The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-04-01
TnR aHesg OF q cHAgcGEs.
a Strange story.

romance. GRANTED. 1t is not for me TO
60 into the question of its probability;
simply record certain facts which have
come under my notice. . id
Here is Q young. fellow. like scores OF
others, with just enough property to live
on and todeprive him of the spur to ax-
ertion. a barrister, quite briefless, dab.
ping in ayt, literature and music, and
doing nothing with either. Amongst
other tastes he has one for quaint ieweiry
not FOX his own adolnment, but he coi.
lects 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 long vacation, and find him
throwing off alp after slip Of manuscript.
Excuse me Eve mii.otes," he. says,
s'and I shall havc flushed, have
made q wonderful addition to my collec.
tion, and in the. oldest manner. am
writing o story about it, and-there--
that's the end of the first part" He has
been scribbling away whilespeaking, and
now lays down his pom. "You shall read
for yourself" he goes on, gathering up
his manuscript" how it came about, and
you will understand why am rather ex-
cited At recalling this, the narrow escape
aud the .strangest adventure ever had
in my life." Then, lighting q cigar. and
giving me another, he settles me In an
easy-chair by the fire, begins pacing the
room, while ]. read as; follows; f
LEFT Kings Gross by the night mail
on thpe56th 0flast August. was out of
health, tired, ard wanted to sleep so,
settling my traps on the seat to my salts
faction, suddenly remembered that [
had nothing to read, and called the
guard to the window that he might get me
y book. Returning in minute, he put
into my hands Bulwer's Strange Story .
and, as gave him the money, no said:
Now we're off in one minute, air;
hope you'll like my choice" heisuroly
turning over the leaves by the lightsof
the carriage lamp, livery soon found that
the work my friend had selected was ut
terly distastefhl to me, and. regretted
having wasted my money upon it II
was story as n.est people know, treating
OF spiritual Influences, subject on which
was thoroughly skeptical. ] soon got
sent me to sleep, and sound asleep rs
mained till the train stcrned ct Peterbol
rough.
Only partly awake, remember letting
down the window, and thatseveral persons
in the crowd on the platform tried to get
into the carriage; one fellow, just as we
were ssa..:ng, thrust his head 60 far in
that thought he was going to make a
'harlequin's leap for it. Drowsily cor
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 op-
posite corner of the carriage7 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 herb She appeared
TO 20 busy fastening her earring into her
left ear.
"How odd," thought, "that I should
not have seen her get in P' Here were
my legs still stretched across the seat with
my rug over, them, and surely / must
have known if shs had passed me; and
the door had certainly never been opened.
Very angry and puzzled determined to
remonstrate with the guard at the next
station. What an cdd costume, too, for
travelling, thought ! j couldn't make it
out. The young lady was very quiet and
still, and, as9she appeared not to notice
me, hardly liked to begin any CONVEX
sation, SO sat watching her till sleep
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, lazily looking Gut,
/ found to my surprise we were not stop.
ping ut 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, whilst
.Le T-esa !::::r ;.: SaaS NO
were in the midst of country, and the
night 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 carriage
shoWed the young lady still quietly sit
ting there iidS5ting with her earring,
and not the least alarmed at this in
terruption TO our journey. I called to
the guard as she+ ran by the rnoment we
stopped, and putting my head out of
the window, inquired what vas the mat
ter. 81
Nothing, siy,n he said cheerily; 'ino
danger; only the liness blocked; and we
are waiting till they signal us TO 60. on.
expect it's goods train that's being
.shunted. It'll be ali right, Sir, in q few
minutes then said, in lovg tone
"WLat possessed you TO place this young
lady3in my carriage, when / 90 especially
enjoined you toekeep it empty 7n "I
never let anybody in" protested the man,
with surprise. ga young lady, do yon
say?p Springing ON the step. as drew
my head back. he Looked into tho car
riage, and pgclaimed: "Why, there's
no lady. there, sir r.
turned, and, imagine my confusion
--5she, was gonei This passes my un:
ilerstanding, said I; +for though I'il
swee- shs was there before I spoke TO you,
there is certainly nobody there now; she
must have got out" Tcrosaed to che fur
ther door, and tried it; &c was locked
s..se a.c..s,. &c. &c. ivwa5 si.e gias5 anu
looked out, but In the darkness, of conrse
could sec nothing. why, you've been
dreaming, sir,n said the guard, Us I,
looking somewhat small, resumed my
seat.
..Don's tell MOI criedI, Indignantly,
s,sa. .:sts. at the ;.ususdity OF .he po
sition; I'm perfectly convinced that
she was IN the carriaeei Why. here il
positive proof / went on, as / perceived
aud Immediately picked up. a gold ear.
ring from the floor between her seat and
nina. A Arnazennent mingled with ienhl
aud diAtrust, Was plainly depicted on
The guards handsome countenance, as
regarding me With a puzzled, half-com,
ical expression, he ssid, after minute
sWell, SIR, If you really bsi.!!sS==a you saw
her, 1 should advise your changing
your carriage"
s'Nhy so ~ II demanded, in surprise
HBecAtge it's well 70 ba on khn Saff