The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-03-11
THE GHOST OF A CHANCE.
A STRANGE STORY.


The whole affair sounds like the wild
est romance. Granted. 1t is not for
me to go into the question Of its proba-
bility; I simply record certain facts
which have come under my notice.
Here is young fellow, like scores OF
others, with Just enough property to
live on and to deprive him of the spur
to exertion. A barrister, quite briefiess,
dabbling in art literature and music,
and doing nothing with either. Among
other tastes he has one for quaint jewel
ry-not for his own adornment, but he
collects it and possesses many curious
specimens, ancient and modern. / know
him very we'll, and he has often shown
me these treasures. One day | call on
him, after a long vacation, and find him
throwing off slip. after slip OF manu-
script.
"Excuse me five minutes" he says,
"and shall have finished. Ihave made
wonderful addition to my collection,
and in the oldest manner. j am writing
story about it, and-there--thats 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, "how
it came about, and you will understand
why / am. rather excited at recalling
this. the narrow escape and the strangest
adventure ever had in my life"
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 18th of last August. l was out
Of health, tired, and wanted to sleep; so,
tsettling my traps on the seat to my sat
isfaction, Lsuddenly remembered that
had nothing to read, and l called the
guard to the window. that he might get
me book. Returning in a minute, he
put in 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
,he light Of the carriage lamp, / very
soon found that the work my friend had
selected was utterly distasteful to me,
and I regretted having wasted my money
upon it. It was a story, as most people
know, treating of spiritual influences, a
subject on which ] was thoroughly scep-
teal soon got tired Of it; but it
served its purpose, and sent me to sleep,
and sound asleep l 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
to get into the carriage; one fellow, just
as we were starting, thrust his head 80 far
in that thought he was going to make
harlequin's leap for it. Drowsily con-
graduating myself on having had the
door locked, was dropping off to sleep
again when suddenly discovered i 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
appeared to be busy fastening her ear
ring into her left ear.
"How odd," l thought, "that I should
not have seen her get inW Here were
my legs still stretched across the seat
with my rug over them, and surelysl
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 ap odd cos
tune, too, for travelling, / thought;
couldn't make it out. The young lady
was very quiet and still, and, as she ap-
peared not to notice me, / hardly liked
to begin any conversation, so | sat watch
ing 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 nv
comfortable nap, and lazily looking out
found to my surprise we were not stop.
ping at any station, and that outside
nothing could be seen. A darkness tina,
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 vi tIic HiShV DiOcAO to'u'oA "oous
not far off. Neither station, lights moi
| dwelling were to be discerned in the uttel
| gloom. A furtive glance across the car.
i rage showed the young lady still quietly
Visiting there fidgeting with her earring
|. and not the least alarmed at this inter
n ruption to our journey. I called to the
guard as he ran by the moment We
| stopped, and, putting my head out Of
the window, inquired what was the mat
n ter?
h Nothing, sir" he said cheerilv; ''nc
n danger; only the lines blocked, and We
are waiting until they signal us to go on
N ] expect it's goods that's being shunted
\ Ifll be all right, sir, in a few minutes >
N I then said, in a low tone, "What pos
sessed you to place this young lady in
my carriage, when so especially en-
n joined you to keep it emptyw
4 II never let anybody in" protested
4 the man, with surprise. "A young lady
Il do Won sayW