The big Royal Blue Chrysler Windsor rolled westward on the surface of the old # 4 Highway, that twisting, turning, ribbon of asphalt that existed before it was rebuilt as the Trans Canada Highway and received the designation 104. The sky was the brilliant blue of mid October, and small white clouds chased each other across the face of the sun, causing dark shadows to dull, momentarily, the blazing colours of the fall foliage.
The car with it' s three occupants had just passed through the village of Linwood and was headed toward Antigonish, where it's driver and his two passengers made their homes. The three had been business associates for years, and the two younger men were first cousins. Highway contractors, they were on their way home after looking over a sizable contract that was due to be tendered in Cape Breton the following spring.
Drinkers all, the three were well into a bottle of rum purchased in Port Hawkesbury; they little cared about the legality of their action, for apprehension would probably amount to a fine of $10.00 + costs of $3.50, levied for the possession of open liqour in a motor vehicle. Sobriety tests were very rudimentary at the point when these happenings took place.
They were discussing the upcoming road job, when a piglet jumped up from the ditch and proceeded to trot across the road, the driver, his reflexes somewhat slowed from the effects of the alcohol he had consumed, couldn't brake in time and struck the little pig a glancing blow with the corner of the right bumper. Sure that he had killed the animal, he stopped the car and the three got out and began to walk back along the shoulder of the road scanning the ditch for the body of the pig, which they were sure had been killed.
Suddenly the object of their search scrambled to it's feet in the ditch and scampered up the embankment and disappeared in a hill of small hardwoods that bordered the highway. Feeling no pain, they decided to chase the pig who they figured was about to die from his injuries.
Laughing and calling back and forth, they separated to widen their search pattern. At last tiring of the fruitless search the driver said. " Let's give it up boys, he must have hidden from us, lets go home." Looking toward him at the sound of his voice, for they were about twenty yards from him in the open hardwood, they were shocked to see standing by his side a little girl about four years of age. Shaken, they quickly agreed to give it up and get out of there. As soon as the driver moved, the apparition vanished. The men entered the car and continued the drive to Antigonish.
One year to the day later, the driver, inebriated, hit, and killed, a four year old girl playing on the roadside in front of her parents house in Linwood, with his Chrysler Windsor.
I worked for their company fifty five years ago come this summer.
Seanachie.
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