The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-04-17

drew my head back, he looked into the
carriage and exclaimed, ''Why, there S
no lady there, sir!''
turned, and imagine my confusion
she was gone! "This passes my under
standing" said /, "for though L swear
she was there before l spoke to you,
there is certainly nobody there now; she
must have got out" | crossed to the
further door, and tried it; it was locked,
sure enough. l let down the glass and
looked out, but in the darkness, of
course, could see nothing. 'Why,
you've been dreaming, SIR" said the
guard, as |, looking somewhat small, re-
sumed my se+ts
Don't tel He,n cried /, Indignantly,
and disguised a he absurdity of the po-
sition; "rm perfectly convinced that
she was in the carriage! Why, here is
positive proof" 1 went on, as per-
ceived, and Immediately picked up, a
gold earring from the floor between her
seat and mine. Amusement, mingled
with doubt and distrust, was plainly de-
picted on the guards handsome counte-
nance, as, regarding me with puzzled,
half-comlcal expression, he said, after
a minute, "Well, sir, if you really be-
ieve you saw her, should advise your
changing your carriage" "Why sop
| demanded, in surprise. because it's
well to be on the safe Side, sir, for I've
heard something of this kind before.
They say an accident is almost certain to
occurwhen an apparition has been seem"
So, opening the door, he began to col
lect my bags and traps, while |, per-
picked and not without some feeling of
alarm, alighted, and followed him hasti-
ly along the side of the line. "You
might have seen some ladies and gentle
men, all dressed for party, get into the
compartment in front of yours at Pc
tersborough," resumed the man, as he
steered me by the light of the lantern
over the rough ground; "and fine and
merry they were; they were going to a
ball at Grantham. l fancy you must be
dreaming, sir, for 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
clear, with but few more words | was
very soon again locked in and left to
myself.
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. 1t was
a wheel suspended from birds claw,
which turned when touched. Surely, as
told the guard, this trinket was proof
that | had not been deceived or dream
ing; at least, this was not the apparition
of an earring, at any rate. What could
it mean? The more thought of it the
more l was perplexed; and finally put
it away in my portemonnaie; and, with
mind wearied with puzzling over the
strange occurrence, | at length fell asleep
once more-but not for long. Suddenly
l was rudely awakened by a terrific crash
and a shock which threw me violently
forward, while the carriage lurched over
and nearly capsized.
l knew at 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 catas-
trophe. 1t was difficult to make ones
way in the darkness and confusion; but
what were my feelings of horror and
amazement, joined to intense thankful
ness, when l discovered, after some
light had been obtained from hastily
l. hot hn I ho1
previously occupied was lying COM
plete wreck! / knew it by its color and
the number, which l had remarked, still
visible on the battered panel. Then l
learned that several passengers in the
other compartments of it had suffered
fearfully, and | was so overcome that
felt quite dizzy.
Here was a 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 but for the presence
of my mysterious companion there |
should be lying-crushed, manned, per-
haps dead. Horrible! The bead broke
out on my brow as thought of it. When
my nerves had recovered little sought
out the guard, who, pale and grave, was
endeavoring to reassure the frightened
passengers assembled on the bank. He
was comforting them with the intelli-
gence that special train would arrive
shortly from Grantham and take them
from the scene of the disaster
"My good fellow" said /, "you must
explain to me what you meant respecting
that young lady-the apparition, mean,
as you chose to call it. You said an ac-
cident-" "Lor' bless you, SIR" he in
terrupted, sadly, "'was only my chat.
| never heard anything about young
lady; but thought as you seemed bit
scared it would make your mind easier
like, and that's why | shifted you. l
can't give any reason why such fancy
came into my head; but it's well it did,
sir, for it just saved your life, saved it
by the ghost of chance as one may
say" and there was faint return of the
odd humorous twinkle in the mans eve
as he thus aptly made a play upon the
words. 1t was the carriage you We're
in that suffered mosti' "Well, there's
many true word spoken in Jest" re-
turned l. care there many hurt?'
"About seven, fear, sir, and four or
more killed. We don't know the cause
at present, sir; 'twasn't collision, and
don't amman IN have anvtbipo m IN do uy;tl,