The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-11-02
FACES In THE TUNNEL

my place of abode being at n con-
siderable distance from town, the
greater part of the day was occupied
by the journey. | started one morn.
ing as usual, getting into a carriage
in which were some half dozen per.
sons besides myself. We were not
very communicative party. Two gem
tlemcn. recOllect, slept nearly the
whole of the way to London; and one,
who sat opposite me. was buried in
his newspaper. our train did not stop
at many points. but at one of the
principal stations which the line
passes, just before entering tun-
mel of some length. lamps were put
into all the carriages. recollect,
after we started. watching the sides Of
the cutting, which rose higher and
higher as we went on, til, with a
shrek. the engine rushed into the
tunnel. and all outside the carriage
was darkness.
People who are not in the habit Of
ipurneying much by railway have
Cftcn Il dislike to tunnels. | am aware:
but, being constant traveller, l had
no such feeling. and | could not. there
fore account for an unpleasant SEN
SatOn which | experienced on enter
ing the tunnel on this occasion-a
chilly. uneasy, feeling, which increas-
ed rather than diminished as we sped
on. | did not feel lonely. for the light
of our lamp fell brightly on the faces
of my fellow passengers. | could see
two of them We're still sleeping. My
friend opposite had, for the first time
during the journey. put down his
newspaper; and of two ladies in the
carriage with us. one was stroking the
head OF little girl, who appeared
to be the only person at all uneasy
except myself. Mechanically, fell to
looking at the reflection of my face
upon the window. which the outer
darkness had changed into mirror,
giving back the whole interior of the
carriage. The uneasy feeling increas-
ed. and l suddenly became impressed
with the idea that the reflection was
not that of my face, but of some one
else's. AS I looked, the conviction
strengthened. 1t was not my face. It
was the face Of man Of about, my
own age: but The hair was light, and
the features were totally different
from my own.
l can see the face now: 1t was look
ing intently at me: the thin lips were
pressed tightly together; and around
the mouth there played a peculiar sim
lister smile. The reflection of the
whole inside of the carriage was plain
enough. but, beside this figure, there
was only one more occupant; l saw
the reflection of none of my fellow
travellers sitting by me. The other
figure was that of Il woman, who was
standing up behind the first figure.
The Light from above seemed to fall
full upon her face. which was one of
great beauty, but disigured by look
OF intense hatred and scorn, which
she darted out of her dark eyes upon
lar companion.
Ny only sensation now, l recollect,
was curiosity; all fear had vanished;
l SOW them as plainly as l now see
ny hand, and noticed that the wo-
man was magnifcently dressed, wear
ing. in particular. blaze of jewelry,
that sparkled strangely In harmony
with the lurid light of her dark and
terrible eyes She seemed for one
moment to heste in some purpose;
the next her hands We're flung up.
and l saw a red cord wind itself
round her companions throat. 1t was
clutched with fearful fury. saw
two rows of cruel cleaning teeth gilt
tering IN concert with those eyes. But
the vielm, ! shall never forget the
CHASTITY grin OF agony upon that visage
that deepened and deepened. and then
went out from the face that fell prone
the face of a dead man. / saw for a
moment the womans cruel eyes dart
forth Il look of tiendsh triumph, her
cruel hands smitten together. her
1n1 fv,t,
Then we Vhirled out into the daylight
and | saw my friend opposite quietly
taking up his newspaper again.
Ny emotions, while witnessing the
terrible spectacle ! have just describ-
ed, gave place to lethargy whicn
lasted while | remained In the train.
Ny recollect!ons all seemed imperfect.
Ny business, my destination. the
place ! had started from, the time of
day seemed confused on all these
Pc nts, and it was only when l step
pc! INTO the street and felt the cool
Dreeze on my face, that l recovered
S1,t-9uSScSs!Ou These disagreeable
euecls, however, passed off as my
thoughts were diverted into fresh
channels. The real and tangible
world IN which | was moving soon
49, 'AN bNtINA va w ltIIlDlt NlSlO0 III
NY mind; aad being naturally i'm
)atent of morb' and superstitious
actions, ! soon persuaded myself that
must have been sleeping in the rail
way carriage, and that | must have
bael very much frightened with a
dream, due probably to indigestion.
Fgacucal man as ! profess to be,
was not going to expose myself to the
Edicule Of other practical individuals
1F taking Them into my confidence
me went on; | d!eted myself a lit
tle; ! travelled home by another route.
sow no more visions; and. in the
course of q E.0nth, | only recollected
iAe incident Of the tunnel as | should
any other peculiar dream, the impress
sion of which the circumstances of n
DC,y working life had not obliterated.
few months after my journey TO
London, | had occasion to make an.
llher journey Of some length, in a diff
rnt direction. I got into the train
)assed through the tunnels unscathed
lnd fuuad myself at nightfall in n
'C1ntry tDWn. TO which | u,os n -.