The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-04-11
,ouses, but have never had the PRIV.


'Where?'
"'Have you never heard the story OF
the Midland Mail?' Eighty years ago
it ran away just outside Birmingham,
and went into the river about half
mile below this house. OF course, /
myself don't believe in that sort OF
foolishness, but they do say that this
night every five years it comes racing
I'D the main road, with old Jem Hollis,
/ the driver, on the box. pulling his
soul out in last effort to stop the
horses, the guard blowing his horn
and the passengers all hanging on to
their seats, shrieking with terror"
II thought Jim would go of his
head with excitement.
40, but this is splendid he cried.
| Splendid! What time does the ap-
partition appear?'
"'Some where about half-past ten it
is supposed to be due. 1t seems to
turn up any part of the road, judg-
| ing from the accounts of the people
who declare that they have seen it,"
"'We must leave at once shouted
/ Jim, turning to me. 1T is a quarter
past now
"'Hang it ALL objected; 4 don't
want to see the thing; l had much
rather not
But Jim wouldn't hear of my stay
ing behind, and even tried to persuade
my friend to come some part of the
way with us.
"'Not L. he declared, laughing
what are you going to do when you
see it?'
"'Ride into it, said Jim, getting on
to his bike.
"'Well, don't hurt it. Good night
and good luck to you BOTH
Gentlemen, we started off. 1t was
bright starlight night, and the moon
lit up the white road before us as
plainly as though it had been day
Jim kept on muttering to himself, and
staring out ahead for some sign OF
the coach.
".Are you really going to ride into
it, Jim?' / asked.
"'Rather!' he said; right into the
middle
"'You had better not answered;
ghosts are funny things
Nonsense! Fancy the glorious
sensation of going slap through q
coach and four!"
"'Just as you like l said; it doesn't
seem to appeal to me, SO shall get on
when see it coming
1--WE rode on for another mile or Sc
in silence, and / was just beginning
to think how disappointed poor old
Jim would be if nothing turned up
when suddenly, far off in the distance
we heard the faint rumble of an ap
preaching vehicle.
"'Listen!' said Jim.
eve jumped off and stood in the
middle of the road, as still as death
Nearer and nearer it came, and above
the beat of the horses and the rolling
of the wheels, we could plainly heal
the sound of people shouting.
"Jim was painting with excitement
as the noise became louder and louder
"'Look!' he yelled; 1ook!'
"And, sure enough, over the brow
of the opposite hill came the coach
For one second it stood out against
the sky. and then Numbered madly
down the slope.
"'Come ONT cried Jim, jumping or
to his bicycle.
acct off" i shrieked.
81 might as well have spoken to thu
road.
swith his legs over the handles and
waving his cap in one hand Jim sho'
down the hill to meet it.
"On came the coach, swinging from
side to side, the old driver making
desperate efforts to steady his runa
, way team. 1 could see the terror
stricken faces of the passengers, ant
, the horror of the guard as he held oil
I to his seat and blew one frantic bias
upon his horn.
Faster and faster went Jim, close
i and closer drew the coach, and a
t last, still waving his cap triumphant
ly in the air, he plunged right into thu
: very middle of i'll"
/ There was long pause.
; "And how did he describe his sensa
i tions?" I asked.
Z "He didn't"
"Didn't?" we echoed, with an inter
: rogative ring in our voices.
"No-you see, it happened to be {
: real coach and four that had run ava.
about two miles down the road, ant
: poor old Jim went into it bit too har'
l to be able to give any account of hi
J, sensations afterwards. Poor old Jim
was terribly cut up about it. H
was nice little fellow-a bad actor
, but nice little fellow"
: And, shaking his head in a sad man
! room.-Black and White.