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

tersectcd the shutters, admonished sill
William and the nurse of the time theil
patient had slept. The light was there.
fore admitted into the room, and the,
looked into the bed.
How is this p said sir William, 'shc
has not moved a hairs breadth since
we saw her last night. Good God
how pale her face and lips are! Hea-
ven grant all may be well; butt trem-
bic under my fears. Go instantly and
bring the physician
| The physician came he. was alarm
ed at her appearance; feather was
placed on her lips, and sir William
bent with keen eyes over it. 1t did
not move. Alas! ass! Der spirit had
passed away, while erhusband. sitting
close To her, was congratulating him
self on the prospect of her recovery
She must have stirred once in the
night, though it was done with such
gentleness as not to be perceived, for
one of her hands were found inside her
garment pressing the lockct, of which
| have spoken, on her naked breast.
/ will not attempt TO describe the
swelling of her husbands heart, and
the gush of tears, when this touching
instance of her love was made known
10 him. His soul brooded over it
night and day. He saw in her action
the wish she had not strength 10 utter
in words, and determining it should
not be violated, gave directions that
she should be placed in her coffin with
out disturbing the locket or her hand.
II will be readily imagined that so
affecting circumstance could not es-
cape being much talked OF, and, in these
cases no particulars are ever omitted,
the value of the trinket, which was set
round with brilliants, found place in
the story.
The sexton of the church, containing
the family vault was one of the persons
to whom this anecdote became known,
and he was no, long in coneciyins a
plan by which lie might possess himself
Of the buried Jewels, which glittered so
temptingly in his minds eye. do not
think he would have meditated COM
mon theft, a theft capable of injuriDg
any living creature; nay, although he
was i'll business, he was never known
to practice any of the usual tricks or
deceptions of trade. lie was a chari-
table well meaning man; but he could
not comprehend the sentiment which
ordained those love tokens to lie in
hallowed Immortality on dead breast.
1t was in his opinion silly waste of
treasure no harm could come of his
approprlating it; and he therefore de-
termined that on the night of the fune-
raj he wouldNenter the vault, open the
coffin and remove the Jewels. The
church was we'll situated for his pur-
pose; it stood apart from the village,
and was a solitary edjfce in the midst
of fields
Behold him, then, in the darkness OF
the night with his lantbern at the lone
church door. He unlocka it and pas
scs in. He was at iirst rather awe
struck by the dead stiffness, the sudden
cold smell so different from the genial
air without, and the vacant pews stand
ing in deep shadow like melancholy
and drear recesses. The nature of his
office had given him familiarity with
the buildiDg, but had not worn away
the idea in his mind of its sacredness,
aud Inc quaked to think that it should
be the spot where he was to perpetrate
the first deed in his life which he would
be ashamed to own. AS hewent along
the aisle with his lamp, the white tomb
stones on the walls glared as it were
reproacbfully upon him one by one,
and his perturbation was increased by
the dart of a bat close to his face. He
almost regretted he had come, but lie
went on nevertheless, and passed into
the lady's sepulchre.
Having laid down his lamp upon a
coffin close by, he proceeded with his
instruments to take of the lid Of the
one he sought, which was soOp effected.
This was the FIRST moment of real ire
solution and terror. The sight of the
corpse laying there by that dim light
in the heavy stiffness of death, with its
white and placid countenance, made
his heart swell and his nerves power
less. The subHmity Of the sight made
hin feel the meanness of his action
with double force he almost tainted,
and with the intention of abandoning
the business he returned into the body
of the church. There be supported