Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1892-09-02

"'It's going to be a ba d run, Frank,
Jim said. 4 wish we were in s. safe
and sound
81 laughed. What makes you so
terribly glum, Jimg asked.
"'Oh, said he, Il just feel creepy
somehow. Seems like there's somethiA g
terrible going to happen. l can feel it
in my bones
81 laughed again. you got little
wet coming over, l guess, Jim,' said l.
AND the sound of the wind isn't very
encouraging, that's fact
"To tell the truth, 1 was little ner-
vous myself, notwithstanding my easy
way OF treating Jim's notions.
"Presently onr train came in, long
and heavy, consisting mainly of sleepers.
1t used to make me nervous to know that
the lives of hundreds of my fellow men
were in my keeping, but now l think
nothing of it. That night l was ner-
vous. What if the frighttul storm had
made switchmau careless, or if a rail
had been loOsened by the settling of the
track somewhere2 On these fast trains
man must rely on the vigilance of the
employees; for in order to make schedule
time, he must run at such speed that
often he cannot see a signal before he is
upon it.
"But laughed at myself for my fears
as l backed down and coupled on to the
train. set the brakes and found every
thing in good order.
"By and by the little gong above my
head changed sharply, aud with pub
and hiss of escaping steam we were of
into the night and storm, rafting over
switches, past signal lights and between
long lines of cars, till, with a roar and
rumble, we rushed over the long iron
bridge and away through the hills, wax
ing their slumbering echoes with our
shrill whistle.
"Then pulled the throttle wide open,
and the clank and roar soon settled into
a hum, for old 449 was doing her best,
and we were making fifty miles an hour.
"The darkness was intense save where
the headlight, an electrical device, cast
its funnel of light into the gloom. Jim
had a hot fire, and kept steam up to a
high pressure, so that We fairly flew on
past sleeping hamlets and still farm
houses.
"At our first watering station l made
sure that all was working smoothly
while Jim inspected the headlight. The
operator handed out the orders, which
showed that the road was clear as far as
our next stopping place. Ga we went
"The darkness grew more intense, If
possible, while the wind shrieked by.
The rain became more binding, till moth
ing could be distinguished in the gray
murk which envelope5 US.
"Suddeuly, through the mist and rain,
I saw, looming right before US, the gigan-
tic figure of a woman wrapped in long,
black mantle, which seemed to Autter in
the wind. She waved great spectral
arms about in swift, twisting movements.
AS l sat, looking in horror, the figure
vanished with a final wave Of her arms.
81 was too much astonished and stupe-
fed even to make move OF my hand
toward the throttle. At that moment
jim had been bendug over the fire. As
he looked up he exclaimed.
"'Hullo, Frank, what's upl You look
as if you had seen a ghost.
"I did not answer. My mind was too
full of that strange figure had seen.
"We we're now nearing Rock Creek,
where there is trestle over deep stream.
felt more nervous than ever.
awe dashed around the curve aul
whizzed by Rock Creek Station, which
is only mile from the trestle. As we
passed l glanced at the steam gage for
an instant.
"a cry from jim caused me to turn
quickly toward him. He sat rigid, his
eyes large aud staring, his jaw dropped,
the very picture of terror.
"He pointed with shaking finger out
into the darkness. / turned and looked,
and then began to shake myself.
"There, on the track, was the same
hideous figure OF woman, outlined on
the background of light from the en-
ginc, now motionless, now whirling in a
witch dance, but all the time motioning
rs back.
Frank gasped jim, but scarcely
above a whisper, don't go over that
trestlcl Don't go, for heavens sake
Don't 90 till you're sure it's safeT
81 suppose I was pretty badly scared.
At any rate, put on the air: brake for
all I was worth. couldn't have resisted
the impulse to stop the train.
"As we came to a stop / could hear
the roar of the water in Rock Greek
right ahead. I stepped out of the cab,
and met the conductor coming up.
"CWhat's the matter9 What's the mat
teri he asked, impatiently.
81 felt decidedly foolish. There was
no gigantic woman to be seen now.
Nyo1i.;ro. oo.,1d In rnodo oiit moro than q