Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-04-09
pronounced in the harsh, shrill voice ofthc


sexton:
"Cheer up, Giles Roper; you will have
fair play. We have sworn it on the book,
Giles. Alire or dead you aciU hare fair
play"
A groan from the dying man was the
only reply. On my entering, the sexton
seated himself. and, relaxing into his hab-
itual silence, watched the proceeding with
aeontemptuous scowl. His miserable COM
panion was far beyond the reach of human
skill; nothing remained but to dress his
wounds, and administer an op;ate. Hav-
ing done so, Immediately Departed
Giles Roper died that night.
About week after the funeral, one dark,
stormy night, | was returning from a visit
to a patient who resided at a considerable
distance. The wind laden with a heavy
miasma of the fens, swept bowling across
the level; at times burst of sleet, sharp
and sudden, would almost strike me from
the saddle; then the moon for an instant
would be seen on high, stenming the rush
ing clouds; and then, again, the icy fog in
huge rolling masses closed around. My
pony was well nigh up to her knees in mud
and water, and, in spite of my exertions, it
was past twelve before I gained the village;
no sound save the melancholy moaning of
the wind was to be heard in the deserted
street. The good folks retired right early
then. Dismounting-for in so dark
night the road was dangerous made my
way along the narrow causeway, and on
arriving at the church was startled by per
ceiving an unusual though dim Light
glimmering through the church window
Feeling assured that no good could be work
ing at such an hour in such place, lett
nv nag to find her way to the stable as
best she might, and leaping the low church.
yard wall, approached the building. For
moment my heart failed me, and an indes-
cribable sensation of awe came over me as
felt 1 was within few yards of some
dark and unhallowed deed. The qualm
passed in an instant; the next moment my
nerves were strung, and my pulse beat full
and firm as ever.
It was no hard ms tier for one young and
active to raise himself by means of the but
tress, and the uneven. surface of the stone
work, TO the level of the window in ques-
ton. Merciful heavens! Forty years have
passed since then, yet every feature of that
fearful sight is fresh in my memory as
though looked upon it but yesterday.
Yon, sir, have examined the interior of
our church, and could not fail to have re-
marked an antique tomb, that stands near
the altar. 1t is the resting place of the
founder of the pile. The good knights
shield and banner still hang on the wall
above. Round this tomb were four per-
sons seated, engaged apparently at play
In three recognized at once the sexton |
and the two brothers Marsh; the fourth
was corpse. Yes, there in his grave
clothes. bound and bandaged, sat Giles
Roper, the landlord of the Black Lion.-
There was terror in that sheeted form,
dragged from the charnel house to join the
impious revel, that might have appalled, a
stouter heart than mine. The face half hid |
by the shroud, half lit by the Pickering
lamp, seemed, as the shadows fitted across |
it's liyid features, to waken into life, and |
vary its expressions with the progress of
the fearful game.
Before the dead man, counters and cards
were placed, and as his turn came round |
to play, the sexton regularly selected one
of the latter from the parcel; while from
the ebony cabinet of the murdered lady,
which stood, half emptied ofits rich con-
tents, on the centre of the slab, the victors
drew their stakes at the conclusion of each
deal. Of fthis party the sexton alone seem
ed no be at ease, and he grinned and chuck
led as he swept his double portion of the
coin, now chiding, now praising
his ghostly partner as the luck ran off with
or against them. On sudden the stone
which had hitherto supported my weight,
slipped from its position, and with vain
attemt to save myself, shivering the win
dow in the act, 1 fell heavily to the ground.
The light was instantly extinguished: the
players were evidently alarmed. Not a
moment was to be lost. Bounding across
the turf, l again leaped the fence, and ran
at full speed towards the more respectable
part of the village.
In le. than half an hour body of the
principal inhabitants were assembled, and
nv story hurriedly told, we proceeded en-
nasse to the consecratcd church. All was
dark and still, and every portal barred
The blacksmith, however, with vigorous
application of the sledge hammer, soon eff
fected an entrance through small door
which, opening into the belfrev, communi-
Gated with the body of the building
Chancel, nave and aisle, were all searched,
pew and pulpit-all in vain. Not a cor
ner, not nook was left unexplored; but
no trace of the sacreligious visitants was
to be discovered. Already had my COM
panions began to wax discontented, and to
grumble at being reused from their bed on
such bootless erand; hints were thrown
out concerning stocks, horseponds, and
smaller instruments, Of popular primitive
Justice Confounded, and almost inclined
to doubt the evidence of my own senses, l
leaned hopelessly against the old tomb,
when suddenly something on the pavement
caught my eye; it was the diamond ring
the came had seen on the finger of the
Fair stranger.
Again the tide turned. ''To the SEX
TONS" shouted the blacksmith: "the old
fox must have run to the earth; we'll un-
kennel him yet" And, shouldering his
huge hammer, he struck of, followed by
the whole crowd, towards q small cottage
which was close at hand. The door was
forced in moment, and in spite of the