Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-09-02

Die, had passed away in an instant. leay-
ing darker shadow on the features.
eff had only time" he said to him
self, -" i'll had only time, l would rather
break open one of the other collins and
leave the lady Adelaide in quiet. Are
has destroyed all that is human in these
mummies; they have lost that resem-
blance to life, which makes the dead 60
terrible, and I should no more mind hand
ling them than SO many dry boges. It's
all nonsense, though; one is as harmless
as the other, and since the lady Adelaide's
house is the easiest for my work I mast
cen set about it.
But the coffin did not offer the facilities
he reckoned upon with SO much certainty.
The glass-windows were secured inwardIv
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 hisimperfect implements,
cost both time and labour. AS the wood
spllntered and cracked under the heavy
blows OF the irchs tge cold perspiration
poured in streams down his face. the
sound assuring him more than all the rest
that he was committing sacrilege. Before.
1t was only the place, with its dark asso-
cations, that had terrified him now he
began to be afraid of himself, and would,
without doubt, have given up the business
altogether, if the lid had not suddenly
flown to pieces. Alarmed at his very
success, ne started round, as if expecting
to see some one behind watching his sac
rliege, and ready to clutch him; and SO
strong had been the illusion, that when he
found this was not the case, he fell upon
his knees before the coffin, exclaiming.
" 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 lit
is for my wife and children
He thought the dead looked more kind
ly at HIM as he spoke thus, and certainly
the llvid shadow had passed away from
ner lace. Without more delay, he raised
the cold hand to draw the rings from its
finger but what was his horror when the
dead returned his grasp his hand was
clutched, aye firmly clutched, though that
rigid face and form lay there as fixed and
motlonless as ever. With cry of hor-
rour he burst away, not retaining so much
presence of mind as to think of the light.
which he left burning by the coffin. This.
however, was of little consequence; fear
can find its way in the dark, and he rush.
ed through the vaulted passage, up the
steps, through the choir, and would have
fnlpd -lls - -,
reckless hurry, forgotten the stone, called
the De0iPs Stone, which lies in the middle
of the church, and which, according to
the legend, was cast there by the Devil.
Thus much is certain, it has fallen from
the arch, and they show a hole above,
through which it is said to have been
hurled.
Against this stone the unlucky sexton
stumbled, just as the turret-clock struck
twelve, and Immediately he fell to the
earth in deathlike swoon. The cold
however, soon brought him to himself, and
on recovering his senses he again fled,
winged by terrour, and fully convinced that
he had no hope of escaping the vengeance
of the dead, except by the confession of
his crime, and gaining the forgiveness of
her family. With this view he hurried
across the market-place to the burgomas-
ter's house, where he had 10 knock long
before he could attract any notice. The
whole household lay in profound sleep,
with the exception of the unhappy Adolph,
who was now sitting alone on the same
sofa where he had SO often sat with his
Adelaide. Her picture hung ON the wall
opposite to him, though it might rather be
said to feed his grief than to afford him
any consolation. And yet, as most would
do under such circumstances, he dwelt
upon it the more intently even from the
pain it gave him, and it was not till the
sexton had knocked repeatedly that he
awoke from his melancholy dreams.
Reused at last, he opened the window, and
inquired what it was that disturbed him at
such an unreasonable hour ? 1t is only
I, Mr.. Burgomaster," was the answer.
" And who are you ~ again asked Adolph.
/" Bolt, the sexton of st. Peters, Mr.. Bur-
gomaster Il have thing of the utmost
Importance to discover to you" Natu-
rally associating the idea of Adelaide with
the sexton of the church where she was
buried, Adolph was Immediately anxious
to know something more of the matter,
and, taking up a wax-light, he fastened
down stairs, and himself opened the door
to Bolt.
"What have you to say to me Z" he ex-
claimed. "Not here Mr.. Burgomaster,"
replied the anxious sexton )" not here I'VE
may he overhead"