The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1896-08-28
miscellaneous.
SANS PRGYER-MEETING.
BY HARRIET CARYL COX.


1t had been a pretty bad wreck, to
be sure, and the morning edition of
the Eastern papers would tell of the
fearful collision that had occurred just
as the train entered Lead Valley.
But now the excitement, in the place
of the disaster, had begun to quiet
down; for the rough miners of the lit
tie settlement were too used to perils
of all kinds to be long stirred by this
wreck, with its half dozen lives lost.
1t was all over now, they reasoned,
and they helped cheerfully as long as
help was needed; but now the wreck
ing crew was at work, and only an oc-
casional straggler sauntered up to
look at the derailed cars and pile of de-
brs on either side of the track
The rest of the settlement were in
the office of the one hotel the place at
forded; and the room was blue with
smoke az they sat about the sputter-
ing fire and related anecdotes, or We'd
with each other in tales of danger and
heroism.
Some of the stories were old ones, as
knowing glances between the men
showed; but the crowd was good
tured and new and old alike were re-
ceived with appreciation.
Ed LADIES, the funny man of the
place, had just finished telling new
and very taking story. Ed had just
returned from Il neighboring settle
ment, and had, doubtless, brought the
story with him.
AS the shouts of laughter that had
greeted him died away, one of the
men shouted: Swearing Sans goin'
ter sleep. Wake him up, and make
him tell us good one. Come, Sam"
and they gave him hearty slap.
Il could tell yer story" he said,
| slowly, after moments hesitation;
but yer wouldn't believe it, and l
dunno as l want ter tell it," and he
replaced his pipe and relapsed into
silence.
"Oh, come off ~ they cried. Yer
don't sneak out er it that way. Guess
yer can stan it if we don't swaller it
whole; it can't be no worst than some
what's been told ternight; so go ahead,
| old Teller"
They looked inquiringly at him.
He drew his pipe out, rubbed its
smooth stem against his high boots as
| if in thought; then, tucking it into his
| bootleg, he glanced about the dingy
room.
lit amt exactly like any of yer
stories," he began; "but the smashup
| ter-night made me think of it same's
| twas yesterday.
"'Twas fifteen years back, when |
was a-logging up in Michigan, and
| things was so dull and we was mighty
glad when anything interesting came
up. So when one er the loggers
brought news up from town that
there'd been terrible smashup, we
was rather glad than otherwise.
Course we was sorry for them who had
folks killed, but it didn't matter much
ter the folks what got killed.
80 whole crowd on us quit camp
and went inter town. There was fiji
teen folks dead, and some pretty bad
| shook up. There was one woman who
hadn't known thing ever since she
landed on 'er head. And she had Il
little girl, so Ben who kept the house
told us, and ne was dreadfully upset
bout that child. Cause, you see,
there want any woman folks in town
to look after it. Ben's wife had took
a sudden notion TO get East week
before, and she was the only one, ex-
cept the station agents wife, who had
died month ago.
LIT does seem kind er tough that
there amt no woman ter kind or
mother her. Ben said, as we sat about
the stove a'talkin same's we be now.
And she's most cried herself sick, too.
Wish the train hadn't seen fit to smash
I'D here; and he scowled an awful
scowl
",Ier wouldn't have sold so much
beer, so yer needn't be Blaming your
good luck, one of the men told him;
but he seemed a bit troubled all even
ing and kept going up ter listen
close ter her door to see if she'd stop
ped cryin. Bime-by, he came back
considerably relieved.
"'She sounds quiet he said; and
now guess we can rest easy
$50 he was having rousing good
time, when all O. a sudden the Teller
next ter me give an awful start and
said kind er low, Sam l see u ghost.
"'Ghost, nothing replied; but
looked where he pointed, and sure
enough there was something white
a-coming down the dark hallway.
by this time some O. the Others
saw we was a-lookin' at something
: and they looked to. And fore We be
gan ter realize what it was, a little bi
of a voice piped up:
why don't Susan come up to hea
: me say my prayers
n IF it had been a real live ghost i
. couldn't have struck us so sudden.
: BETTER go back ter bed, Ben said
:. trying ter speak soft like: Susan
p busy now, and can't come; SO rul
along
- But she knew he was a fooling her
and she was a spunkey little thing.
81 will have Susan" she cried, a
stamping her little bare foot. Tel
d her to come here right now and sh'
Q looked real proud like.
"'Susan amt here; she's gone Bel