Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1905-02-23


anything like Il real live
ghost in it. Just anything that's thrill
ing and mysterious"'
We'll" replied Lucille, thoughtfully
''the most thrilling story | can tell is
something that happened to me last
summer
The listening group drew n litt!c
nearer the fire and turned cXpectant
faces toward Lucille, who leaned for.
ward from her pile of cushions.
You know that after college closed
last June, started on Il trip through
the far West with party of friends.
We spent several weeks in travelling,
and had Il most delightful time. After
reaching California the party broke
up, and | planned to remain few
weeks with friend who was to come
East with mc and pay me return
visit
II had been with my friend only Il
few days when | received letter
from my mother. saying that she had
not been well. but was now recover
ing. ] was therefore utterly unprc-
rared for the telegram that came three
days later, summonin@ mo home at
once, as my mother w&s in very
critical condition.
Il started at once and alone, You
can imagine the apprehension with
which began the long journey. 1t
I }hn
vast distance, and the train seemed to
crawl as we dragged through She
weary hours into the second day.
AT last we reached wide stretch
of prairie country. had slept little
the night before, and the strain was
beginning to tell upon me. When hol-
time came took n simple sleeping
powder and went TO MY berth early.
The powder had an almost inSlantan-
eous effect, and | WAS soon asleep.
Then began series of haunting
dreams. | seemed to pass through
calamity after calamity, indeiinite and
awful. AT last the dream took tangi-
bic form. | was on the swiftly rushing
tItlH, ~ IiIilt iblliSIbll W ~ 'f'hi
to happen. In the distance could
hear shouting. followed by several
sharp explosions. Another moment
and the crash would come. Thcn with
struggle I awokr.
'ln trembling haste drew on my
shoes, and throwing my dressing robe
round me, ran down the car to where
l saw people hurrying through th"
door. In the mingled confusion Of
dream and waking reality, paid no
attention to the group, except TO see
that they We're in frantic haste, ana
that they were all crowdinG down the
steps Oh one side Of the car.
For moment they seemed to hrSi.
tate, as if to make room Tor me.
Don't wait for me" / cried. 1 viii
jump from this side and | made my
way down the steps in eager haste.
BY this time the train had nearly
stopped, and | found 10 difficulty in
swinging off the lower step to the
ground BY the dim light that came
from the train | could see that | was
the only one who had aightcd on my
side of the track: the others had es.
capped on the opposite side \ feeling
Of great thankfuineSS came over me
when | thought | had been saved i'll
what seemed wonderful way.
But as | watched. 4 mighty wrench
seemed tu shake the train from end 10
end, and instead of stopping, it seemed
to gather motion. Car after ear passed
inc with Increasing swiftnesS. and as
the last one whrlcd by, looked about
for those who like myself, were left
standing by the tracks. / was alone!
with terrified eyes peered into the
darkness ON All sides, but not 4 living
thing could | see.
II must be some aW ful drcam
Surely | was Oh the train that was
moving away in the night. | pinChcd
myself | cried aloud Surely | could
feel, and | could hear the sound Of my
voice. With the feeling of horror still
upon me. | rose and started along the
track after the train.
and for Il moment the shock brought
me to myself. As [ lifted my head n
familiar sound caught my ear. and
away in the distance | could see COM
ing toward Inc Il moving Speck OF
light. My dream was mercfuI at last.
The train that had whrlcd away in the
night, leaving me in that terrible dark
loneliness, was returning. | should
dream that it stopped and took me
aboard and the horrible nightmare
would be ended.
AS looked and listened the light
became big ana bright. and the sound
grew until it became like the rushing
of wind. | stepped aside just in time
to allow the Western Express TO race
by me. Again | was walking along
the tracks, and it seem Il that | had
been walking thus for cycles upon
cycles of time
"Gradualy ! became aware that n
change was taking place about me. |
raised my eyes and saw along the east
ern horizon fain:, unearthly light
creeping into the Sky. 1t slowly
strengthened, until above the horizon
showed the slender Grast ent of the
waning moon.
"A few hours more and the strain
upon my reason would doubtless have
been too great, but before long morn
ing began to approach, The air took