Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-03-18


made known to him.-His soul brooded over 1t
night and day. He saw in her action the wish
abe had net strength to utter in words and de-
termining it should not be violated, gave direc-
tions that she should be placed in the coffin
without disturbing the locket or her hand.
II will be readily imagined that so affecting
circumstance could not escape being much talk
ed of, and, as in these cases no particulars are
ever omitted, the value of the trinket, which
was Sc, round with brilliants, found place IN
he story.
The sexton Of the church containing the Ia
mily vault was one of the persons to whom this
anecdo.e became known, and he was not long
in conceiviEg plan by which he might possess
himself of the buried Jewels, which glttereo SO
temp,ingly in his minds eye DO not think
he would have meditated common thelt,
theft capable Of injuring any living creature,
nay, although he was in business, ne was never
known to practice any OF the usual tricks OF ue-
ceptions of trade He was charitable, we'll
meaning man, but he could not comprehend lne
sentiment which ordained those love tokens to
lie in hallowed immoveability on dead breast
| II was in his opinion silly waste OF treasure,
no harm could come ofhis appro2riating II: and
he therefore determined that on the night OF the
FIN. and remove the Jewels. The church was
we'll situated for his purpose, it stood apart
from the village to which it belonged, and was
a solitary edifce in the midst of fields
Behold him then in the darkness of the night
with his lantern at the lone church door. lie
unlocks it and passes in He was at first rather
awe struck by the dead stiffness, the sudden cold
smell so different from the genial air without,
l,l,o in deer shadow.
like melancholy and drear recess. The ma
ture Of his office had given him familiarity
with the building, but had not worn away the
idea in his mind gifts sacredness, and he 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 he went along
the aisle with his lamp, the white tomb'stohes
on the walls glarcd as it were reproachtully up
on him one by one, and his perturbation was
increased by the dart of bat close to his face
He almost regretted he had come, but he went
on nevertheless, and passed into the lady's Sc
pulchre.
Having laid down bis lamp upon coffin close
by, he proceeded with his instruments TO take
off the lid of the one he sought, which was
soon effected. This was the first moment oil
real irresoution and terror. The sight OF the
corpse lying there by that dim light in the
heavy stiffness of death, with its white and pla-
cid countenance, made his heart swell and his
nerves powerlesss. The sublimity Of the sight
made him feel the meanness OF his action with
double force; he almost tainted, and, with the
intention of abandoning the business, he re-
turned into the body of the church. There
he supported himself for long time, while
the GOODNESS Of the air refreshed him and ne
was at length about TO depart, when recollect-
ing that the lid Of the coffin should be repac-
ed, he summoned strong effort, and went
again into the vault for that purpose.
But the sight Of the corpse was not now so
awful to him as before. The CONSERVATION had
done its utmost There was an impercepti-
bic return of the original intention in his mind,
and by quick effort he lifted the body, drew
the chain over the head, dsengaged the
locket from under the hand, and then lowered
the corpse again into its place. AS ne did
this, the arm which before lay upon the breast,
fell with strange flexibility over the side OF
the coffin; and fain, sigh came from the body.
Had thunderclap broken in upon the ST.
lence. the man would not have been more stag
rered than he was at this little sight. He rush
ed hastily forth, left the sepulchre unclo-
sed. and opened the church door 10 go out;
first thing which met his eyes was the great
moon lifting itself in the undated power OF It's
light over the horizons edge. II shone right
opposite and seemed looking at and coming
to expose him. He did rot dare to lift his
eyes again; but, without stopping even to lock
up the church. he few over the fields, pursued
by his fears. m
1t was a, this time about II o'cl ok. The
domestics at Woody Hall had not yet retired
to rest. Their minds were agitated and un-
settled by the funeral; and they found relief
in sitting up together, and talking over the
circumstances connected with their lady's III
ness and sudden death. With hearts so full
they could not endure the silence OF their
chambers, and it would have been vain to
try to sleep; therefore about the time | have
just mentioned, they left their room and dull
candles, to go out under the portico OF the
house, and enjoy the bamy night air, and the
bright moon.
The subject Of their talk continued the same:
the youth Of the lady, her gentleness, her un
accountable illness, the sublime testimony she
gave Of her love even in the grasp OF death;
and then what would become Of their heart
broken master, who had been secluded in his
loom all day,l scarcely admitting any one even
bringing him needful reireshment; when one OF
them with low voice said-"What can that
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