The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-31
WHY HIS HAIR WAS WHITE.
A STORY n THRILLS IN IT M
AN ENGINEER.

wv ~ a'Na N"N CtihhN " " "HA'N
spilled its flood upon the west slope of Marshall
Pass. The flood rushed down IA narrow gnlch
and tore away about nifty feet OF the railroad
track. The New England excursion train had
TO bc backed down to Sargcu,s. at the foot of the
hill, and held there until tho road could be re.
paired. There was absolutely no amusement
for the cXcursionists save what they could mako
for themselves. and yet one heard no complaint.
Nobody threatened to sue the company or send
in n bill for the extra meal OF mountain trout
that they were compelled to take because of tho
wnshout.
Those Yankee tourists said the old ongi.
ncer, have moh patience an less pocket money
than any class OF people undch tn SUM-
couple of gentlemen came over 10 the little
roundhousc. walking with their hands behind
them. looking at tho locomotives that stood
sleamirg in front of the house waiting for or
der. Upon the pilot of ono OF the engines n
white.haired man in ovcr.alls sat smoking u
cigar.
Good evening" said one of the tourists.
Good evening" responded the engineer.
81 suppose" said the New Highlander. putting
a clean tan boot upon the nose OF the pilot.
that you have been in n close place some
| time
well, I cant say that I have" said the man
in ovcr.alls.
81 see that your hair is white. and yet you are
n younger man than ] am"
"Ohl' said the engineer. a little embarrassed,
81 got that in the COS, long before I commenced
railroadin,'
Il see. l see said the cxcursionist, showing
still greater interest. AT Gettysburg per.
haps :"
ut was going home from Gettysburg said
the engine driver, chanting at his right hand,
that had a deep dimplc in the thick Of the
thumb.
IL went home. also. after Gettysburg" snid
the Yankee. and the two men looked at each
other for u moment in silence.
The fireman brought n cushion from the cab,
threw it upon the pilot. and the engineer
motionci the men to IA seat.
well. there was II good many went homo
from GcttysburG." said the engineer, with tho
hard pedal on home"
The Yankee nodded in silence. or course each
knew by the Others accent that they had fought
there face to face and not side by side.
lone OF your fellows did me a mean little
trick down there" said the cxcursionist.
We'll. il it comes to that. a damned Yankee
pokcd his hayonet through my hand, said tho
engineer. for he had TO swear when he talked.
And seeing that you were uuarmCd. made
you n prisoner. when he might have killed YOU
YES. | had been hit on the head with a spent
piece OF shell or something heavy enough 10
knock me out. When I came to and staggered
to my feet this Yankee made a run at lie an /
had To give up"
And how did you treat this Yankee who had
spared your life!
well, sab. | watched my chance an hit him
a crack under tn eah. grabbed his gun, an
when he started to get up | laid the barrel across
his head and left HIM there, when l might have
killed him.
And here" said the cxcursionist. removing
his travelling cap. is the scar you gave him..
An here's the max o. W, bayonet," said the
engineer. wigElinr his thumb.
turned 10 his sleeper; but came back, again pres
produced a wclI-ailed cigar case. planted him.
self At the side OF tho engineer. and asked him
damn silly that / have ncveh told it."
corn na5 y"u sn mi' the Tan HPSta i%Ms firasG he an H,a
After the scrap" said the Nirginian, whose
accent must now be iinaFined' went home to
long way from the railroad. and when lief,
the train l hired q saddle horse and started
night. The result, of the battle OF Gettysburg
had satdcned me. but now the thought Of seeing
that could not be married even by the sad news
OF the death Of one Of our ncighbore,
This mnn-th!s dead man-Gnd | had been
%rlaymates and fast friends in boyhood days;
but, as We grew older. we fell or rather grew :,
in love with the same girl. cant say that ]
blamed hin for thnt-any man with eyes would
do it-buit. when | went away 10 war and saw
MIN standing by nrr SD" upon Inc STATION tIft
from. it didn', seem quite an even break, He
was TO stay there and listen TO the music of hcr
voIce while ! heard IT," roar Of Common l !,
while | slept out in thc rain and helped make
history, and the Thought Of ii put a hardness in
my heart that had sOttcncd only AT the news Oi
his death. 1t wa, pleasant. however, to reflect
that | had faced the encmy-,had walked in
the shadow OF The she'll and lived 10 come
kicked by a mule and died. .
Tomorrow he would be planted; and | should
be there TO see how She took IL and console her
as he had done when | answered my country
call. lit must have been nearly midnight whe!
I]entered "a lonely lane that led past the principal
over tho high fence, / saw a new grave, and
doubted not tina: it wa for my ncighhor.
The rain had ceased. The moon shoncdim!y
behind the clouds. suddenly my horse stopped
, but stopped again, raised his head. and snorted
5 e listened. hut hcnrd nothing: looked anC
i, saw nothing but the white slabs cleaning ghost
like IN the night. spurrcd and whipped my
, round and headed the other way. Putting hin
, about, l. looked over he low wall and saw some
! trembled under me, but ! urged him on to whcr'
!; he had s,9pped first. Now the white object ros'
Q his grave. too. | made no doubt; For the hrs
t time in my life my blood ran cold, ! sat like on
P ric S1S f m the A IsaG'o ana @rs ssI 1 my With iPirhi i mn.
5 horse. but as often as ] brought him MP TO In
{ scratch he whirlcd. %snorted, and dashed ava
and he would not 20 past the %frigntful object
< In this way We worked forward and back
churning the mud, but getting no nearer home
At last. DISCOURAGED and disguised. deter
h mined to pull down the high fence on my RICH
0 and pass through the field.
t As | rrincd my horse toward the fence. Ii
n refused TO 20, or TO take his eyes from tho grave
( With u wild, mccarthy cry, such as ! had nevC
heard from "a horse, the Door animal sank trcu
bling TO the Garth. ! cut him with my ridin
t whip. brought him. to his feet. and swung int
J. the saddle again. Locking over the wall | SAY
this hing come right up out of the grave
o There could be no mistake now, for the moo
Was shining almost full. | saw It put out ii
Y hands upon either side. as though 1t were tr!
4 ing to left itself up. The white arms seemed I
( bcckon To me in tIc mo might and then il san
back into the grave again.
q II was never SuperstiiiOus. ] had never seer
4 up TO this time. IL thing on earth that | would nO
e approach. But this was ton much for me. i
was not OF I is earth-it was uncarthly, and
n was sick at heart. Now / began To wonder no
this story would sound when ! should go hon
@ and toll ii.
IL. who had faced death upon the battlefield
d day and night. for weeks and months, must sa
that had seen IA ghost in n graveyard, The yer
4 thought OF il made me angry, and l sWOro tht
! woTld solve this mystery or die.
o Life AT best, was not IA grand, sweet song