Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-07-13
"a fsrfIIaneoug.
From the Southern Literary Messenger.
A GHOST STORY

Alter raw unpleasant winters day,
storm burst forth towards evening. iha
: had evidently been some time brewing
The wind howled. The rain and hail bes
against the windows ard we instincliyel,
drew. our chairs closer around The cheerful
blazing FIRE We felt, when doing 50. as /
our comforts icithin were sensiblyincresser
BY the violent raging OF the storm without
We talked over OR "reminiscences 81 for
mer storms. and told many a story ol peri
by food or field.
Il One Of our party had been quiet lis
ltener all the evening. which we ;bouobl
unfair so. before separating for the night
we urged him 10 give his contribution for
the amusement OF the rest
"Lhaye been very little or traveller. >
said he, = and have no personal adventure.
/ 70 recount but if YOU wishit, |, will rel
late ghost+storv, and moreoyer,I am pre-.
pared to vouch foriis truth. q
/ Let Us have by all means,'f cried we
ell at+once. Our friend then gave us the
following history 84
The city OF Exeter, 10 the south Of En-.
gland, contains one OF those venerable
Cathedrals. whose significance gives eyi.
dence alike 81 The wealth Of the church,
and Otis liberal expenditure in.those DAYS
when England acknowledged The spiritn-
/ al supremacy Of Rome. Dwelling houses
are joined 10 The remains Of mo1kish clois,
s s5S, and Sd a aU SHs m s sPssak q I've man
were inhabited by Mr., Smith and NJ,
Sheffield both Of them were. clergymen
who had connection wilh lis minstrel ser
vices.
In order to pass from one house 10 the
other, you were obliged 10 make conside-
rable circuit; therefore Tor the convenience
Of social intercourse. the families had so.
liciied and obtained permission, each 10
make a sbor, passage, by opening door.
way into the clois,ers, BY means OF which
they could pass privately from house 10.
house, This explanation is necessary for.
the understanding 81 the story. !.
Fanny Sheffield had been spending an
evening a, Mr.. Smiths, whore the young
kpeople had enjoyed themselves with So
much gayety thai time had slipped away
more rapidly than any Of The party was
aware OF. and when FANNY rose 10 return
home, the Smiths begged her 10 stay the
i night. which she had often done before !;
but she positively declined il, saying, she
would Just skip across the cloister, and that
the door was 10 belleftopen for her. She
wished good night, and danced aud sung
with the lexuberance Of her sfIfitsss she
tripped through the ancient monss pre-
cincis. When she reached The door, she
was dismsyed al fading il locked. The
hour was 50 late, thar The family had made
sure she was remaining at the Smiths,
and all had retired 10 rest. She knocked
as hard as she could with her hand. then
she kicked the doos but all 10 vain the
passage that interviewed between the door
and the home prevented the sound being
heard. After a moments consideration.
she ran back 10 the oiherside 10 Try 10 gain
admittauce, but she was there equally UNI
successful, Tor the door bad been locked
as she went from il toIgo home. h
Fanny was by no means Of limid tenn
Iperamen., and when she found that she
really must spend The night IN the Caihe.
dral, her feelings were rather agreeable
Than otherwise; ana the more she thought
! Of il, the better she felt pleased al an &C
currenee that sayOred so strongly OF 70
nance.
The. moon was nearly al The full, and
sometimes shone brightly through The
gothic windows, forming many gIolesque
/ figures. by the shadows it threw around.
FlyiDg CLOUDS swep over Il occasionally,
and all was dark then again il would
Kemerge bright as ever. II is not surpH-
'sing that Fanny should have little incli-
tnatipn 10 sleep under these circumstances.
She walked slowly OPP and down the
aisles sometimes stopping before monu.
ments where the crossed legs told her that
the mortal remains Of . gallant crusader
hadheen deposited. and then passed ONTO
tombs. where the youth and beauty Of
more modern DAYS. had alike mingled
with their mother earth! No-one could
BE alone At midnight. in such place.
without feelings OF awe, and most persons
i would be uaneryed - Alter pacing about
10 various directions, Fanny began 10 ian.
icy that she saw something in motion near
she organ, but she would mol permit her
fsell 10 dwell on the thought. fpr, said
she to hersen. Il know that | am alone
10 this place il can be nothing bnl the
4 moonlight; however. as Fam growing
fancifpl, had better 60 10 sleep
She sho0ght The pulpit would be . good
place for rest, md she mounted ils
steps. srranged some cushions. amused
herself with picturing the surprise 81 the
isniIy when they should hear, in the