The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1859-06-18

trcl hlW 40 mueh ae possible from the atplW
entered the deep and spacious door way. A.
he leaned for support against the heavy fold
ing door, 10 bis surprise it yielded 20 The
pressure, he opened Il and entered the church
glad to find himself IN 90 secure a situation.
lie walked up the central aisle sad sat dova
IN one Of the Pews very near rhhs middle Of
the church.
Il was not possible for a man Of the ssnsl-
bilily and unaffected pielyof Mr. T, To fad
himself alone, in such a situation and amidst
such manifestation Of Almighty power a.
this furious tempest afforded not TO feel
some degree Of solemnily and ave. lie sat
down and gave way 10 the many solemn re-
fiectiona called up by the scene and by the
hour. lie thought Of the many who had
once worshipped there who we're now lying
10 their las, long sleep 10 the church yard
without. Once upon their beds of dowR
how slight an obstacle, how small yexatlon
had beer Sufficient 10 Danish slumber. Nov
all the artillery Of HEAVIER, all the peltings Of
ne pidlrss storm moved them not jot.
Imagination called up mary form once a.
familiar as the pews and pillars Of tie old
church known from infancy. In thought he
stro,e 10 follow some Of these into that
strange realm. AZ this moment a slight
noise In u momentay lull Of the tempest
made itself heard apparently behind and
above him. II was not strange that at such
a moment II srnt thrill Of inesplicable emp
lion through his frame. In a moment tfe
feeling passed away, Nnd he turned resolved
to see II possible, by the illumination Of tbs
next flash Of lightning what had caused the
sound which had startled him. IL eame-
broad, herec, red, and revealed to him 10 the
choir form, something that had life and
motion, but shape so underlined, so hideous
that With involuntary terror, he covered his
eyes with his hands.
The place, the hour. the darkness, inter-
-ss.f''-ri-urTfy-f1y ny rIu giGf6 OF The lightning
the sounds Of the tempest raging Without
tho solitude and this ssg,,e eonseiousness Of
unsupported eonpanonahip, had Il must be
confessed, powerful effect on the mind of a
man naturally Of the frmcst courage and nur-
tured in society where cowardice il dis
grace. 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 con-
tryed TO make themselves heard over the tu-
multi Of underlined fears and crowding fancie,
And at length, that most powerful Of all ideas
10 soothe the mind entered with its elcvntinR
and consong tain. The thought OF the
great Being to whom that place was dedica.
tcd-of His serene supremacy above all the
NO and tumult Of earth, above AZ the forces
Of nature and the spirit Of man himself, gave
him degree Of eomposure in his present sit
uation which, he anerward owned, he should
without this aid have wanted.
With restored ellmneM he removed his
hands from his eyes and looked up once more
hoping he had been the subject Of some
strange deluSion Of the senses. Nu-tbrrur
another flash showed IL nearer, palmer thfh .
be'ore-durng those brief moments il had
descended the gallery stair with unheard
lightness and swiftness. and was soon or the
same floor with himself by this time ms
violence Of the storm was somewhat nbated.
The flashes Of lightning came at longer inter
walls. lie had to wait some seconds, strain
ing his eyes upon the darkness. The light
ming came at last-dozzling and white--it
showed nearer vet stii t'ttl+stiTfstfishHs,ir,
vague-a tangled mass of dark draperies and
elf-like looks and white CLEANS Of face and
hands-human, and yet not--what was this T?
thus wild in form, thus stealthy in It's APP
proaehes9 Could it indeed it ipdeed be
being from another world? Ife 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 appeared
to him as a blessed relief But TO do so he
must pass this unenrthly figure. Another
flash Of lightning, which showed his fearful
companion so near MS 10 be almost within
reach, quckened his lingering resolution
With sudden summons of all his remaining
courage he rushed from the spot on which
he had hitherto stood rooted, ran with his
utmost speed down the>Ieng aisle and gave a
long gasp Of relief as he felt the damp night
air, and heard the door shut behind him.
To unite the bride of Of his horse was the
work Of a moments he sprang into the sad
dle-at that moment he heard the church
door shut violently-the horse gave a wild
lcap-but wilder one had landed the fear
ful form safe behind the rider, and his whist
was elutched by arms which held it like am
iron wise.
The horse seeming to share the terror of
his rider, reared and plunged and then start
ed at his greatest speed. lie instinctiYsiT
took the right road towards Nome, and went
at such rate as promised soon to terminate
this terrible journey. With the strenp,b