The Penn's Grove record., 1893-06-16
The WOMAN In BLACK.

Travelling recently from Chicago to
New York, l found in the morning
upon crawling out Of my berth, that
the train was standing still. The
porter told me that it had been stand
lug thus for an hour and a half while
/ had been sleeping the sleep OF the
Just. l dressed and peeped out, and
saw that we were alongside the plat.
form of a country station, l took a
good breakfast in the Dining car,
and then went out to stroll up and
down the platform. In the cab sat
the engineer alone, waiting. l
stopped and gossiped with him about
the engine, Then l offered him a
cigar which he too's with thanks, and
asked me to come In. / swung my
self into his cab. The e%ngtneer--a
bright pleasant-faced man about
forty years old-explained to me the
uses Of the numerous valves and
levers about him. They were all as
bright and shining as polish could
make them, for an 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 l noticed what seemed to
be an ordinary white moth, mounted
In a gilt frame, hanging against the
wall of the cab. SIS that for orna-
ment?" l asked, pointing at the
moth. The engineer smiled. swell
partly for ornament'" he said, ''but
a good deal more for sentiment l
nut that moth There because 1t saved
my life and the lives of 250 people as
well.n GLOW in the world could an
insect save human liyes?" l asked.
Well, I'll tell you, if you wantto hear
the story. l reckon there's time
enough before we're fable to get out
of this" l settled myself in the
absent f1reman's seat and prepared to
liston to his story.
ut 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 engine--old
449. My fireman vas Jim Meade
same fellow I've got now. You can
see him over there, leani1g up against
The telegraph office. Jim's a good
bow, but he is very superstitious; be-
lieyes in ghosts, dreams, and warn
ings. / used to.laugh at his fancieA
hut | don't make so much fun OF him
as / did-not since we saw the Wo-
ma In Black. We were scheduled to
leave NJ about one o'clock In the
morning, and to arrive 10 Sat
about six. On the night when this
thing took place a fearful storm of
wind and rain had been raging since
early evening, and was at the height
of It's fury when l started for the
roundhouse. 1t was about midnight
and the wind seemed to sweap 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, l ran
the engine down to the station. Our
train. the Vestibule Limited, was an
hour late. l gave the engine a thor
ough oiling, and made sure that all
was In order. AS we sat In the cab
we could hear the storm raging out
aide, while the ram, driven by the
gusts Of wind, beat fercely against
The windows, Its going to be a bad
run, Frank Jim said. i wish W,
we're in S safe and sound.'-
laughed. What makes you so ter
rIbly Clum?' / asked. oh, said he
4 Just feel creepy somehow, Seems
ike there's something terrible going
tn happen. l can feel 1t In my bones
| laughed again. You got a little
wet coming over, l guess, JIM said
L. And the sound of the wind isn't
sry encouraging that's a fact To
tell the truth | wa a little nervous
myself, Notwithstanding my easy way
If treating Jlm's notions
I "Presently gu train came in, long
and heavy, consisting mainly of sleep
lrs 1t used to make me nervous TO
know that the lives OF hundreds OF
nv fellow-men were In my keeping,
lut now | think nothing Of IL That
aight l was nervous. What II tbs
vrightful storm had made q switch.
nan careless, or II a rail- had been
.oosened by the settlius OF the track
somewhere? On these fast tralns q
nan must relv on the vigilance Of the
employees, for In ert to make seized.
ale time he must run ct such a speed
has often be eApnot 40 -AA&pAl IN