Richland beacon., 1879-12-20


laughed a little and the fireman re-
marked encouragingly: "You Just pitch
in, Ned" and Ned pitched in.
"As for the story-it isn't much of
story, you'll say-but-well! You see 1
was coming down the road the other day
"a good two weeks ago-a road I've
been over hundreds of times, and knew
every foot of it. l saw off there, at the
light, instead of that pancake region.
regular hill country, wild and green
looking, plenty of trees, and among
them, on top of sort of ridge, there was
a shambling tavern painted red.
at was growing dusky, apd could
see lights in the tavern, and hear loud
voices laughing and rowing. Directly a
fellow came plunging out of the door
with his hat of, flannel shirt unbut-
toned at the throat, and one sleeve loose
and hanging, holding whisky bottle.
He reeled down the hill, stumbled and
stumbled, struck his foot against a log
near the bottom, and pitched forward
into the ditch half way across the track.
81 saw what was coming and had
whistled down brakes and reversed the
engine. The man could have got on his
feet easy enough if it hadn't been for his
cursed whisky bottle; but he grabbed it
and held it up so as to save it, and
couldn't get his balance, of course, with
out both hands, and so pitched forward
again, and this time fiat across the rails
and we went over him.
at was all done in minute, you see,
and the train stopped, and l starting at
Jim here. and he at me-"
"What did you do that for?" said Jim,
"jerking her up like that for nothing"
"My God! man, run over human
creature, and mash the breath out of
him, and ask what stopped the train
forT'
"Run over q man,, cried Jim; Are
to answer. I streaked up the track to
where the conductor was out, and the
brakemen and passengers all had thei1
heads out of the windows, and everybody
wanted to know what was the matter,
and there-well! you know just as well
as ], there was the open country and tho
track as fat as my hand, and nothing
else near or far to be seen.
Drunk No, / wasn't drunk. I
-
Just SOP turning to Jim.
! "Just exactly So" answered the sooty
| fireman.
"Yes. Just exactly So" echoed the en-
I every day-and done it regularly since
tieh Aud l can't stand it much longer
I've got tOquit. Look at thatw holding
up his strong hand that was shaking in
way that didn't belong to its muscle,
nor TO the clear blue eyes that had no
drink nor era" in them. maybe / can
make change nth a friend of mine
T Tho wants 10 10. com, o,,. West. Anyway,
I'm gong SS 70 gndorad gesd ous OF re. lively" "
"Do you believe me? said
"Believe you? OF course do. ~
not a fool. I know when a man m
truth in his face, and you've got truth
in your-voicc. too. for that matter"
He smiled, and thrust out his grimy
fst.
"Pd like to shake hands with you fol
that-if you don't care"
"But / do care" said ], smiling in
turn. So We shook hands.
Cant you explain itT
"cNo-no more than / can tell you how
Q flower grows"
We reached our destination and cacl
went his or her way, and SO far as
knew there was an end of mystery anG
explanation.
Five years afterward I was at New
Brunswick, aiming for the ten oclocl
train to Philadelphia.
drawing room car" called /, as | raj
down the long, dark platform.
"Drawing-room car this way" wa
shouted from the rear blackness.
"Ah, is it you, Miss Dickinson
Plenty cf room tonight" and l scram
} bled in
: About every official and employe O.
the road knows me. So turned to sc
with which conductor l was going, bu
, did not recognize him.
"You don't know me?'
; l "No," said /, yet 1 found sOmethin
, | familiar in face or voice. "Iou are
, | new man."
"Yes," he answered.
, "Let me see! let me see" thought
don't like to be thwarted. l alway
, remember peoples faces, and always 70
get their names. l could forget my owl
"Who is he? When-where did / eyt
travel with him."
: "You were not a conductor when
saw YOU before. / am sure of that"
z ventured.
, He laughed at my puzzled face an
: answered, YOU'RE right there"
r All at once / placed him.
I "Ahw cried /, "how's the ghost"
The man had fine ruddy color, bl
he turned pale at that-palc as this p
|, per.
9 "Why, you don't mean that anythir
Z did really ever come of it?" .
"Yes, but do"
"WhatT
"Well, I'll tell you all in breath,
that's the best way, and | don't Iii
talking about it. You know want'
l. to get away? Yes. We'll, ! got n
transfer, came to the Philadelphia al
IS Erie road, and my friend went We;
t "Maybe / didn't draw a long brea
k as got under way that first day, al
thought I'd left my bugabOo so far
is hind me. Everything about me was