Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-08

NO. 159.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE GHOST OF A CHANCE,
A STRANGE STORY i.

| Inc Wnpfe aiIaiT SOUNDS ike tne WttueSt
romance. Granted. II is not for me to go
into the question of its probability; sim
| ply record certain facts which have come
under my notice.
| Here is y Young fellow, like scores OF
others. with just enough property to live
on and to deprive him Of the spur TO eN-
ertion. A harrister, quite brietless, dab
bling in art. literature and music, and do
ing nothing with either. Among other
tastes he has one for quaint jewelry-not
for his own adornment, but he collects it,
and possesses many curious specimens,
ancient and modern. know him very
well. and he has oilen shown me these
treasures. One day call on him, after y
long vacation. and find him throwing off
slip after slip of manuscript.
Excuse me five minutes" he says,
land shall have finished. have made
a wonderful addition 10 my collection, and
| in the oldest manner. | am writing
story about it. and--there-that's the end
of the first part" He has been scribbling
away while speaking, and now lays down
his pen. You shall read for yourself,
he goes on, gathering up his manuscript.
show IL came about. and you will under
| stand why am rather excited at recalling
| this. the narrow escape and the strangest
adventure ! ever had in my liie." Then,
lighting cigar and giving me another,
he settles me in an easy chair by the fire
and begins pacing the room, while read
as follows:
| left Kings Cross by the night mail ON
the 10th of last August. ! was out of
health, tired and wanted to sleep; so. set
tling my traps on the seat to my satisfac-
ton. | suddenly remembered that had
nothing to read, and called the guard to
the window that he might get me book.
Returning in minute. he put into my
hands Bulwer's Strange Story" and as
gave him the money he said: Now
we're off in one minute, sir :; | hope you'll
like my choice" Leisurely turning over
the leaves by the light OF the carriage
lamp. very soon found that the work my
friend had selected was utterly distasteful
to me, and regretted having wasted my
money upon il. II was a story. as most
people know, treating of spiritual influ-
ences, subject on which l was thorough
ly sceptical. soon got tired of it 4; but 1t
served its purpose, and sent me to sleep,
and sound asleep ! remained till the train
stopped at Peterborough.
Only partly awake. ! remember letting
down the window, and that several per-
| sons in the crowd on the platform tried 10
get into the carriage; one fellow, Just az
we were starting, thrust his head so far in
that ] thought he was going to make n
harlequin's leap for it. Drowsily congrat-
ulating myself on having had the door
locked, was dropping off to sleep again
when | suddenly discovered ! was not
alone.
Who was that seated in the opposite
corner of the carriage? A young lady
assuredly. The dim light from the lamp
enabled me to discern that she was in
evening dress, with the hood of her opera
cloak over her head. She seemed to be
busy fastening her earring into her left
ear.
"How odd" thought. "that ! should
not have seen her get in. -
Here were my legs stretched across the
seat with my rug over them, and surely
must have known if she had passed me !;
and the door had certainly never been
opened. Very angry and puzzled de-
termined to demonstrate with the guard
at the next station. What an odd costume
too. for travelling, thought; couldn't
make it out. The young lady was very
quiet and still, and as she appeared not
to notice me hardly liked to begin any
conversation. so sat watching her till
sleep again overlook me.
All at once the slackening of speed
and the shrill, horrible. hollow danger
whistle of the engine again disturbed my
comfortable nap, and lazyly looking out.
| found to my surprise that we were not
stopping at any station, and that outside
nothing could be seen. A darkness that
might be felt was all that met the eye
when turned TO the open window, while
the fresh damp air announced that we
were in the midst Of country, and the
signing Of the niCt breeze told Of woods
not far off. Neither station, lights nor
dwellings were to be discerned in the utter
gloom. A furtive glance across the car
rage showed the young lady still quietly
sitting there fidgeting with her caring,
and not the least alarmed at this inter-
ruption to our journey. called to the
guard as he ran by the moment we stopped
and putting my head out of the window,
inquired what was the matter.
| "Nothing. sir" he said cheerily; mo
danger: only the lines blocked. and we
are waitir g till they signal us to go on.
expect Il $ a goods that's being shunted.
It'll be all right. sir. in few minutes"
| then said IN low tone.
'.What possessed you to place this
Young lady in my carriage, when so es-
|. pecially enioined you to keep it empty3"
II never let anybody in,'' protested the
man with surprise. "A young lady, do
you say?" Springing on the steps as I
drew my head back. he looked into the
carriage and exclaimed, why. there's no
lady there, sir,'' s ag
Iturned, andimagine my confusion, she
was gone! This passes my understand
ing" said ]. .'for though I'll swear she
was there before spoke to you, there is
certainly nobody there now; she must
have gone out
| crossed to the further door and tried
it; it was locked sure enough. let down
the glass and looked out, but in the dark
ness, of course, could see nothing.
why, you've been dreaming, SIR said
the guard. as /, looking somewhat small,
resumed my seat.
Don't tell me" cried ]. Indignantly,
and disgusted at the absurdity Of the DO.
sition: 'I'm perfectly convinced that she
was in the carriage! Why, here is posi-