Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-01
WHOLE NO. 279a

l Ialnly none or them got into your carriage, though one did try ;1 and as to separations,
 well" He did not finish the sentence, for just then we found an empty compartment at
 the rear'o of the train and the engines whistle at the same moment announcing the line clear,
 With but few more words was very soon again locked in and left to myself
 My nrst act when the train was once more Tn motion was to examine carefully the ear ring so unaccountablY found. The shape struck me as curious. It was a wheel sus- pended from birds claw, which turned when touched. Surely, as I told the guard this trlnket was proof that had not been deceivG ed or dreaming; at least this was not the ap- partition of an earring, at any rate What could it mean? The more thought of it, the more was Derplexed; and finally put it away in my portemonnaie; and, with mind Wearied with puzzling over the strange occur ence, l at length fell asleep once more-but not for long. Suddenly was rudely awaken | ed by a terrific crash and 8 shock which threw me violently forward, while the carriage lurched over and nearly capsized. l knew at once an accident had happened the accident half prophesed by the guard As soon as could collect my scattered seuses and found myself unhurt, clambered out of the carriage and ran down the line to the front l ot the train, to ascertain the extent of the catastrophe. It was difficult to make ones way in the darkness and confusion but what were my feelings of horror and amazement, joined to intense thankfulness when discov- cred, after some light had been obtained from 1 a hastily kindled bonfire, that the carriage T. had previously occupied was lying complete wreck! knew it by it's color and the num- ber which had remarked, still visible on the battered pannel. Then 1 learned that several | passengers in the other compartments of it had suffered fearfully, and was so overcome that felt quite dizzy.
 Here was a wonderful and miraculous es- cape 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 should be lylug-c crushed, maimed, perhaps dead! Horr ble! The beads broke out on my brow as thought of it. When my nerves had recovered little, sought out the guard, who, pale and grave, was endeavoring to reassure the frightened passengers assembled en the bank. He was comforting them with the intelligence that a special train would arrive shortly from Grant, ham, and take them from the scene of the disaster. ...-
 My good fellow" said I, ''you must ex- plain to me what you meant respecting that young lady-the apparition, mean, as you chose to call it. You said, an accident f" "Lor bless you, sir" he interrupted sadly, ''twas only my chaff, l never heard anything about young lady; but 1 thought as you seemed a bit scared it would make your mind. easier like, and that's why 1 shifted you. can't give any rCason why such fancy came into my head but It's we'll did, sir, for it just saved your life, saved it by the ghost of a chance, as one may say;" and there was the ghost of twinkle in the mans eye as he thus aptly made a play upon the words. ''It was the carriage you were in. that suffered most. r "Well, there's manya true word spoken in jest," returned 1. Are there many hurt!"
 About seven fear, sir, and four or more killed We don't know the cause at present, q sir twasn't collision. and don't appear to have anything to do with the stopping of the train awhile ago. These things do turn one up more than a bit, sir, added the man. as he was called away. The lamps of the special train were now sighted, and we, the unscath- ed, were speedily in our places, and arrived at our destination without further hurt or hindrance. But what perplexed ideas wbirl- ed ln rapid succession through my mind as we were hurried along Here was 1, saved from dreadful and untimely death by-what2 Not drean certainly; but, whatever it was by most marvellous interposition, or, per-. haps, as the guard said, "by the ghost of chance" How could I call it dream or en- tain the notion of ghostly influence, when the earring picked up by my own hand was now safe in my pocket Was it safe? l looked. Yes, safe enough, the wht el suspended from the birds claw. A wheel of fortune it had indeed proved to me- ,.. .t I s4. u
 And do you mean to tell me this isa fact 2p l asked ironically, as finished my friends manuscript. "Every word of it, as l am living man," he answered. See, here stiie earring," and he handed me the trinket.1 We'll l continued, after examining it, What are you going to do? How are you going to finish your story ?" ''Oh, I don't know. Can you give me a notion P He knowsI have an eye for dramatic situations. ''Not ], indeed; you will have to invent that, l suspect" And we talked good deal more of course, about the strange affair before left him and equally of course, at the end of two years the story was not finished. My friend is only dabbler, and seldom brings any of his efforts in art or literature to fruitful is- sue. little thought that it would devolve on ne to take up the thread of this one, and finish it for him.
 Before parting, however, asked, .'DidyOu see the girls face ?' "Not very clearly The light was dim. 1 could not distinguish her features precisely, nor the color of her eyes, nor any details exactly, you understand yet there was lOok"-he went on after pause -"which reminded me of somebody or thought it did, l could not tell whom, that. I !. had seen before. It was a mere impression, quite uniformed, vague to degree. had forgotten, even, that anything of theN kind crossed my mind until you asked the qdest tien." '.Would you know, her again P, lo D
 "Humph !"-he hesitated-'..I hardly know. l think 1 should if she were similarly dressed and posed."a Then he said good bye; and for two years do not think we have mentioned the subject above twice; once when Il inquired if he had finished the story and once later on, when, if did not clear 1t up, Tat least threw weird light upon the mystery; the light by which am enabled to make sort of second part to the first which I found him writing.
 My friends rooms again: looking much as usual save that he is at his easel instead of at his desk Again, as usual, keen for the time being upon what he is doing, he does not rise when enter, and stand talking to him for awhile behind his chair We have not seen each other lately, and he rallies me good-hu- moredly about dropping the acquaintance of careless bachelors like himself since my mar riage-for that momentous event has happened within the last six months He was abroad at the time, and does not know my wife, yet Soon we passed from this interesting topic and l said something about the water.color draw ing he was working at; as I stiIl stood watch" ing it's progress over his, shoulder. It wasa 1 small study, done the previous evening at A life school as he told me, from. what artists call the draped model-a rustic figure of girl seated on a stile. a1ii;f3ns ? Go7i tss But stay, z he cried, '.youi sshoHldspsee it under white mount, have one here, cut out to the size. Wait, let me get it."; He rose and went to the other end of the room. ' An idea struck me; and taking from m pock44 ct 9 certain cablnet-sized photograph. which 4 had brought to show him, I stood it on the easel in front of his picture which it exactfv covered. Returning with the mount, and talking volnbly about, what hei was gong to do inEpainting, he automatically put the hol low centre of the white cardboard just over the photograph, but without, for monlent, no- ticing the change had made Suddenly he saw it, and, with an exclamation of wonder, started back. t,, .a,, ,sr. ,.-.,.--f+. .,,-t.sf,
 "How came that here ?'' he went on, pale and agitated, as he looked inqniringly from