The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-03-08

H. buNN NloO IVA NAiN'
tN %$5 "Oh, there needn't be
anything like real live
ghost in it. Just anything that's thrill
ing and mysterious"
"Well," replied Lucille, thoughtfully,
''the most thrilling story I can tell is
something that happened to me last
summer"
The listening group drew a little
nearer the fire and turned eXpectant
faces toward Lucille, who leaned for
ward from her pile of cushions.
You know that after college closed
last june l started on trip through
the far West with a party of friends.
We spent several weeks in travelling,
and had a most delightful time. After
reaching California the party broke
up, and l planned TO remain a few
weeks with a friend who was to come
East with me and pay me return
visit.
Il had been with my friend only
few days when l received a letter
from my mother, saying that she had
not been well, but was now recover
ing. l was therefore utterly unpre-
pared for the telegram that came three
days later, summOnng me home at
once, as my mother was in very
critical condition.
81 started at once and alone. You
can imagine the apprehension with
which l began the long journey. 1t
7 - 1,n
vast distance, and the train seemed to
crawl as we dragged through the
weary hours into the second day.
"At last we reached a wide stretch
of prairie country. l had slept little
the night before, and the strain was
beginning to tell upon me. When bed
time came l took simple sleeping
powder and went to my berth early.
THE powder had an almost instantan-
eOus effect, and l was soon asleep.
Then began a series of haunting
dreams. l seemed to pass through
calamity after calamity, indefinite and
awful. At last the dream took tangi-
BILE form. l was on the swiftly rushing
train. A terrible collision was about
to happen. In the distance | could
hear shouting, followed by several
sharp explosions. Another moment
and the crash would comet Then with
a struggle l awoke.
"In trembling haste l drew on my
shoes, and throwing my dressing robe
round me, ran down the car to where
hmm ircr oh
door. In the mingled confusion of
dream and waking reality, 1 paid no
attention to the group, except to see
that they We're in frantic haste, and
that they were all crowding down the
steps on one side of the car.
For moment they seemed to hest
tate, as if to make room for me.
Don't wait for me" l cried. L will
jump from this side,' and l made my
way down the steps in eager haste.
''By this time the train had nearly
stopped, and / found no difficulty in
swinging off the lower step to the
ground. By the dim light that came
from the train l could see that l was
the only one who had alighted on my
side Of the track; the others had es-
capped on the opposite side. A feeling
of great thankfulness came over me
when l thought had been saved in
what seemed a wonderful way.
But as watched, mighty wrench
seemed to shake the train from end to
end, and instead of stopping, it seemed
70 tl,nt. of a1
me with increasing swiftness, and as
the last one whirled by, looked about
for those who, like myself, were left
standing by the tracks. I was alone,
"With terrified eyes peered into the
darkness on all sides, but not living
thing could l see.
SIT must be some awful dream
Surely / was on the train that was
moving away in the night! pinched
myself; l cried aloud. Surely could
feel, and l could hear the sound of my
voice. With the feeling of horror still
upon me, l rose and started along thC
track after the train.
"Once l stumbled and nearly fell
and for a moment the shock brough
me to myself. AS | lifted my head ;
familiar sound caught my ear, ant
away in the distance l could see com
ing toward me a moving speck o
light My dream was merciful at last
The train that had whirled away in tn
night, leaving me in that terrible darl
loneliness, was returning. l shoult
dream that it stopped and took m
aboard, and the horrible nightmar
would be ended.
GAS l looked and listened the ligh
became big and bright, and the SCUM
grew until it became like the rushin
of wind. 1 stepped aside just in tim
to allow the Western Express to rae
by me. Again l was walking alon
the tracks, and it seem ID that l ha
been walking thus for cycles upo
cycles of time.
"Gradually l became aware that
change was taking place about me.
raised my eyes and saw along the cas-
ern horizon a faint, uneartlly ligl
creeping into the Sky. 1t slowl
strengthened, until above the horizo