Middletown transcript., 1881-09-16
A STRANGE ADVENTURE.

left Kings Cross by the night mail
on the 10Th Of last August, said Char
ley King, as he settled himself down,
with very serious face, to tell what
he assured us was story true in every
particular | was tired, and went to
sleep almost Immediately, and remained
in that condition until the train stopped
at Peterboro.
Only partly awake, | remember letting
down the window, and that several
persons in the crowd on the platform
tried to get into the carriage. Drowsily
congratulating myself on having had
the door locked, | was dropping off to
sleep again when suddenly discovered
| 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 dis
Germ that she was in evening dress,
with the hood Of her opera-cloak over
her head. She appeared to be busy
fastening her earring into her left
ear.
How odd,'' | thought, I" that |
could not have seen her get in " Here
were my legs still stretched across the
seat with my rug over them, and surely
I must have known if she had passed ;
and the door had certainly never been
opened. Very angry and puzzled, de-
termined to demonstrate with the
guard at the next station.
The young lady was very quiet and
still, and as she appeared not to notice
me, hardly liked to begin any CONVEX
sation, 50 I sat watching 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
my comfortable nap, and, lazily looking
out, found to my surprise we were
not stopping at any station, and that
outside nothing could be seen.
A furtive glance across the carriage
showed the young lady still quietly sit
ting there, fidgeting with her earring,
and not the least alarmed at this inter-
ruption to our journey. called to the
guard, as he ran by the moment we
and, putting my head out Of
the window, inquired what was the
matter.
Nothing, sir" he said, cheerily
T" no danger only the line is blocked,
and we are waiting till they signal US
to 60 on I then said, in low tone,
= What possessed you to place this
young lady in my carriage, when I 50
enioined you to keep it
empty ~ " / never let anybody in"
protested the man with surprise. I" A
young lady, do you say r. Springing
on the step as drew my head back, he
looked into the carriage, and exclaimed:
/" Why, there's no lady there, sir Y
l turned, and imagine my confusion
she was gone "This passes my un-
/" said |, 81 for though I'll
swear she was there just before | spoke
to you, there is certainly nobody there
now; she must have gone out. !" I
crossed to the further door and tried
it I; it was locked sure enough. | let
down the glass and looked out, but in
the darkness, Of course, could see moth
ing. Why, you've been dreaming,
sir said the guard, as l, looking
somewhat small, resumed my seat.
s'Don't tell me, I" cried !, Indignantly,
and disgusted at the absurdity of the
position. g I'm perfectly convinced
that she was in the carriage. Why,
here is a positive proof = ! picked up
a gold earring from the floor between
her feet and mine. Amazement, min
gled with doubt and distrust, was
plainly depicted on the guards hand
some eountenance, as, regarding me
with puzzled, half comical expression
he said, after a minute, e Well, sir, if
you really believe you saw her, should
advise you changing your carriage. =
Angry at myself for following his
I did follow it, and when the
train was under way again examined
the earring so unaccountably found.
The shape struck me as curious. It
was wheel suspended from a birds
claw, which turned when touched.
Surely, as told the guard, this trink-
ct was proof that had not been de-
ceived 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 I was
perplexed, and finally / put it in ma
portmonnaie, and with mind wearied
with puzzling over the strange occur
renee, at length fell asleep once more,
but not for long. Suddenly I was rude
ly awakened by terrible crash and
shock that threw me violently forward,
while the carriages lurched forward
and nearly capsizcd.
I knew at once an accident had hap
pened-the accident half prophesied by
the guard. As soon as I could collect
my scattered senses and found myself
unhurt, | clambered out Of the carri-
age and ran down the line to the front
Of the train, to ascertain the extent OF
the catastrophe. 1t was difficult to
make ones way in the darkness and
confusion, but what were my feelings
Of horror and amazement, joined to in