Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-10
NO. 161.
Gales ano Skettbes.
rRE GHOST OF A CHANCE.
Continued from yester,lay.) }
A STRANGE STORY.

NSV"s""Su he" NSStSiu"s.f
He bent forward to examine the photo
graph. and presently saws mo" Then
say. "Will this help your memory ?" and
while he is still looking at the portrait
put down on the ledge Of the esel, just
under his eyes. an earring, Good God."
he cries. What are you up TOP What
have you taken this out of the capinet for9"
Il have not been near the cabinet II you
mean the place where You keep your
Jewels" Then what on earth" He
hesitaics. and. taking up the earring,
walks with it across the room To his treas
urc store. l cannot help. with my
dramatic instincts. watching him eagerly
and il is as good rs play to see his SUR
prise and wonder when, opening the capi
net, he takes forth the earring he picked
up in the railroad carriage. and finds that
he has the fellow TO il in his other hand.
Yes; there they are. clearly the pair
two birds c'aws each holding revolving
wheel. Now look at the portrait again.
| say. when he had stood for minute re-
garding me with blank amazement.
don't say that you will because it is mere
speculation. but do YOU not see in this por
trait of Miss Naughton something to re-
mind You of the young lady, your myster-
ious travelling companion ?" He is exam-
ming the photograph again. "Well it is
very absurd. but really, now you put il to
me. there might be something of the same
look in il, and" He ponders "Was
10 she, then--Rose-ait all, that. |. in y
measure was reminded ofthat night ? On
my honor l seem to think il must have
been" Then. turning to me. he asks
''But what is the meaning of all this
Why do YOU want to know whether can
see any resemblance in this photograph
to that girl, and where above all did you
get this other earring from? Explain
Yourself, for Gods sake.
because as say lreplied, 'it seems
to be Just possible that. if their be such a
thing rs ghostly influence, or spiritualism,
or clairvoyance. or whatever one may
choose to call such Observation-Disclosures /
say. il SUI III things exist. you may have
received the warning to leave your seat rs
you did through the mysterious influence
of Mrs. Naughton herself, for she was in
that same railroad train that same night
and those earrings belonged 10 her."
Again the wonder in his face would have
been amusing had it not been mingled
with pain. "Incredible. preposterous ~
ut stlu ut iCuGIl. lOu say tiitb MISS
Naughton is n friend of your wife's?"
"Yes. | will explain how came upon
the fact forthwith. Yesterday as my wife
was dressing she asked me TO fetch u
brooch from the drawer Of her dressing
case. On opening it the first thing that
caught my eye amonga lot of little trinkets
was that earring, and moment 8 examin-
alton showed IL to be the counterpart of
Al, la
ly by. The device was not to be easily
forgotten. You may judge of my sur
prise. and how it led to my telling her
about your strange adventure. Then we
went into the matter. and she on her part
told me how the earring had belonged to
an old school-fcllow of hers, Rose Naugh-
ton by name. who had lately gone abroad.
and how two years ago she had been in a
fearful railway accident one evening while
on her way from Peterborough to ball
at Grantham-how two Of her party had
been killed while sitting beside her how
she escaped by a miracle. uninjured, and
how, among the trilling events connected
with the terrible circumstances, she had
lost one of her earrings-one OF pair
which had been given to her that night by
the man 10 whom she was engaged, and
who was himself killed.
Ny friends face. with strange pervcr-
sity, seemed for Il moment to lose its
panied expression rs uttered these last
words. resumed:
"When Miss Naughton went abroad she
gave my wife her photograph--that on the
easel-and amongst other souvenirs that
odd earring; for 1t appears that the tragi-
cal accident brought about one good re-
suit for hcr--it cut short an cngagcmct
entirely distasteful to her, and into which
she had been forced-wcll, didn't hear
exactly how; at any rate, she never loved
the man--disliked him in fact. my wife
says, and SO had no compunction about
giving the earring to my wife. who was
struck with the quaintness Of the device
You will readily understand how this
story instantly associated itself with you
in my mind A comparison Of dates and
other circumstances left no doubt. / was
bound TO come and tell you; and hope
my dear fellow, you will acquit me now
Of an idle intrusion into your affairs.
assure you hadn't the faintest idea thai
you knew Miss Naughton by name.
thought you might have seen her, as be-
lieve you did; for assuredly her presence
l-either in the flesh or in the spirit, which.
ever it was-saved your liie."
My friend, full Of amazement, held ou
his hand, and in shaking mine warmly
evinced more feeling than had ever Civ
en- him credit for.
'Of course, of course, old man, hs
said, IL knew you didn't mean anything
,only was taken by surprise, as we'll
might be for was tremendously fond o.
Rose Naughton once-am SO still. for fht
matter Of that--and the sight of her face
rather took me aback. We were half en-
gagged once, only her old mother broke
it off; and was angry and hasty, and
and dropped them, and have been sorr,
ever since and then was too proud, ant
in short. have made an ass of myself ID,
you know where she is now? Do you know
where she is gomez"
"No; but can find out
II wish you would; for after all yo,
tell me have strong inclination to fol
low her, and try my luck again-try |
fortune will turn her wheel for my bene
fit s..as
Most certainly do so; you would b
flying in her face if you did not; for reall
this is the most astonishing thing. on th
fC0ntinued on fourfh pa0e