Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1899-11-18

! raped on the window-sill. and
he started and glanced across. TAT
sight Of me he seemed amszed.
60 d evening he said. 1Come
in. Bless me, you're the Ora, visitor
1 ever had AT this time o tight, and
-ha, la hail was most dis
posed TO take you at drst for a.
and he crossed the threshold.
when | was seatei, | explained
that Miss Fenwick hsd men ion
e d his lonIin esB, and /
thought there really must be q
great deal Of truth in Ter conjecture
judging especislly tom his remark
rs | entered.
He laughed a little oddly and
sighed. AID then poured some
brandy from the bottle into the
| glass.
"Lonely enough sometimes. in.-
deed.'' be iii shut here is q lively
companion, il you like his society
you know. Try him, and iidge for
yourself"
l declined, where upon he poured
a few drops more into the glass and
drank it himself. Then he fell to
talking very rapidly, and With a
strange, incohtreht merlin, mt, and
he told me many things Of his soli-
tary life; but | was not interested.
I was troubled. Tor | could see that,
though the man was absolutely tip
sy, be was peculiarly affected by the
liquor-aff cted as men are who, use
it habitually, and are not at any
time either sober or drunk. Upon
this point Of drinking began eau
tiously to question him, and IL came
out that be had employed stimulants
I gath red immoderstely, for the
last three months, aad then felt
sorry enough FIR poor Mss Fem
wick.
| After timeI cast about me for
an excuse 10 GO, and so looking ct
the clock, | remarked that it was
half past eight.
Imuae lately he =turne'i pale and
became restless, starring up and
ssuntering about the room, and
twice again he applied himself to
that accused brandy. ~
He took up bis lantern and put
on his hat, and went toward the
door, and c,me buck, and then went
again.
81 can see my way up the track, !"
| said. Il will go now. and per-
haps drop IN tomorrow"
Suddenly be seiz.d me b, til.
1
arm as | was abou' t. PASS out, and
bending lurid glare upon my facs /;
exclai ned: 20 ea s
'Are yon md? D.,n't you her
the whistle OF the train2 L. IN pas 8
In two miIru'es--aud then you can
go.'
"Train!' l repe.;ed. a-tonished
beyond measure. "1'he track is
clear until The express passes at
nine. Collect your wits. Yol have
been drinking too much"
No! There is u train at half past
eight. Hark! the whistle again, and
/ must show the light! She goes
by on the north track
He, ran out, holdink the lantern
high over his bead.
81 hear no whistle, AMI zee moth
ing," answered, standing by his
side and peering into the darkness.
"Ha that y what they ill sayl" he
said; "but hear it and see it both!
Look! she's coming now-dont you
see the light 10 frort OF The locomo.
tive, and the hot Goals falling be-
neath-and don't you hear the rat
tie and roar-and there, there's the
whistle again! Ais clearl" he shout
ed, waving the lantern, and followed
with his glittering eyes the imagiu-
airy train as 1t tore by. "Safe to.
night, and all is well-and-ah, ah!
lets have another drink"
| He re.entered the little house.
was too much startled to stand mp
on further ceremony, and so / left
him, and, walking rapidly along
the track, gained the activity, as
cended, and took my way through
the woods homeward.
| Next day went to the station
as early as | could arrange, and at
the moment / entered the store /
saw that Miss Fenwick knew I wish
ed q private conversation with her.
| She effected the cpportunit :, snd /
| spoke directly to the point.
81 lear your uncle Ben is doing
very wrong. | have found out q
great deal more than / ever sus.
peeled, Miss Bessie
| Sue Was pale and tremulous, and
utterly cast down. II gathered a.
much from wnat be said when be
came home," she answered., T" and
don't believe i slept an hour last
night"
| Alter . little further converse
ton she grew more confidential, and
told me the history OF uncle Ben :
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