Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-09
NO. 100.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE GHOST or A CHANCE.
A STRANGE STORY.
Continued from Yesterday.

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 hut for the presence of
my mysterious companion, there l should
be lying-crushed. MANNED, perhaps dead
Horrible +! The bead broke out upon my
brow rs thought oft. When my nerves
had recovered little. sought out the
guard. who pale and grave, was endeavor-
ing to reassure the frightened passengers
assembled on the bank. He was comfort
ing 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 l. ''you must
explain TO me what you meant respecting
that young lady-the apparition. l mean,
as you chose to cali il. You said an ac-
cident-''
''I.or bless you. sir,n he interrupted
sadly. a twas only chaff. never heard
anything abont a young lady but thought
rs you seemed bit scared It would make
your mind easier like, and that's why
shifted You. cant give any reason why
such fancy came into my head but it's
well it did sir. tor it just saved your life.
saved il by the ghost of chance as one
may say" and there was faint return
of the humorous twinkle in the mans
eye rs he thus aptly made n play upon the
words, ''it was the carriage you were in
that suffered most" "Well there's many
true word spoken in Jest" returned /.
Are there many hurt ?"
About seven. hear. sir. and four or
more killed. We don't know the cause at
present. 81. '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 bit.
SIR" added the man. as he was called
away. The lamps of the special train
were now sighted. and we, the mscathed.
were speedily in our places, and arrived
at our destination without further hurt or
hindrance. But what perplexed ideas
whirled in rapid succession through my
mind rs we hurled along Here was
saved from dreadful and untimely death
by-what? Not dream, certainly but
whatever il was. by most marvellous in
terposition. or perhaps. as the guard said
"by the ghost of a chance" How could
| call It a dream or entertain the notion of
ghostly influence, when the earring picked
up by my own hand was now safe in my
pocket' Was it safe ! looked. Yes.
safe enough, the wheel suspended from
the birds claw. A wheel of fortune /;
had indeed proved TO me.
"And do YOU mean to tell me this is n
fact ?" asked ironically. as ! finished my
friends manuscript. Every word Of It,
as am a living man." he answered.
"See, here is the earring. and he handed
me the trinket. well" continued, af-
ter examining it. what are you going to
do ? How are you going to finish your
story'" "Oh, | don't know. Can you
give nae a notionp" He knows | have an
eye for dramatic situations. Not I, in
deed you will have to invent that, sus-
spect." And we talked good deal more,
of course, about the strange affair before
end of two years the story was not fin
ished. My friend is only dabbler, and
seldom brings any of his efforts in art Of
literature to successful issue. little
thought it would devolve on me to take
up the thread of this one and finish it for
him.
Before parting however, / asked, "Did
you see the girls facep'
Not very clearly. The light was dim,
| could not distinguish her features pre-
cisely nor the color of her eyes, nor any
details exactly, you understand; vet there
was look k''-be went on after pause
(which reminded me Of somebody, or /
thought it did, could not tell whom, that
| had seen before. 1t was a mere impress
sion, quite Uniformed, vague to degree.
had forgotten. even. that anything Of the
kind crossed my mind until you asked the
question
Would you know her again. ?''
'Humph ."--he hesitated-"I hardly
know. ] think should IL she were SINH
| larly dressed and posed Then he said
goodbye; and for two years donot think
| we have mentioned the subject above
twice. once, when / inquired II he had
| finished the story; and once later on, when
| If did not clear it up, / at least threw
weird light upon mystery; the light by
which | am enabled to make sort Of
second part to the first which 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 which he is doing.
he does not rise when ! enter, and stand
talking to him fora while behind his chair.
We have not seen each other lately, and
he rallies me good-humoredly about drop
ping the acquaintance Of careless bache-
lors like himself since my marriage-for
that momentous event has happened with
in the last six months. He was abroad at
the time, and does not know my wife vet.
Soon we passed from this interesting topic
and said something about the water
color drawing he was working at, rs |
still stood watching its progress over his
shoulder. 1t was a 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 a girl seated on
a stile.
''But stay he cried, ..you should sec
it under white mount. have one here
cut out to the size. Wait, let me get it,
He arose and went to the other end of the
room.
An idea struck me and taking from nv
pocket a certain cabinet-sized photograph,
which had brought to show him, I stood
it on the easel IN front Of HIS picture.
which it exactly covered. Returning