The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-07-23

rs h''SSi' 'i"ilC' IA" iIuIlNiS1 dli SlHlll-
fed that he was ready. And up he
went-Gcorgc first i III the rear.
We marched early to the perforated
door, and, thrusting a stick into the hole
found it was closed by slide on the
interior. Turning the rusty key, George
threw the door wide open, and we
glanced cautiously around.
Grasping each others hands we step
ped slowly forward, determined to
present Il bold front to the enemy.
The lodge was abou, twenty-five feet
square ut either end, and on one side
was throne, or scat of an officer,
elevated upon a plantform, and hung
above with crimson damask curtains,
tipped with long fringe. Across a
corner was stretched line, upon which
were suspended white linen collars,
aprons and other articles of rcgalia.-
In the centre OF the room was a large
table covered with green baize, and upon
it was Il ballot-boX with drawer. This
We eventually became fearless enough to
look into. Percoiying fine lot of black
and white marbles, we committed piracy,
changing them from the monotony
of their long closed prison, to pleasant
place among jack-kniyes, pin-cases and
top-colds, i'll our contraband pockets
We examined, with much interest, sun
dry peculiar crooks and poles, in yaric-
gated colors, that stood in the angles :;
discovered several little wooden lam
mers, that reminded us Of oyster soup
and crackers; and, O, yc Powers Of
Darkness we at last stumbled upon the
identical bar, concerning which we had
heard the nurderous story. The legend
was incontroycrtiblc. There was the
instrument Of execution; dard blood-spots
were still visible upon the end that had,
doubtless, transiiXed the poor victims
heart, and caused his instantaneous
death. Scraps Of flannel and shavngs
were found among the dirt and rubbish
of closet, pronounced by the youthful
explorers remnants Of the coffin and
shroud in which the slain had been
secretly buried. In fine, there was CON
elusive eyidcnco--to u8--that foul work
had been porpetrated in that sclf-same
Free Nason's Lodge.
While dlsplacing and replacing every
thing within the dim, dingy closet, the
door suddenly closed, and we heard it
fastened on the outside. Incarccratod
i'll the dungeon of all dungeons the most
fearful, George chung to the iron BAR
We apprehcndcd no danger from that,
but the horrible thought Of Siorration
was suggested us our minds REQUIRED to
the unhappy fate of the bride Gencvra,
whose history we had just read in the
claSs-book Of pocty.
In changing my position, box was
thrown from Il shelf with rattling noise
Possibly, the very bones of the murdered
Mason lay at our feet There was not
the slightest possibility of Il scream
reaching the remote ears of our school
mates and il so, who would follow in
the perilous wake?
The one o'clock bell rang for opening
school-;nd the five o'clock bell rang
for cioslng-still no prospect Of delivery.
We passed the afternoon (although it
was dark as midniyhi,) with our eyes
shut, conjecturing the hand of our i'm
pri@onmcnt, and suggesting plans Of
escape. | cssayed to break down the
door, and clamorcd loudly for assistance.
The second prisoner expressed belief
that some miscellaneous fellow had quietly
followed us, and would not dare to per.
init us to remain all night. But George
assured us it was the Evil One himself.
lie thought we should never emerge till
removed to worse quarters land he seated
himself resignodly on the fallen box.
About half past five o'clock, the bolt
was withdrawn, and the face of Jeptha
h, our good-natured school-master,
appeared
Are you thoroughly initiated ," he
inquired.
"Oh do let US out-this is such a
dismal place !" we simultaneous pleaded.
"Do you wish to be Free Nasons,
asked he, pushing us back, as VIC tried
to press through the doorway.
go, no - we replied g we wish to
be nothing but free students and if you
let us oil this time, we will never trcspass
on forbidden territory again 70
with this promise, | release you,"
said the good pedagogue &C and ! trust
this taste Of prison life will so disgust
you with such DURANGO vile,' that your
lives henceforth wiz be undescrving of
such disgraceful punishment"
We glanced at the contents of the
fallen box, and saw they were not bones,
but broken glass, and were convinced by
Mr.. R-that the story of the murder
was untrue, and that the iron bar was an
innocent stove-poker, which, though ac-
customcd to disport in fire, had never
scared human flesh.
My curiosity was fully graticd in
regard to the lodge i'll the second story ;
and the salutation of my mother, upon
my arrival, was
Why, Lincoln, you look as though
you had been bakcn in cobwcb pie ~
One ofmy mates had called and inform
hcr that was immurcd among dust and
cobwcbs in the Free Masons' Lodge.
D@ln his recent charge to tho grand jury,
in " Shinrtnp Iulr. o,l,l.,r,, i