Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-11-18
THE WOMAN IN BLACK.

"Freight train done wopsed up or
de track ahead said the porter. 81
reckon we don get out O here under
anudder hour or two
l dressed and peeped out and saw
we were alongside the platform Of d
country station l took good break
fast in the dining-car and then went
out to stroll up and down the plat
form.
Presently l went to the locomotive
and stopped to admire it. There i:
nothing much better to look at, fol-
that matter, than the locomotive oi
one of these through express trains on
the great trunk lines. How it throbs
as it stands, straining with pent-ur
power, as if impatient to leap away al
fearful speed
This was kissing liercely, while the
measured thud of the air pump sound
ed as if it might be the regular breath
ing of a sleeping giant.
In the cab sat the engineer alone,
waiting. Istopped and gossiped with
him moment about the engine. Then
| offered him cigar which he took,
with thanks, and asked me to come
in. l swung myself into his cab.
The engineer-a bright, pleasant
faced man, about forty years old-ex-
planned to me the use of the numer-
Gus valves and levers about him.
They were all as bright and shining
as polish could make them, for the
engineer is as proud of his engine as
any housewife is of the neatness OF
her dwelling l glanced at the two
shining steam gauges with the clock
between them, and then | noticed
what seemed to be an ordinary white
moth, mounted in gilt frame, hang
ing against the wall OF the cab.
rs that for ornament | asked,
pointing at the moth.
The engineer smiled. "Well, part
ly for ornament he said, "buta good
deal more for sentiment. | put that
moth there because it saved my life
and the lives of two hundred and tif-
ty people as well"
How in the world could an insect
save human lives?n | asked.
well, I'll tell you, if you want to
hear the story. reckon there's time
enough before we're able to get out OF
this"
| settled myself in the absent fire
mans seat, and prepared to listen.
1T wasn't such a long time ago,
said the engineer; only a year ago
last spring l was running this very
train, and had this very engiue-old
440. Ny fireman was Jim Meade
same fellow I've got now. You can
see him over there, leaning up against
the telegraph office.
Jim is a good boy, but he is very
superstitious; believes in ghosts,
dreams and warnings. | used to
laugh at his fancies, but l don't make
as much fun of him as did-not since
we saw the woman in black.
I'VE were scheduled to leave M
about one o'clock in the morning, and
to arrive in s. at about six. On
the night when this thing took place
a fearful storm of wind and rain had
been raging since early morning, and
was at the height of its fury when |
started for the round-house.
1T was about midnight, and the
wind seemed to sweep clear around
and through the building. 1t was
terribly dismal. Jim was there, and
the engine was all ready, so, after
getting my working clothes on, | ran
the machine down TO the station. Our
train. the vestibuled limited, was an
hour late. l gave the engine thor.
ough oiling, and made sure that al
was in order
"As we sat in the cab we could hear
the storm raging outside, while the
rain, driven by the gusts of wind, beat
fiercely against the windows.
Its going to be bad run, Frank,
Jim said. i wish we were in s
safe and sound
II laughed. What makes you sc
terribly glum, Jim ? asked.
"'Oh, said he, i just feel creepy
somehow. Seems like there's some
thing terrible to going to happen.
can feel it in my bones.
Il laughed again. You got little
wet coming over, guess, Jim, said L
And the sound of the wind isn't very
encouraging, that's a fact.
ITO tell the truth l was little ner
vous myself, Notwithstanding IN!
easy way of treating Jim's notions.
Presently our train came in, Ions
and heavy, consisting mainly o
sleepers. 1t used to make me ner
vous to know that the lives OF hun
dreds OF my fellow-men were in III!
keeping, but now think nothing o
it. That night ras little nervous
What if the frightful storm had made
a switchman careless, or il rail haG
been loosened by the settling of th'
track somewhere On these fas
trains a man must rely on the vigi
lance of the employees for, in orde
to make schedule time, he must ruI
! at such a speed that often he canno