The Arkansaw traveler., 1884-01-19

minute ago
 But he had seen no one They had vanished as miraculously as had the two whom had undoubtedly heard follow ing me and could but believe that the first couple and and the last couple-be they what they may-were the same When went in, found mine host Har- per sitting in the library glancing through a new French novel. showed him the link. and related the occurrence, but, strange as it may seem, was utterly an- able to remember the name oi the family about whom the old gentleman had in- quired.
 Too much wine, my dear fellow, re- marked Harper, unsympathetically and skepticalH; ba, subsequeat events showed vesy conclusively that something more potent than wine was at the bottom of it al.
 LINK THE SECOND.
 As have said, the remembrance of 1 the event clung to me continually for sew eral months. l was living in New York at the time, and did not visit Philadelphia again until the 2lth of December, 1878. About month before had received a pressing invitation from Harper, with whom was still intimate, begging me to come and spend the holidays with him and his brother, who lived in German town. Being assured of a pleasant week Tn congenial society, accepted the in- 7:5o train at Jersey City for the staid me tropolis of the Friends Whether it was the mere fact that was going to ph,la- delphia that brought up recollections of the wierd event of of my former visit. l cannot say, but was certainly very much impressed with all the minuti9 of that occurrence, and-~hy l cannot explain took particular care to place m my bag the mysterious gold link that had kept stored away ever since that time. The features and general appearance of the strange couple that had met were viv- idly pictured in my mind, and during the whole three hours ride that one subject in all it's details held an absolute monopoly of my thoughts.
 1lighted at the Germantown Junction. The nigh, was dark and bitterly cold an east wind. sharp and cutting, swep, across the open fields and chilled me through and through. l descended from the upper station of the Pennsylvania railroad to the lower one of the German town and Norristown branch, and walked briskly along the snow-covered platform until l reached the comfortably warm waiting-room. There were only two peo- pie here. middle-aged woman and a i young man. who, as l learned from the latter's questions of the station master, were waiting for train to take them into i the city. The clock marked 1925. and i by timetable on one of the walls, dis covered tha, the next train for German town was not due for fifteen minutes. 1 sat down and waited contcntedly. while the clock measured of the seconds in audible iiek-ticks. Gradually the hands worked themselves around until twenty two minutes of eleven was indicated. thought heard the rumble of an ap. preaching train, and picking up my handbag quilted the waiting-room for the bleak atmosphere outside. No signs of a looom otive headlight were disoernl- ble. so lit a fresh cigar. turned up the collar of my great coat and walked down the platform. had not taken half-a. dozen steps when, suddenly, as born out of the crisp, keen air appeared before me the mysterious old gentleman and the young lady whom il had been my fortune to meet on my previous visit. stared hard at them, and felt rather inclined ,o put out my hand and touch them, to dis cover whether or no, they were real tiesh and blood. Their appearance. however, gave me no cause 10 doubt IL. The black cloak and the kossuth ha, were ap- parently as much matter as my ulster and felt deer-s,alker There was nothing ghostly or spiritua.-looking about the fresh complexion and rounded form oi the young lady. whose eyes still beamed brightly, and wore the same fearful ex- pression that had remarked before pinched myself 10 make sure tha, was awake.
 Can you tell me. sir asked the old gentleman, in the same trembling. ye, refined tone, "what time the next train tor the city IS due !''
 am sorry 10 say I cannot, l re- piled, feeling some hesi,ancy abou, ad- dressing so mysterious an individual. "i dare say the station master can tell you
 Thank you," he added. and bowed just as graciously as when, two years be- lore, was unable to inform him where his friends resided. The young lady looked at me, smiled sweetly. i'm pressed me more than ever with her loveliness, and with her hand on the old gentleman's arm, passed up the steps of the station and into the waiting room.
 As they closed the door after them, I heard the shriek of the coming locomo- tive and saw II dodge ou. from under the bridge few rods down the line, throw ing ahead of il, from its dazzling refec- tor. broad shaf, of yellow light. Al that moment my walking stick and um- brella slipped from my hand, and I stopped to recover them. To my intense surprise, directly Tn front oi me on the platform, saw. surrounded by the snow and giittering ia the bright light from the approaching engine, a link apparently sery like the one which had found in