The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-20
THE WOMAN IN BLACK.
From Parsons Weekly.


Travelling recently from Chicago to New
York, found in the morning, upon crawl
ing out OF my berth, that the train was
standing stock still. The porter told me
it had been standing thus for an hour and
a half, while had been sleeping the sleep
of the just I dressed and peeped out and
saw that we were alongside the platform
of a country station. took a good break
fast in the dining car, and then went out
to stroll up and down the platform.
In the cab sat the driver, or engineer as
they call him, alone, waiting. With the
natural fondness of an Engfishman for
machinery, 1 stopped and gossiped with
him a moment about the engine.
Then I offered him a cigar, which he
took with thanks, and asked me to come
in. 1 swung myself into his cab.
The engineer a bright pleasant faced
man. about 40 years old explained to me
the uses of the numerous valves and lev
ers 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. 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 a
gilt frame, hanging against the wall of the
cab.
rs that for an ornament?" 1 asked
pointing to the moth.
THE driver smiled. "Well, partly for an
ornament, he said, but a good deal
more for sentiment. l put that moth there
because it saved my life, and the lives of
$50 people as WE'LL
How in the world could an insect save
human lives p l asked.
well, 1 will tell you if you want to
hear the story. l reckon there's time
enough before we are able to get out of
this
1 settled myself in the absent stoker's
seat and prepared to listen. ut wasn't
such long time back said the en-
gineer, only year ago last spring. l was
running this very train, and this very
engine-old 449 My stoker was Jim
Meade, the same fellow as 1 have got
now. You can see him over there leaning
up against the telegraph office
"Jim's good boy, but he's very super
stitious; believes in ghosts, dreams ana
warnings. l used to laugh at MS IAN
cies but / don't make so much run OF
man in Black
1--WE were timed to leave M about
o'clock in the morning, and to arrive IN
s. about o'clock. on the night when
the thing took place a fearful storm OF
wind and rain had been raging since
early evening, and was at the night OF
its fury when l started from the engine
shed.
at was about midnight and the wind
seemed TO sweep clear round and through
the building. 1t was terribly d'smal.
Jim was there, and the engine was all
ready, So after getting my working
clothes on, 1 ran the engine down to the
station. Our train, the vestibule limited
was an hour late. l gave the engine
thorough osling and made sure that all
was in order.
"As we sat in the cab we could hear
the storm raging outside, while the rain,
driven by the guests of wind, beat Hereby
against the windows.
It's going to be bad run. Frank,
Jim said. i wish we were in s. sate
and sound
terribly glum, JIM? l said.
ooh said he, I feel creepy, some-
how. Seems like there's something ter
rible going to happen. / can feel II IN
my bones ,,
Il laughed again, you got little wei
coming over, L guess JAAAA 'e''@ -
the sound of the wind isn't very encour-
aging, that's a fact
ITO tell the truth, was a little ner-
vous myself, Notwithstanding my easy
way of treating Jim's notion.
presently our train came In long ana
heavy. consisting mainly of sleepers. IL
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 / was nervous.
What If the frightful storm had MADE
signalman careless, or II rail had beeh
loosened by the settling OF the track
somewhere? On these fast trains man
must rely on the vigilance of the employ
es. for in order to keep to time he must
run at such a speed that often he cannot
see a signal before .-e is upon 1t.
But l laughed at myself for my tears
as [ backed down and coupled on TO the
train. l set the brakes, and found every
thing in good order.
"By the bye the little gong above my
head changed sharply, and with pun ana
hiss OF escaping steam we were on INTO
the night and storm, rafting over june
lions. past signal lights, and between
long lines Of carriages till, with roar
iron bridge and away through the long
iron bridge anw away through the hills,
waking their slumberng 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 electric device, cast It's
funnel Of light into the gloom. Jim had