The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-12-03

Let somebody else tell one!'
"Oh, there needn't be anything like
zeal live ghost In 1t. Just anything
that's thrilling and mysterlousw
We'll" replied Lucille, thoughtfully,
"tlic most thrilling story can tell is
something that happened to me last
summer"
Good. :" "A real experience I" "This
IS The best Of all - cried several voices.
A group of college girls had gathered
about the big fireplace In the reception
ball The room was unlighted except
for the flames that. leaplng from the
great logs, illuminated the eager. happy
faces and threw wavering CLEANS into
the distant dark corners.
The listening group drew little
nearer the fire and turned eypectant
faces toward Lucille, who leaned for
ward from her pile Of cushions.
"Since | have been back at college
this year | have said very little to any
one about tho incident, for the reason
that | have wished to "ecover from its
effects as soon as possible, but | think
I can relate it tonight"
The look Of interest grew more in
tense as Lucille proceeded.
"You know that after college last
June, / started on "A trip through the
far West with party OF friends. We
in fPo
had n most delightful time. After
reaching California tie party broke
up, and l planned to remain n few
weeks with friend who was TO come
East with me and pay me return
visit
II had been with my friend only
few days when received letter from
my mother. saving that she had not
been well. but was now recovering.
was therefore utterly unprepared for
the telegram that came three days
later. summOning me home at once, as
my mother was in a very critical con-
ditiOn.
az started at once and alone. You
can imagine the apprehension with
which | began the long journey. 1t
seemed as if l could never cover the
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. I had slept little
the night before, and the strain was
beginning to tell upon me. When bed
time came I took simple sleeping
powder and went TO my berth early.
The powder had an almost instant
aneOus effect, and | was soon asleep.
Then began series of haunting
dreams. 1 seemed to pass through ca
lamlty after calamity. indefinite and
awful. At last the dream took tangible
form. was on the swiftly rushing
train. 4 terrible collision was about
tn happen. In the distance could hear
shouting. followed by several sharp ex-
plosons. Another moment and the
crash would come Then with strug-
gle awolie
"As | became conscious OF my sur
roundmgs | realized. that the car was
In confusion and the train slowing up.
Ny dream, then, was prophetic! With
shudder | remembered that the car
In which | was sleeping was near the
front of the train. and in the event of
n collision It's occupants would be at
disadvantage. Others had evidently
realized the same thing, and were rush
ms to get out.
In trembling haste | drew on my
shoes. and throwing my dresslng-robe
around me, | ran down the car to
where / saw people hurrying through
the door. In the mingled confusion of
dream and waking reality, l paid no
attention to the group, except TO see
that they were I'm frantic haste and
that they were all crowding down the
steps on one side OF the car
For a moment they seemed to hest
tate. as If to make room for me. Don't
wait for met! cried. Il Will jump
from this side and / 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 | could see that | was
the only one who had alighted on my
side of the track; the others had es-
capped OH the opposite side. A feeling
or great thankfulness came over me
when | thought | had been saved in
what seemed wonderful way.
But as l watched, mighy wrench
seemed TO shake the train from end to
end, and instead Of stopping, 1t seemed
to gather motion. Car after car passed
me with increasing swiftness. and as
the last one whlrled by, | looked about
for those who, like myself. were left
Standing by the tracks. I was alone!
with terrified eyes | peered into
tire darkness on all sides. but not a
living thing could see. The only
)und that broke the stiffness was that
OF tho train rs 1t made It's echoing way
a, ross the prairie. The only light was
That OF the train lamps that every mo-
u.ent twinliled more feebly In the dis
rance. md the light OF the stars thai
showed the family cleaning rails
etreto hing away In the darkness.
81 covered my eyes with my hand
and sank shrddcrlng down on The
ground Surely this was some trick Of
the fancy, some awful deluslon! Whei
looked again 1t must vanish Into
reality / did look, and there agair
were the moving lights. now mer,
epccks IN the distance. and there agar
were the cleaning rsll, that led away
into q horror .: darkness.
IL must be some awful dream
Surely / was Cd the train that wa
mo"ing away IL the night. | pinche'
myself; cried aloud Surely | coult
| feel. and could bear the sound OF IN.
voice. With tina feeling OF horror stii