The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-04-12

entirely consented, her mother had
too many scruples TO suffer her only
child to leave her for such precarious
protection us mine might be. So went
back to solitary life again.
My troubles had now become 30 much
q chronic thing that, except when its
manifestations or their results were ex-
traordinary, l took no serious note of
them; only the possibility of their future
coming, and the actuality of their past,
hung over me like black, sun coating
cloud, awake or asleep. In fact, though,
had no sleep that deserved the benefi-
cent name. In place Of the sweet OBJ
livion and rest Of forgetfulness that
other men knew, had for my part
long and living nightmare.
In all this time I had failed to find
sufficient strength to obey the physicians
order, to cut through the cursed thing
that was killing me, with the sharp
fiange Of my wheels, and annihilate It.
But DIR. Blanchard had found me out,
although in consulting him had given
no name, and one afternoon he accosted
me In the street, on my way to the
station, not to ascertain what progress
had made-for that was visible enough
In my haggard and jaded appearance
but to ask me If I was to be on duty
that night. responded in the affirma-
tive, and, on hearing my reply, he said
gently that he should have the pleasure
IF trusting himself to my guidance for
that trip, and, If had no objection, and
could find room for him, he would be
my companion upon the Black Bess. OF
course l perceived his intention suff1-
GENTLY well; and perhaps 1t was an un-
wise thing for him to propose, for his
mere presence was more likely to con-
jure up the appearance than to help me
overcome it.
If, now, tell the rest of the story as
1t appeared to me then, and as my
troubled brain received it, it is because
remembrance is nearly as vivid as the
suffering, and can hardly say today
where reason ends and phantasms begin.
We had snowy night for this excur-
sion of DR.. Blanchard's, so much is GER
tain; not like that great, white, whirling
storm in which the face, all wrapped in
folds Of bridal lace, fitted before me and
rested till l stopped, and not all the big
plows In the company's use could then
have advanced the showed up train an
inch; but night of gusty flaws, when q
light down dropped on the track and was
gone, and velvety fakes draped spray
and twig of the woodland and shook off
showeringly as we passed, and snow
squalls dashed blindingly across our path
and vanished, and all the sky was gray
and dazzling bewilderment.
I knew that, whatever the weather
was, Margaret would not fail me at the
station, and then told the doctor, as we
neared Brookford, what sight there was
in store for him at that place, and re-
marked that it was, may be, fortunate
for me that night that Margaret had
really to cross the track in order to reach
the spot where she was to await us, as in
looking out that no danger befell herself
should be less likely to encounter that
wrath of hers, nor could see them both
together. But DR.. Blanchard shook his
head, and babe me mind my own bust
ness, and have that degree of confidence
In Margaret to believe her capable of
taking care of herself
And looking out into the wavering
whiteness lit by the glare of the head
light, while he shouted forth his gruff
advice, all at once-sThere! Therew !
cried. ''There it is!''
"Where" demanded the doctor, spring.
ing to gaze over, my shoulder, as if his
unframed vision could have discerned so
much as an outline in that thick air.
damn it! Don't be fool Drive onv'
"Where?" answered. 'There! right
before us. A woman walking. See! she
has turned her head; she sees us; she did
not hear us in that gust, we have fright
ened her; she stumbles, she falls, she is
lying Oh the track, she cannot get up
that face, that white FACET is Mar
garet's!"
'By God! there is no woman therer
he replied, before had finished. "My
eyes are as keen as yours. I tell you
there is not single object before us till
we reach the Brookford lights there, a
mile away!'
hardly heard him. I had stretched
out my hand to pull up, when l caught
sidelong glimpse of him. brandishing
an iron bar above my head. Touch
that handle" he cried, land will knock
you down." And then he interposed
himself between my hand and it.
"You are mad," said, calmly, and
believing what said. ''Do you suppose
l fear your billy? While am master of
the Black Bess she does not run down a
woman-least of all that one"
The whole of this was SO hurried that
not even George Rowe, who stood staring
and gaping and hearkening with all his
might, could make out syllable
Every well" said the doctor then, re-
versing his method, and yelling out his
words in my ear till he must have been
purple. "You are convinced that you :.
see this face, and as both your fireman
and myself can assure you that we see
nothing there, you must feel equally
convinced that it is your pursuing phan-
tom, as you call it. Now, then, is the
time to put an end to it. Destroy it.
Exert your will. You have only to fold
your hands behind you. Nothing else in
;he world to do. Give them here to me-
The engine will do the rest. Be man
that, this once done, all
your peace begins-Margaret and mar
'iage-home and happiness. There is
nothing there! Drive onr'
heard him now, but as a hollow voice
night speak far, far outside of the
world in which was.
had fixed my will, as much as it was
possible to fix so loose and weak and
baking a thing, a bundle of broken
inks-I was determined to obey him.
But all the time I saw only her, only
Ter sweet face in the snowy light, as /
lever should see it again-the hood had
allen back from it, the wet rings of the
lark hair were h10vinU ont fron, IL a