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

Immediately picked mp . gold earring
from the floor between her seat and
mine.
Amusement. mingled with doubt and
distrust, was plainly depicted on the
guards handsome countenance, as, re-
garding me with puzzled. half-cornical
expression, he said, after minute,
ssWell, sir, if you really believe Won
saw her. / should advise your changin q
your carriage"
''Because it's well to be on the safe
side. sir, for I've heard something of this
kind before. Young ladies are dangerous
customers in trains, sometimes, SIR" he
added, with the twinkle coming into his
eye again. x
As drew myself up somewhat indig-
nantly, he continued: They say an ac-
cident is always certain to occur when an
~apparition has been seem
So, opening the door. he began to collect
my bags and traps, while /, perplexed.
and not without some feeling of alarm,
alighted and followed him hastily along
the side Of the line.
''You might have seen some ladies and
gentlemen all dressed for party, get in
TO the compartment in front OF yours
at Peterborough, - resumed the man. as
he steered me by the light Of his lantern
over the rough ground land fine and
merry they were. they were going 10 a ball
at Grantham. I fancy you must have
been dreaming, sir. for certainly none Of
them got into your carriage, though ONE
did try; and as to apparitions, we'll
he did not finish the sentence, for just then
we found an empty compartment at the
rear 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 my
self.
My first act when the train was once
more in motion was to examine carefully
the earring so unaccountably found The
shape struck me as curious, II was a
wheel suspended from a birds claw, which
turned when touched. Surely, as told
the guard this trinket was proof that |
had not been deceived or dreaming; at
least this was not the apparition of an
earring, at any rate. What could it mean
The more thought of it. the more | was
pcrplexed; and finally pnt it away in
my portemonnaie; and, with mind
wearied with puzzling over the strange
occurrence, at length fell asleep once
more-rot for long. Suddenly | was
rudely awakened by a terrific crash and a
shock which threw me violently forward
while the carriage lurched over and near
ly capsized.
knew ut once an accident had hap
pened-the accident half prophesied by
the guard. AS soon as / could collect my
scattered senses and found myself unhurt,
! clambered out of the carriage and ran
down the line to the front of the train, to
ascertain the extent of the catastrophe.
II was difficult to make ones way in the
darkness and confusion; but what were
my feelings OF horror and amazement,
oined to intense thankfulness, when Ids
covered, after some light had been OBJ
tanned from hastily kindled bonfire, that
the carriage | had previously occupied
was lying a complete wreck | knew it
by its color and the number, which | had
rcm-rked. still visible on the battered
panel. Then learned that several pass
gers in the other compartments of it had
suffered fearfully. and was so overcome
that felt quite dizzy.
Continued Tomorrow