The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1890-11-20

4 X n ~ ~
It was about month ago, but l re-
member it as if ii we're yesterday, that
the sergeant called out to- me to re-
lieye the sentry outside. Being new
recruit and tired with, the days work,
j did not hear, and it was not until he
had cursed and sworn BY 80 very saint
in the calendar that J. recovered my
senses sufficiently to pick up my gun
and button my coat to face the stormy
night. 1t was nearly twelve o'clock,
the sky was black as ink, and the rain
poured down steadily in very I'M
promising manner. A high wind, which
was. blowing it in clouds through the
streets, made the posit still more UNI
comfortable.
After getting my instructions from
tho man whose place l was to take,
made for the sentry box, fully decided
not to venture forth from its shelter.
Once there l began to examine the po-
sition, and glanced through the small
window up and down the street There
WIS not az souf- to be scent the lamp
overhead swung to and fire. in the wind,
creaking dismally, and trying it's best
10 spread its light along the wet and
deserted thoroughfare. On each side
the cid houses, with, their, greenish
walls, arose grim and somber in the
darkness. Away off in the distance
could be heard the confused rumble of
the streets that are still awake at that
i time of night, hut the distant sounds
only seemed to increase the silent lone
Illness of thequarter that ! was to watch
until daylight.
Having nothing else to do and know
ing how unlikely it was that anybody
would disturb me, filed a pipe and be-.
gan to smolze,in order. to keep awake
more easily. OF course, man will
think on such occasions, and my
thoughts carried me far away to my
homo in little Southern village; l
made endless comparisons between my.
ord fife and wffat4 had to expect during
the next three years. The result, /
need hardly say, was far from flattering
for the company's ness and night duty
.instormy weather.
How long had been meditating
could hardly tell; it seemed like hours,
bSt. was probably not over thirty min.
utes. At all events, when | happened
10 look up saw some one down the
street about two blocks away Natnr-
ally watched to see which way the
perSotr was walking. for in such solitude
the slightest object becomes interest
lng;t. was soon able to see that it was,
woman, and that she was coming
toward me-. noticed that there was
something strange about her, and re-
member wishing most ferYently that
HE had been goiKg the Gather way. Per-
-4if7tfs my pipe gave me a guilty con-
seiencr;~ perhaps it was some other
feeling; at all events, watched heras
She came toward me.
She was dressed. entirely in black; a
long black wrap. with hood over her
fr7fri1 afforded her a little protection
against the rain. She seemed to glide
along noiselessly, stopping every now
and then to look around her. / am not
coward, but the intense solitude, com
. blfod with the bowling of the wind,
tfe creaking of the lamp and the mys-
teriols movements of the dark creature,
made me feel very uncomfortable.
Still decided to face the. danger, if
danger there was, and moved to the
door of the box to wait until the danger
: had passed
Slowly she moved forward until she
Was within three or four steps of me,
then stopped again; her face was in the
slifffow and Icould not distinguish her
features. While I was trying to dis
. Germ them she moved suddenly forward
anu gave me a searching look; in an.
other second, before bad recovered
from my SURPRISE shs had passed on