The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-08-28
JACKS GREAT PERIL.

never saw such a change in Il man il
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, as hc
had ever been since | knew him, one of
the lightest- hearted, chceriest fellows in
the world. full of fun and up to every
thing, and as gentle and tender us II
woman. with the courage of lion. And
now, what did | fird him? Even though
but three months had elapsed, lie had
become II grave, detected, saddened man
in Il word. hardly recognizable. either
mentally or physically. | was shocked.
and of course he saw that | was. He
came to see me, indeed. the moment he
heard | was in town, that might learn
from his own mouth what had happened,
instead ofat secondhand,
Jack had always been more or less
spoiled bOy-Only sons are always more
or less spniled-and having lost his
mother when quite a child, it was not
wonderful that his poor old dad made
much of him. But he had taken the
spelling kindly, and beyond making him
perhaps u little idle and thoughtless, it
had done him no harm. There was no
harm in the fellow; he spent more money
than he should, but tmany young soldiers
90 tIaI 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,
. dapper little fellow, Tneed not say much
more about him; ] have only to try and
put into coherent shape the strange and
tragical business which had so fearfully
altered him.
He was coming to town one autumn
evening for few days leave from Gum
nerSholt, where he was quartered. can
see him as plainly as if | had been there.
sDringing 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-of-ishness 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; at least he thought so, for it was
twilight, and he did not observe for the
first moment the figure of woman.
seated in a further corner, dressed in
dark clothes and thickly yelled.
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 a guest night at
mess, his nerves were not quite UP to
their usual tone. He was not the lad
however, TO be long in such a situation
without making some remark to his fel.
low-traveler, though in this case an un.
usual hesitation to do so came over him
owing to her mysterious appearance and
extreme stiffness. The between-light:
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.
"Aheml ahem!n he said at last, shift
ing one seat nearer to her and nearly Cd
posite; 81 hope l 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 I,
a seat exactly opposite to the figure
making another commonplace observa
ton. No response, or any movement.
''Asleep, suppose he said to him
self; and he sat quietly watching her
while the train ratified on for a mile n
two. a station was reached and a ston
page made, with the usual accom- ns y;
m nts OF screech and whistling and lam