The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-06-11
THE GHOST OF A CHANCE,


est romance. Granted. 1t is not for
me Ia go INTO the question of its proba-
billty; simply record certain facts hich
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 Ia cx-
ertlon. 4 barrister, quite hrietieSs, dab
bling III art, literature and music,
and doing nothing with either. Among
other tastes he has one COR quaint
Iewelry-not for his own alornment, but
he collects II and possesses many curious
specimens, ancient and modern. Iknow
him very well, and he has often shown
me these treasures. One day | call on
him, after long vacation, and find him
throwing off slip after slip of manuscript.
Excuse me five minutes" he saws,
land | shall have finished. | have made
wonderful addition TO my collection,
and III the oldest manner. | am writing
story about it, and-there-that' the
end of the first part" He had been
scrbbling away while talking, and now
lays down his pen. "Iou shall read for
yourself, he goes on, gathering mp his
manuscript, "hOw II came about, and
yOu will understand why am rather cX-
cited al recalling this, the narrow escape
and the straugcst adventure | ever had
III my life. Then lighting Il cigar, and
giving me another, he settles ME III an
easy chair 10y the fire. and begins pacing
the room. while | read rs follows:
L left Kings Cross 10y the night mail
on the 10th Of last August. | was ont
of health. fred and wanted 10 sleep: 50
settling my traps on the seat Ia my sat
isfactiOn. | suddenly remembered | had
nothing Ia read. and | called the guard
to the window that he might get me
book. Returning III "A minute he put iu-
to my hand Bulwer's Strange Story"
and Is | gave him the money he said,
Nov, were OIL III one minute. sir: |
hope you'l like my choice" Lcisurcly
turning over the leaves by the light of
carriage lamp. very soon found that
the work my III nj had selected was ut
terly dstastcfuu To me, and / regretted
having wasted my money upon il. 1t
was story, rs most people know, treat
ing of spiritual influence, subject on
which | was thoroughly skcptical.
soon got tired of il: but il served its pur-
pose 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 III the crowd on the platform tried
t. get into the carriage; one fellow, just
rs We were starting, thrust his head So
far in that / thought he was going to
make a harlequin 5 leaptur II. Drowsily
congratulating myself on having had the
door locked, ! WAS dropping of To sleep
again when | suddenly discovered was
not alone Who was that seated III the
opposite corner If the carriage? A
young lady assurodly. The dim light
from the lamp enabled me - discern that
she was in evening dress, with the hood
of her oprra-cloak over her head. She
appeared 10 he busy fastening her ear
ring into hcr left ear.
Glow odd, Thought. that should
not have seen her get n?' Here were
my legs still 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-
tcrDuincd 10 demonstrate with the guard
at the next station. What an odd cos
tune, too, for travelling | thought |
couldn't make il out. The young lady
was very quiet and still, and us she APP
peared not Ia notice me, | hardly liked
i
ing her till sleep overlook me.
All at once the ~lackcning of speed,
and the shIill, horrible, hollow danger
whistle OF the engine again disturbed
my comfortable nap, and, lazily looking
out. found, 10 my surprise, that We
were not stopping at any station, and
that outside nothing could be seen. \
darkness that might lie felt was al that
I'm MI. II g.,
window, while the fresh damp air an
nOunccd that We were III the midst Of
country. and the signing of the night
breeze told of the woods not far of.
Neither station, lights nor dwellings
could he disccrncd IN the utter gloom.
4 fuIt;vc glance across the carriage
showed the young lady still quietly sit
ting there tilgctimg with her earring, ana
not the least alarmed at this Interrupt
ton To our Journey. ] called to the
guard as he ran by the moment We stop
ped, and putting my head ont OF the
window, inquired what was the matter
'NOthiup, sir. he SAID, checrilv; "no
danger: only the lines blocked, and We
are waiting till they signal us to go on.
expect it's goods that S been shunted.
It'll be all right, sir, in a few inmates. "
/ then said, in a low tone, "What pos
sessed You 10 place this young lady in
my carriage, when | so especially Ell
Joined YOU to kept cnpty?" 81 never
let anybody in, protested the man, with
surprise. "a young lady, do you say?"
Springng on the step as | drew my head
back, he looked into the carriage and cx-
claimed, "Why, there's no lady there,
sir"
/ turned, and Imagine my confusion,
she was gone "This passes my under
standing" said |, "for though I'll swear
she was there before L spoke to you,
there is certainly nobody there now; she
must have gone out. | crossed Ia the
further door and tried il; it was locked
sure enough. let down the glass and
looked out, but i'll the darkness, Of
course, could see nothing. "Why, you
have been dreaming, sir, saidthe guard,
MS /, looking somewhat small resumed
my seat. .,
and Disguised IT the absurdlty Of the
position; "Im perfectly convinced that
she WAS III the carriage! Why, here is
positive proof, ! went on, AZ / pcrcciv-
ed and Immediately picked up a gold car
ling from the floor between her seat and
mine. Amusement, mingled with doubt
and distrust, was plainly depicted Oh the
guards handsome countcnance, as re-
garding me with puzzled, half comical
expression, he said, after minute,
"Well, sir, if you really believe you saw
her, i should advise your changing your
caIriagc.
"Why 500" ] demanded in surprise.
Because it's well TO be on the safe side
for I've heard something of this kind be-
fore. Young ladies are dangerous Gus
toners III trains, sometimes" he added,
with the twinkle coming into his eye
again. As drew myself up somewhat
Indignantly, he continued: "Thcy say
an accident is always certain TO occur
when an apparition has been SEEN"
So, opening the door, he began to col
lect my bags and traps, while /, perplex-
ed, and not without some feeling of
alarm, aliglted, and followed him has
tily along the side of the line. "You
might have seen some ladies' and gen
tlemen, AL dressed for party, get
INTO the compartment i'll front of yours
ut Peterborough" resumed the man, as
he steered me 10y the light of his Ian
tern over In" rough Pround; "and fine
and merry they were. They were going
TO a ball at GraItham. / fancy Won
must have been dreaming, sir. for Ger
tainly none of them got into yonr car
riage, though one did try; and as tn