The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1859-05-25

and amidst such manifestation of Al
mighty power as this furious tempest aG
lorded, not to feel some degree of solcm-
nifty and awe. He sat down. and gave
way to the many solemn reflections cullcd
up by the scene and the hour. IIdk kho't
OF the many who had once worshipcd there
who were now lying in their last. long
sleep in the church-yard without. Once,
upon their beds of down, how slight an
obstacle, how small vexation had been
sufficient to Danish slumbcr. Now-all
the era1bery of heaven, all the pelting of
the Pltiless storm, moved them not lot.
Imagination called up many form once
as familiar as the pows and pillars of the
old church known from infancy. In
thought he strove to follow some of these
into that strange realm. t this moment
a slight noise, in a momentary lull of the
tempest, made itself heard apparently be-
hind and above him. 1t was not strange
that at such a moment it sent Il thrill of
inexplicable emotion through his frame.
In a moment the feeling passed away, and
he turned, resolved to see, if possible. by
the illumination of the next flash Of light
ming, what had caused the sound which
had startled him. 1t came--broad, fierce
red, and revealed to him in the choir
form, Il something that had life and mo.
ton, but shape so underlined so hideous
that, with involuntary terror, he covered
his eyes with his hands.
The place, the hour the darkness, in.
terrupted only by the glare of the light
ning-the sounds of the tempest raging
withont-the solitude and this vague con-
seriousness of unsupported companionship,
had, it must be confessed, powerful ef-
feet on the mind of a man, naturally Of
the firmest courage, natured in a society
where cowqrdice is disgrace. A thousand
wild conjectures, rushed through his mind
in that first momentary but irresistible
onset of terror. Then his well-tutored
reason and his resolute will contrived to
make themselves heard over the tumult of
underlined fears aud crowdng fancies
And, at length, that most powerful of all
ideas to soothe the mind, entered with its
elevating and consoling train The tho't
Of the great Being to whom that place
was dedicated-of His serene supremacy
above all the woe and tumult of earth,
above all the forces of nature, and the
spirit of man himself, gave him a degree
Of composure in MS present situation,
which, he atterward owned, he should,
without this aid have wanted.
With restored calmness, he removed his
hands from his eyes and looked up once
more, hoping he had been the subject of
some strange delusions of the senses. No
there another flash showed it nearer,
palmer than before-during those brief
moments it had descended the gallery
stair with unheard lightness and swiftness,
and was soon on the same floor with him
self. By this time the violence of the
storm was somewhat abated. The flashes
of lightning came at longer intervals. He
had to wait some seconds, straining his
eyes upon the darkness. The lightning
came at last-dazzling and white-u
showed nearer yet. Still undistinguish-
able, vague-a tangled mass of dark
draperies and elflike looks and white
CLEANS of face and hands-human and
yet not-1ch0t was this ? thus wild in
form, thus stealthy in its approaches ?
Could it indeed be being from another
world ? He listened, with ear strained to
its utmost capacity, but there was no
sound, except that of the storm without.
To leave the church and encounter all
the fury Of the elements without, now ap-
peared to him as blessed relet. But to
do so, he must pass this unearthly figure.
Another flash of Lightning, which showed
his fearful companion so near as to be al
most within reach, quickened his lingering
resolution. With sudden summons of
all his remaining courage, he rushed from
the spot on which ht had hitherto stood
rooted, ran with his utmost speed down
the long aisle, and gave long gasp of re.
lief as he felt the damp night-air, and
heard the door shut behind him. To unite
the bride of his horse was the work of a
moment; ; he sprang into the saddle-at
that very moment he heard the church
door shut violently-the horse gave a
wild leap-but wilder one had landed
the fearful form safe behind the rider, and
his waist was cutched by arms which held
it like an iron wise.
The horse, seeming TO share the terror
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