Delaware journal. [volume] (Wilmington [Del.]) 1827-1832, 1828-05-27

Full of these unpleasant recoe ctions, he tottered
up the nave; and, as the light successfully flashed
upon the sculptnred marbles, it seemed to him as if
the pale figures frowned ominously upon him. But
desperation supplied the place of courage. He
kept on his way to the hoir,-descended the steps,
passed through the long, narrow passage, with
the dead heaped up on either side,--opened Ade-
ladies chapel, and stood at before her coffin.
There she lay, stiff and pale,-the wreath in her
hair, and the jewels on her hngures, cleaning
strangely in the dmlight lantern. He even fancied
that ne already smelt the pestlentia breath of de-
cay, though 1t was fully early for corruption to
have begun its work. Asickness seized him at the
thought; and he leaned for support against one of
the columns, with his eyes fixed the coffin
When-was it real, or was it illusion Pa change
came over the face ofthe dead? He started back;
and that change, SO Undesirable, had passed away
in an instant, leaving darker shadow on the fea-
lures
elf had any time" he said to himself" if
had only time would rather break open one of the
other collins, and leave the lady Adelaide in quiet.
Age has destroyed all that is human these num-
mics they have lost that resemblance to life,
which makes the dead go terrible, and | should
no more mind handling them than so many dry
bones. It's all nonsense, though, is IDS
harmless as the other, and since the lady Ade-
lads house is the easiest for my work. must cen
set about it,
But the Coffin did not offer the facilities he rec
koned upon with so much certainty. The glass
windows were secured inwardly with iron wire,
leaving no space for the admission Of the hand, so
that he found himself obliged to break the lid to
pieces, task that, with his imperfect implements
cost both time and labour. As the wood splinter
ed and cracked under the heavy blows of the iron
the cold perspration poured in streams down his
face, the sound assuring him than all the rest
that he was committing sacrllege. Before, it was
only the place, with its dark associations that had
terrified him; now he began to be afraid of him
self, and would, without doubt have given up the
business altogether, if the lid had not suddenly
flown to pieces. Alarmed at his very success, he
started round, as if expecting to see one be-
hind, watching his sacrilege, and ready to clutch
him, and strong had been the Illusion that when
he found this was not the case, he fell upon his
knees before the coffin, exclaimng, Z" Forgive me.
dear lady, If | take from you what is Of no use to
yourself, while single diamond will make poor
family so happy. 1t is not for myself-Oh, no !
it is for my wife and children"
! He thought the dead looked more kindly at him
as he spoke thus, and certainly the lived shadow
had passed away from her face. Without more de-
lay, he raised the cold hand to draw the rings from
its finger: but what, what was his horsor when
the dead returned his grasp his hand was clutch
ed, aye firmly cluched, though that rigid face and
form lay there as fixed and motioness as ever
With cry Of borrow he burst away not retaining
SO much presence OF mind as to think of the ligh
which he left burning by the coffin. This, how
ever,was oflte consequence; fear can find its wa,
in the dark and he rushed through the vauled pas
sage, up the steps, through the choir, and would
have found his way out, had he not in his rec kles
hurry, forgotten the stone, called the Devils Stone
which lies in the middle of the church, and which
according to the Legend was cast there by the De
vii. This much is certain, that it has fallen from
the arch and they show hole above, through whic
t it is said to have been hurled.
= Against the stone the unlucky sexton stumbled
just as the turn-cock struck twelve, and immediate
h ly he fell to the earth in deadlike swoon. TIL
n cold however soon brought him to himself, and o.
s recovering his senses he again fed, winged by tel
TOT, and fully convinced that he had hope
h escaping the vengencc of the dead, except by tn
i confusion OF his crime, and gaining the forgiveness
r, of her family With this view he hurried acros
:, the market place to the burgomaster's house
e where he had to knock long befor he could attra
h any notice. The whole household lay in pre-
k found sleep, with the exception of the unhapp
IN Adoph, who was sitting alone on the same So
!: where he had so often sat with his Adelaide. He
Is picture hung the wall opposite to him, though
to might rather be said to feed his grief than to aloI
lie him any consolation And yet as most would &
1t under such circumstances he dwet upon it the mol
1t inently even from the pain it gave him, and it w
50 not till the sexton had knocked repeatedly that
lie awoke from his melancholy dreams. Reused
s. last, he opened the window, and inquired who
was that disturbed him at such an unseasonab
o. hour? alt is only l, Mr.. Burgomaster.' was IL
1T answered. "And who are you p again asked M
it Adolph. ''Bolt, the sexton of st. PETERS, M
lie Burgomaster, have thing of the utmost impo
lie lance to discover to you" Naturally associat
to the idea of Adelaide with the sexton of the churc
I'd wore she was buried, Adolph was immediate
lie anxious to know something more of the matter, al
he taking upa wax-light he fastened dawn stairs,
IN himself opened the door to Bolt
lis i" What have you to say to me % he exclaime
e, 6 Not here, Mr.. Burgomaster,' replied the a
~ xious sexton =; Not here we may be owe
lis heard"