handkerchief. III
dress was Of common black stuff, muc
worn and frayed, from amid the folds {
which appeared the ends of piece {
rope that must have been fastened roun
her waist; and one hand, incased in a
old ill.ftting black glove, lay placldl
on her lap.
Full Of unpleasant sensations. JAG
was about to lift the veil whon for ~