Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-28

sids. Oace when the accommodation
stopped near her hone TO wait for the
passing Of an extra TO crafty her
curiosity she carae cut, and was urged to
visit the locomotive cab and sit on the
engineers perch. and her bravery was
tested by an invitation to mount the
pilot or ''cowcateher" and ride down to
the railway crossing. half q mile away.
she xaz equal to the occzsion, and
thought the odd ride snch rare sport that
for rlAny a day after and even after she
had grown 20 Be a digIifsd young lazy.
sbe lonseG TO repeat the experience
Well. tho wedding dag was set. and al
preparations were duly made. Jack con
timing meanwhile TO fire" No 4ji for
bis father Jasper was becoming familiar
with the new engine. bat the electric
headlight he could not endure without
many words Of gramblins and many fore
boslings for the future To add TO his
troubles At time when he was little able
to bear new burdens, he was transferred
from bis old run On the accommodation 20
al express train Most men would have
taken this for an honor. but to old Jasper
Il was an aTront wAilh lie ccald not for
give. Nor could be help II, either, and 30
ke took the new run. which ambitious
Jack was glad to get. and between them
they made very good time night after
night
A couple Of weeks before the wedding
day Jasper and Jack we're Ola their way
west on regular trip. when they were
again stopped al the side track near
Mary's home to pass belated freight
train JACK looked Ia vain for light In
the Clifford house. for 1t was near mid
night Just before the freight came
laundering along. and while Jack was
busy shoveling coal, old Jasper was star
tied BY catching a glimpse OF something
which looked 10 him Ike human form
stealing through the darkness toward his
engine but he Instantly attributed the
dsluston TO the bOthsrsome electric head
light turned his eyes away, and soon
afterward opened the throttle and re-
snmed his Journey 1t was a moonless
night IN December and the snow softened
under the rays Of the sun at midday. had
now been frDzen and crystallized on the
ground and along the earthworks Of the
railway. 50 that the brilliant rays from
the electric haadlamp set the course with
myri;.ds Of sparkling diamonds. very
pretty TO look upon but exceedingly
troublesome to the eyes Of the veteran
engineer
An hour later red light at Miller's
Station caused Jasper to put on the brakes
and come to a stop
There's the train order said the tele-
graph operator, appearing at the cab
window. and here's private message
for Jack
MY God. father" cried Jack. reading
his message before Jasper had deciphered
tho first words Of the train dispateher's
order on the yellow manifold paper, read
that What shall We dor
Jasper took the dispatch and read:
Mary Clifford has disappeared. Search
parties are out, Come home
JACK was frantic and wanted TO jump
off the engine and start back on foot. But
old Jasper had better idea,
WAIT till we get to Smithville," he
said "and there you may ask the fireman
Of No. to take your place, while "a"
take his and return home. That is al
that can be done, my boy
They were two very sad men who rode
away in the cab'of engine Adj. They had
not a word to say to each other Zach
was busy with his own thoughts. Jasper
was thinking that his forebodings were
beginning to bear fruit. and that the new
engine and the electric lamp had brought
bad luck at last Jack was trying u think
what Ia the world had become of Mary
Clifford
The train was rapidly approaching Buck
Hill tunnel, the fierce rays from tho new
lamp filing the frosty rock cut with a
dazzling array Of crystals when both
father and son suddenly uttered an ex-
clamation OF horror and turned their faces
toward each other. At that instant the
locomotive plunged into the tunnel, with
rearing and quivering Of the earth.
but BY the light afforded by the single
Ia ,.t.s Gao.
that which he was dreading TO see there.
and Jack saw in the blanched cheek and I
dilated eyes Of his father that his worst
feared were realized His hand trembling
more violently than the engine itself, the
old engineer threw his weight against the
throttle and shut of all steam and ut the
same nome 1t applied the air. As soon ~
the train had come to standstill he re-
versed. ops ned the throttle once more.
whistled fuf rear lights, and slowly backed
tho train ont OF the tunnel As the wheels
laziy feyolved the old man turned to his
son aai. IN tone which rs more
whisper than anything else. gnsped out i
Did you see ity'
"Ics." Jack whispered in reply; ut
was Mary saw it as plainly as could
be. 1t vas Mary standing there in the
middle Of tGo track clad in angels robe.
Oh, know 1t is Marys spirit. and she
is dead
e" It was woman's form and she held
her right hand aloft in warning" said
Jasper. his eyes as large as oyster shells
and his frame trembling like locomotive
in toll 1t was warning If ever there
was one and not for all the world would
run through that tunnel tonight. She
stood right in the middle Of the track and
-heayensl there she is againl See. there. "
Jack saw 1t. too, and covered his face
with his grimy arms and wept.
What is the matter here2" inquired the
conductor, who had come running forward
as the train stopped What's up?'
Look" the old engineer replied, point
ing ahead with one hand and with the
other covering his eyes.
Il see nothing except the mouth Of
Buck Hill tunnel, the conductor said.