The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-09-07

4
ing could be distinguished in the gray
murk which enveIoped Us.
Suddenly, through the mist and rain,
I saw, looming right before Us, the gigsn-
tic figure of woman wrapped in a long,
black mantle, which seemed to futler in
the wind. She waved great spectral
arms about in swif, twisting movements.
AS sat, looking in horror, the figure
vanished with q final wave Of her arms.
Il was too much astonished and stu
pefed to make a move ofmy hand tow
ard the throttle. At that moment Jim
had been bending over the fire. As be
looked up he exclaimed:
"'Hullo, Frank, what's up? You look
as if you had seen ghostP
al did not answer. Ny mind was too
fun Of that strange figure had seen.
eve were now nearing Rock creek,
where there is q trestle over deep
stream. felt more nervous than ever.
ave dashed around the curve and
whizzed by Rock creek station, which is
only mile from the trestle. As We pass
ed I glanced at the steam gusge for an
instant.
"A CRY from Jim caused me to turn
quickly toward him. He sat rigid, his
eyes large and 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 that same
hideous figure of woman, outlined on
the background Of light from the engine,
now motionless, now whirling in a witch
dance, but all the time motioning Us
back.
Frank gasped Jim, but scarcely
above whisper, don't go over that tres
tlel Don't 90, for heavens sake. Don't
go till you're sure its safe I"
II suppose was pretty badly scared.
At any rate put on the air brake for all
l was worth. l 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 creek right
ahead. stepped out Ofthe cab, and met
the conductor coming up.
"'What's the matter? WHATS the mat
ter?' he asked, impatiently.
Il felt decidedly foolish. There was no
gigantic woman to be seen now. Moth
ing could be made out more than a few
feet away in the binding storm.
"'Well, said I, we've seen sonnet hing,
I don't know what it is-seemed like it
was big black ghost-that was waving
its arms and warning Us not to 60 for
ward
The conductor looked at me curious
ly. Are you crazy, Frank? he said.
I should think you were. But We are
so near the trestle we'l take a look at
it,
"We took our lanterns and went ahead,
leaving jim with the engine. He looked
scared all over. But tell you we had
not gone five rods before We stopped in
horror.
There at our feetlay a black ehasm,
filed with the roar of the river, as swol-
len with the spring rains it dashed down
toward the lake. The bridge was wash
ed away
~Only few splinters of wood and
twisted iron elung to the abutment, while
now, far out over the blackness, that aw-
ful black figure of a woman danced
again on the thin air, relieved against
the shaft of light that the headlight
threw.
at was fiinging its arms about as if in
wild glee.
The conductor stared at the chasm
and then at me.
"'Was that the thing you saw when
you stopped the train p he asked.
Yes
"'Well, it's something more than luck
that saved Us tonight, Frank
"We went back slowly TO the train,
feeling very queer. and thankful, too, /
can assure you. Several Of the passen-
gers mad come running forward by this
time. Among them was young fellow
from Chicago, about eighteen years old,
who was smarter than the whole OF US,
as it turned out.
when this boy saw the woman in
black, he turned and looked at the loco
motive headlight. Then he ran up tow
ard it. : l looked as he did so. saw a
peculiar spot on the glass
There's your woman il black said 1
he Chicago boy.
"And there it was, sure enough-tbat /
3ame moth miller that you see there in
hat frame. He was clinging to the in
'ide ofthe glass. As tapped on the
glass, the creature flew back and lighted
IN the reflector.
That's the whole story. sir. The moth,
by futtering on the glass just in front Of
he electric illuminator. bad produced
great black shadow, like that Of cloak
d woman, on the darkness in front Of
Us; and when be Topped his wings in
his vain attempt to sail out through the
lass, he gave his mysterious shadow the
COX Of wsvingit its arms wildly.
Then when he flew back out Of the
Iirect shine of the light the figure disap-
,eared, of course
@We never knew just how he got in
here, but no doubt it happened when
i'm went TO fix the light at the pumping
tation-
anyhow, he saved our lives by scar
ng us with that woman in black.
$50 you see why keep the moth in
be frame. It's to remind me Of the way
re were saved that night Yes. you