Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-11-25

The light was burning in the
clerks hut, as l entered he was
setting thouehtfully as usual, and
the little t.legraphic instrument
eli cked as of cd. But there was
no bottle OF brandy there.
hardly rem berer what We talked
aboat; but it WIS nothing referring
to the matters OF the previous visits.
] watched him steadily, and noted
that lie still furtively glanced OF
the clock now and then. To keep
him occupied ! RENE mbered OF say.
ing, once.
This nights tempest will give
trouble at the bridges and culvertr,
uncle Ben!"
GAY, ard no train will be on time
for the next three days." he ans
wered, sand We shall have specials
shooting by like stars!"
1t was twenty minutes past eight.
He got up slowly and siezed bis
lantern.
l felt some dismay. as you may
readily suppose. The cure had been
10 cure at all. 8
Don't look so disheartened!n be
laughed. "There amt no eight
thirty, I'm aware. You convinced
me last night, aud tonight l am
going to..convince myself"
"What do you mean?"
"tvhen the phantom train comes
by | mean to stand in her way, just
as you did"
This relieved me at once. Evi.
IDENTIFY some small remnant of bis
idelusion. yet remained, which be
wished to be free of, and i readily
acquiesed in his desire.
Slowly the hands Ct the clock
moved to twenty seven minutes
past eight. He was standing in the
open door, the lantern in his hand,
quiet and still smiling.
Suddenly I heard the long drawn
omiuous whistle Of locomotive!
A GILL seized me! An icy finger
seemed to be tracing cut my spine!
Was this fancy, and was l mad now!
''Do you hear nothinp?" / called
out.
lie pointed to his ear. Nothing.
tonigh,!9 he said, faint sadness in
his voice.
0 heavenl / heard or was mad
Nearer and nearer came the fling
and drumming of a trainl I threw
myself upon the ground and listened
at the iron rail, and the roar and
rumble approached, and the hoarse
putting of the engine became dis
tinct, and the earth shook beneath
the monsters giant treadl
Uncle Ben walked ever to the
north track!
"Come back!" ] screamed, fol-
scream it was. II hear o train
coming, as I'm a living mani"
He shook lis head and in the
glare of the lantern, still saw bis
melancholy smile of unbelief.
1.-THE phantom train!" he answer
ed; and he turned his eyes doen the
track. ayes / see her coming as Of
old--so many, many nights-snd
the hot Goals are falling beneath
and it is the. same; but she is moi
therer'
And, / too, saw and stared like
one in o dream, ard ! heard the
frantic shrieks of the engineers
whistle, and l cried aloud; but uncle
Ben still stood on the track, the
light still in his hand, aud the weird
smile en- his face, and then there
were shrieks, and, other lights az
the train flashed by, and something
warm spurted in my face-blood.-
and | fell senseless.
Days aiterward | learned all. II
was special train, and its coming
had been announced all along the
line; but uncle Ben had not heard
the click Of his telegrspbic.instru
ment since before dark that terrible
evening. When they examined his
body they found cotton pressed in-
to his ears. l understood why be
it thereto shut out the roar of
his phantom train il 1t should sec m
to pass that night.
The story lie to sad to be further
dwelt upon. The seqtel was pleas.
anter, for some twelve months after
the catastrophe.I have related, pass
ing through that part of the coun-
try slapped at the hotel recently
established. Who should he master
and mistress but Mr.. and Mrs. War
den, the latter of course, my sweet
friend Miss Fenwick. They were
Just married, and were succeeding
In their enterprise finely; and though
| supped with them, none Of US had
the courage to refer to tue sad fate
CT uncle Ben.