The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-11

garding me with puzzled, half comical
expression, he said, after minute
well, sir, if you really believe you
saw her, | should advise your changing
your carriage"
"Why soT I demanded in surprise.
Because it's we'll to be on the safe
side, sir, for I've heard something of this
kind before. Young ladies are dangerous
customers in trains sometimes, sir" he
added. with the twinkle coming into his
eye again.
As 7 drew myself up Indignantly he
continued:
"They say an accident is almost GER
tain to occur when an apparition has
been seen."
So, opening the door, he began to col
lect my bags and traps, while |, per-
picked, and not without some feeling OF |
alarm, alighted and followed him hastily |
along the side of the line.
"You might have seen some ladies and
gentlemen, all dressed for a party, get
into the compartment in front Of yours
at Peterborough" resumed the man as
be steered me by the light of his lantern
over the rough ground; "and fine and
merry they were, they were going to a
ball at Grantham.. I fancy you must
have been dreaming, sir, for certainly
none of them got into your carriage,
though one did try; and as to appari-
tions, we'll"
He did not finish the sentence, for
just then we found an empty compart-
ment at the rear of the train; and the
engines whistle at the same moment an
nouncing the line clear, with but few
more words was very soon again locked
in and left to myself.
My first act when the train was once
more in motion was to examine carefully
the earring SO unaccountably found. The
shape struck me as curious. 1t was
wheel suspended from a birds claw which
turned when touched. Surely, as told
the guard, this trinket was proof that
| had not been deceived or dreaming; at
least, this was not the apparition Of an
earring, at any rate. What could it
mean? The more / thought Of it, the
more l was perplexed; and finally | put
it away in nay portemonnaie; and, with
mind wearied with ppzzling over the
strange occurrence, at length fell asleep
once more-but not for long Suddenly
I was rudely awakened by a terrible
crash and shock which threw me vio-
lently forward, while the carriage lurcbed
over and nearly capsized.
knew at once an accident had hap
pened-the accident half prophested by
the guard. As soon al / could collect
my scattered senses ard found myself
unhurt, I clambered'out of the carriage
and ran down the line to the front of the
train, to ascertain the extent of the ca
tastrophe. 1t was difficult to make ones
way in the darkness and confusion; but
what were my feelings of horror and
amazement, Joined to intense thankful
ness, when I discovered, after some light
had been obtained from hastily kindled
bonfire, that the carriage had previous
ly occupied WAS lying complete wreck.
l knew it by its color and the number,
which | had remarked, still visible on
the battered panel Then | learned that
several passengers in the other compart-
ments Of it had suffered fearfully, and /
was so overcome that felt quite dizzy.
Here was wonderful and miraculous
escape indeed. All the events OF the
last half hour rushed through my
troubled brain. On that smashed and
splintered seat had sat; and but for the
presence of my mysterious companion,
there I.should be lying--crushed, manned,
perhaps dead! H6rriblel The beads
broke out on my brow as thought of it.
When my nerves had recovered little,
l sought out the guard, who, pale and
grave, was endeavoring to reasure the
frightened passengers assembled on the
bank. He was comforting them with
the intelligence that special train would
arrive shortly from Grantham, and take
them from the scene of the disaster.
"My good fellow" said I. "you must
explain to me what you meant respecting
that young lady-the apparition, / mean,
as you choose to call it. You said an
accident"
"Lor, bless you SIR" he interrupted
fsadly, "twas only my chat. never
heard anything about.a young lady; but
| thought as you seemed bit scared it
would make your mind easier like, and
that's why shifted you. I can't give
any reason why such fancy came into
my head; but its well it did, sir, for it
Just saved your life, saved it by the
ghost of chance, as one may say" and
there was faint return of the old hu-
morous twinkle in the mans eye as he
thus aptly made play upon the words.
"It was the carriage you were in that
suffered most.
"Well, there's many true word
spoken in jest" returned /.
care there many hurt@
"About seven, / fear, sir, and four or
more killed. We don't know the cause at
present, sir; 'twasn't collision, and don't
appear to have anything to do with the
stopp ng of the train awhile ago. These
things do turn one up more than bit,
sir" added the man, as he was called
away.
The lamps Of the special train were