Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-05-01

was only tic place, with It's dark asso-
Citations, that had terrified HIM: now he
began to be afraid Of himself, and would,
without doubt, have given up the bust
ness altogether, if the lid had not suddenly
flown to pieces. Alarmed at his very
success, he started round, as if expecting
to see some one behind, watching his sa-
crilege, 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 a
single diamond will make poor family SO
happy. 1t is not for mysel-Oh no -
it is for my wife and children"
lie thought the dead looked more
kindly at HIM as he spoke thus, and GER
tainly the lvid shadow had passed away
from her face. Without more delay, he
raised the cold hand to draw the rings
from its finger but what was his horror
when the dead returned bis grasp His
hand was clutcAed: aye firmly clutched,
though that rigid face and form lay there
as motionless as ever. With cry ofhor-
ror he burst away, not retaining so much
presence of mind as to think of the light
which he left burning by the collin-This
however, was of little consequence; fear
can find its wayin the dark, andhc rushed
through the vaulted passage, up the steps
through the choir, and would have found
his way out, had he not, in his hurry, for
gotten the stone called the DeriFS Stone,
which lies in the middle of the church,
and which, according to the legend was
cast there by the Devil. Thus much is
ccrtain--it has fallen from the arch, and
they still show hole, above, through
which it is said to have been hurled.
Against this stone the unlucl.y sexton
stumbled, Just as the clock struck twelve,
and Immediately he fell to the earth in a
dcathliko swoon. The cold, soon brought
HIM to himself, and on recovering his
senses lie again fled, winged by terror,
and fully convinced that he had no hope
of escaping the vengeance of the dead,
except by the confession of his crime land
gaining the forgiveness Of her family.
With this view he hurried across the mar
ket-placc to the Burgomaster's house
where he had to knock long before he
could attract any notice. The whole
household lay in profound sleep, with
the exception Of the unhappy Adolph,
who was sitting alone on the same sofa
where he had so often sat with his
Adelaidc.-ller 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 mostwould
do under such circumstances, he dwelt
upon it the more intontly even from the
pain it gave him and it was not till the sex
ton had knockedrcpeatcdly that he awoke
from his melancholy dreams. Reused at
last lie opened the window and inquired
who it was that disturbed him at such an
unreasonable hour
at is only |, Mr.. Burgomaster," was
the answer.
"And who are you!" again asked
Adolph.
"Bolt, the sexton of St. Peters, Mr.
Burgomaster; l have thing of the ut
most Importance to discover to you.
Naturally associating the idea of Adc-
laidc wththe sexton Of the church, where
she was buried. Adolph was Immediately
anxious to know something more of til,
mH;ter, and, taking up wax light, h,
hastcned down stairs, and himself opened
the door to Bolt.
"N hat have you to say to mc?" ut
exclaimed. "Nothore, Mr. Burgomaster,
replied the anxious sexton; "not here
we may be overheard
Adolph, though wondering at this af
icctaton Of mystery, motioned him in
and closed the door when Bolt, throwin
f himself at his feet, confessed all that ha
happened. The anger of Adolph wa
mixed with compassion, as he listened t
, the strange recital; nor could lie refuse t
Bolt the absolution which the poor tellO,
deemed so essential to his security fror
the vengeance of the dead. At the sam
, time he cautioned him to maintain a pro
found silence the subject towards ever
one else, as otherwise the sacrilegc migl
be attended with serious consequences
it not being likely that the ccclesiastic,
!. whom the Judgment of such matters be
! longed would view his fault with equal in
=, diligence. He even resolved to 90 hin
, self to the church with Bolt, that he migl
investigate the affair moro thorough,
, But to this proposition the sexton gave
prompt and positive denial. 81 woul
rather" hci cxclaimcd--'I would rath,
. be dragged to the scailold than again di,
> turb the repose of the dead" This d,
4, claration, so ill-timed, confoundcd AdolpI
On the one hand, he felt an underline
curiosity to look more narrowly into til