The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1825-05-18

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But the sight Of the corpse was no,
now SO awful as before.N The eonster.
nation had done its uthost There
was an imperceptible retprNof the orr.
ginal intention in his mind, nd hv !,
quick effort he lifted The boG ,j,on,
the chain over the head, olsen ,reJ
the locket from under the hand ana
then lowered the corpse again intS;ts
place. AS he did this, the arm whS,
before lay upon the breast fell with
strange dexibiiity over the side of the
coffin, and faint sigh came from the
body.
Had thunderclap broken in upon
the silence, the man would not have
been more staggered than he was at
this little sight. He rushed hastily
forth, left the sepulchre Enclosed, and
opened the church door m go out (;
when as if to increase his bewilderment,
the first thing which met his eyes was
the great moon lifting itself in the
Unabated power of its light over the
horizons edge. II shone right oppo-
site, and scegicd looking at aud coming
to expose him. He did not dare to
lift his eyes again but without stop
ping even to lock up the church, he
few over the fields pursued by his
fears.
1t was at this time about ii o'clock.
The domestics at Woodley Hall had
not yet retired to rest. Their minds
were agitated and unsettled by the fu-
neral and they found relief in sitting
up together, and talking over the
circumstances connected with their la
dy'S illness and sudden death. With
hearts so full, they could not endure
the silence of their chambers, and it
would have been vain To try &c sleep
therefore about the time | have just
mentioned, they left their room and
dull candles, to go out under the por-
iico of the house, and enjoy the baImy
night air, and the bright moon.
The subject of their talk continued
the same the youth Of their lady, her
gentIeness, her unacoountable illness,
the sublime testimony she gave of her
love even i'll the grasp Of death and
then ofwhat would become OF the heart
broken master, who had been secluded
in his room all day, scarcely admit
ting any one even to bring him need
tul retrcshment, when one of them with
low voice said: what can that whit
thing be which is futteriug about the
beach trees there at the farthest end OF.
the long walk!' They looked and
othing was seen. Ii was, however,
oIly leaf-hidden for time, for present.
| ~ it emerged altogether from the OBJ
scurlty of TIE trees, and they saw il,
plainly enough.
Tie walk was about about q quar-
ter of mile in length. The object
advanced down it, and soon a fearful
sight was seen by the company under
the portico an apparently human f.
cure with long trailing white garments,
lingering and stumbling across the
open park at that solemn hour, and
under the keen moonlight.
RThey did not stop TO ste any more !;
but hastened to their master's room.
told him what they had witnessed.
He answered them with faint voice
FROM within--'Go to rest, my frienGs,
go to rest. Your minds are disturbed,
and to tell you the truth, my own is
TOO much subdued just now to bear the
hearing Of such things. Shut up the
house; good night
But they all persisted so s.rcuuously
ia avouchlng the truth of what they
had stated, that sir William came from
ms chamber, and said he wodldg go with
then, to the park, and see whether the
appaFltion was yet visible. Poor man!
he was at this time III calculated to dis
sIpate the terror which bad taken pos
session of his servants. Sorrow, want
of food, long pTivanon of sleep, the
dismal business of the day, and then
this phantom story had almost bewil-
dered his faculties, aud Inc descended
the stairs trembling and uncollected.
Before they had reached the bottom,
one OF the servants cried out with a
wild voice, Look, Sir, look!n
Sir William cast his eyes downwards,
and 10! there, upon the cold stone floor
Of the hall, lay figure enlangIed in
unseemiy clothes, moaning and sobb-
ing naturally. The face was partially
exposed--Sir William saw ii. His ia
cuities seemed suddenly scattered, for
IN confused manner he dropped ON
his knees hv the side Of the figure. and