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

But they all persisted so strenuously IN a.
vouching the truth Of what they had stated,
that Sir William came from his chamber, and
said he would 10 with them into the park, and
see whether the apparition was yet visible
Poor man! he was at this lime i'll calculated 10
dissipate the terror which had taken hold oil his
servants. Sorrow, want of food, long prlva-
ton of sleep, the dismal business OF the dav,
and then this phantom story, had almost Devil.
dered his faculties, and he descended the stairs
trembling and uncollected.
Before he had reached the bottom, one OF the
servants cried out with wild voice "Look, Sir,
look"
Sir William cast his eyes downwards, and
10! there, upon the cold stone floor OF the hall,
lay figure entangled in unseemly clothes,
moaning and sobbing naturally The face was
partially exposed. Sir William saw it. His
faculties seemed suddenly scattered, for in a
confused manner he dropped on his knees by
the side Of the figure, and there remained few
moments with casped hands and vacant and
immoveable looks. At length aweak faltering
female voice Was heard:
Il am afraid have done wrong it said, 'but
must have been in dream; do not be angry
with me-
Good God! my wife-How is this? No, no,
no; it cannot be- She is in her tomb.-and yet
| this countenance and these grave-clothes strike
away my senses with wonder!-Elizai Eliza!
She cannot speak again. Yes, she is not quite
cold. What can this mysterious visitation por-
tend?-Eliza! Let ME once more hear that
voice. Silent! Silent!--Lift her up. Look! it
is herself, her own self; her lips move; and see
her poor face Is wet with tears. God alone
knows how this can come 10 pass; but ] will
thank him for il forever. There, gently, move
her gently, lay her in my arms, and some Que
! 60 before me with light
1t was indeed his wife whom he embraced.
| He carried her 10 his chamber, laid her in the
| bed, and ordered warm restoratives to be pre-
| pared These he administered himself, and
she sic pit for two hours. On awaking she said:
care you there, my dear? Let me hear you
speak. Something strange has happened to
| me, am sure Have been delirious wish
you had watched me better: for / am certain
| that have been wandering out in the open air.
1t terrhes me 10 think of it. The dream have
had since l saw you, dear husband, last night,
presses on me with an inloierable sense of re-
atty 1t mus, have been those ghastly visions
which scared me out Of the house in my sleep.
am full of pain. My feet are sore and bleed
ing. Reach me your hand, and comfort me
with your voice. fancied that | was just now
staying obstinately and yet unwillingly in a
painful, dreary, dark place and was startled
there by a sudden rush of cold wind. / SEEM
cd to fall many times and to bruise myself ex-
ceedingly in endeavoring to struggle out to
wards The light This must have been dream?
but / am certain have been wandering out Of
door in my sleep, for thought should have
gone mad when my perceptions Came to me,
and found myself alone, barefooted, and the
wide and silent park stretching far around me.
have endeavored, but it is in vain, to recollect
any circumstances connected with my leaving
the house ~
Her husband shook from head to foot at this.
The coffin and the hearse swan instantly in his
eyes. He was sick al heart with the oppression
Of mystery, but he looked at his wife again
and blessed Heaven.
Having addressed a few cheering words to
her, and promising not 10 leave her side, he
exhoried her to be composed and to endeayor
to sleep.
In the morning the whole thing was explain
ed. Some rustics passing by the church had
observed it TO be open, and going in saw that
one of the family vaults was Enclosed, and that
there was an empty coffin in it. This nforma-
ton they carried forthwith to the sexton, who
alarmed at the probability Of his being detect
ed Gas some one might have seen him escaping
by the moonlight,) and fearing that his guilt
might seem greater than it was, went to Wood.
ley-hall, and confessed the whole business, max
ing restitution Of the locket, but declaring
that he knew nothing whatever oil the removal
OF the corpse.
He was readily enough forgiven and believe
rewarded. 1t was plain now that Lady Fam
shaw had been buried in trance. 1t was OF
the utmost consequence that the subject OF the
ihterment should be kept from her knowledge
The sexton was enjoined to silence; but it was
not easy to quell the tongues of the village.
Besides, when the lady recovered sufficiently to
go out, every object she saw in the direction oil
the church perplexed her with some dim and
uncomfortable Renaissance. She nigh some
day stumble on the truth, and Sir William, in
the fear of this, sold his estate, and purchased
another in distant part of the country. In
this latter place Lady Fanshaw gave birth to
large family, and lived many years with her
husband in health and comfort.
EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS
IEriften by n Lnl, in South A1lerica TO her friend