Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1888-07-05

ng place of Emily and her love- was
very dingy, weather. beaten statiG.@ pos
sessing three platforms, connected by
wooden bridge and staircase.
Emily, from London, was due there at
four minutes to three p. m; viii at six
minutes to four p. M, both being express
trains.
Emily's place of arrival would be plat
form number three; Willis platform num-
Der two; but as her train was to arrive ten
minutes earlier than his, there would be
plenty of time for her to cross the bridge,
and be ready on the central platform to re-
ceive him.
When Wills train was about half mile
from the junction it suddenly stopped. He
dreaded the coming meeting-her love and
his deception-the questioning of her eyes;
his acted kiss.
At the end of four minutes the passen-
gers looked out of the car windows in the
way they always do when an unexpected
stoppage occurs. Will did the game, but
he saw no cause for alarm.
At last signal was given that the train
could proceed.
1t arrived safely at the junction at seven
teen minutes past four.
Win alighted on platform number two,
and looked at once from one end to the
other of it, but he did not see Emily. He
knew that she should arrive at platform
number three, and concluded that she had
made some Snistake about his train, and was
then in one of the waiting rooms.
The guard of the train accosted him:
Are you going on, sir?"
"Yes, but not this moment. How long
do you stop here2"
"Not a minute, sir. We're late already"
Clearly, Emily and he must proceed to
London by the next train. He made for
the staircase with the intention of seeking
her on platform number three, when a
somewhat unusual incident arrested his at
tention.
Two well-dressed ladies of middle age, q
young lady, little boy, and an old gentle
man-all Of them evidently of one party,
and all of them very nervous and scared,
descended the staircase. followed by two
guards and porter. After these came two
poorly dressed girls and young man, also
pale and frightened.
Will. with his foot on the first stair,
turned his head and watched them. He
could scarcely define his expectations; his
heart began to beat, and his tongue to feel
parched as he watched them. 1t was SO
common frightened expression.
The guards assisted each of the WE'LL
dressed party into first class car with I'M
usual civility. Some brandy was given to
the little boy, whose teeth chartered against
the glass Us he drank it. The guards then
went to the poorly dressed party, and,
equally civil, assisted the girls into an
other frst-class car.
The porter held the glass of brandy to
the young man, but he shook his head hal
foolishly, and joined the girls. with his feet
almost slipping off the step as he got into
the car.
1t was all over in few minutes; then the
train steamed slowly from the platform and
the guards looked at each other congratu-
latory, as though glad it was gone.
From the first stair Will Tryfoil tried to
call out; but he could not speak, not even
find words to ask the question that trembled
ON his lips.
stairs, and when he reached the top he
found that he had no recollection Of having
| mounted them.
He turned to the right, along the wooden
bridge, then down another fight to plat
form three.
70 his surprise he found it empty--a sta
from him; but how much greater was his
surprise when he heard the sounds of many
excited voices from platform one, also hid
den from him by stationary cars.
His limbs seemed to be lifeless; he
walked to the only waiting room on number
three.
AS he turned the knob of the door he said
almost in an inarticulate voice:
Emily"
No one answered.
The waiting-room was empty.
There was feeble Pickering fire in the
CRATE, which was rapidly expiring.
He caught glimpse of his face in the
looking glass.
It was deadly palel
He walked unsteadily away from the
waiting room, up the staircase and across
the bridge, and descended the stairs which
led to platform number one.
Once there. there was no need to ask the
question he had dreaded to ask.
n The stoppage of the train, the WELL
dressed and poorly dressed parties of per-
sons returning to London, the deserted
platform and the many voices are all ac-
counted for in the appearance of platform
number one.
There had been an accident!