The Portland daily press., 1865-08-05

back, and to see and gaze wistfully upon the
bright unauswering stars above ones head.
Even then one could divine the true value OF a
bed. But to wake on the downs in the small
hours, is trifle compared to waking in cathe-
dral any time between dew and dawn. More es-
pecially when, as was my case, you have ghost
at your elbow. Not that my ghost remained
long stationary. She did not. Starting from
my armchair, she began survey of the shelves
by moonlight in so active and business-like a
manner that felt no doubt, given her quon-
dam or present mortality, she was or had been
"a blue"
In five minutes my powers of decision were
wide awake, and the question of her mortality
was settled. She was not a thing of the past.
but alive as myself was and the only scruple
was, how or how soon to awaken her from her
somnambulists dream. While was debating
with myself the best means to pursue, she sud-
denly passed out of the library door on to the
stone staircase. My alarm was now fairly ex-
cited. She had two courses to pursue in her
sensational career-I employ the word in a
more correct use than it is commonly put to.
She might either turn downwards towards the
door of the church itself, in which case she
could do herself little or no harm or she
could mount the ascending staircase, and reach
an outward parapet, with heaven knew what
mad scheme in view, before had time to over
take her. She chose the second alternative,
and-she leading, 1 following-we mounted
the lofty staircase that leads to the base of the
spire. 1 was aware that the door at the top OF
this particular ascent was not furnished with
a lock i was fastened by simple bolt, and
had little doubt that my sleep-walking friend
would shoot that bolt back as readily as she
nad taken down and replaced the books on the
library shelves. My greatest fear was that she
might begin playing some mad prank upon the
parapet before / was sufficiently near to arrest
ner movements. / need hardly add that, in
duenced by the dread of consequences com
monty said to follow on a sudden awakening
rom fit of somnambulism, inwardly resolv-
ed to try every means of humoring and coax
ing my companion down again to terra frmG,
and only as last resort to attempt arousine
her.
In few moments we stood side by side on
the platform looking down on WATERBURY,
which lay Outstretched in the white moonlight
1t was tranquil and beautiful scene. There
was the church of St. Werburg, noble monu-
ment of thirteenth-century building, which
would attract instantaneous admiration any
where but under the shadow of WATERBURY
Cathedral There was the fine old market
place, with the carved stone pump at which
Cromwell drank as he passed through the city /;
and the charmingly quaint Guildhall, and the
ruins OF the abbey skirting the river in the dis
tance es g gsas
was not permitted, long to enjoy the pros
pect. Before could lift a finger to arrest her
rapid movements, my mysterious companion
had stepped lightly on to the parapet, and began
quick and perfectly unembarTassed walk a.
round it. Dreading the experiment of forci-
bic rescue, it occurred to me to try the effect
of quietly accosting her, and extraordinarily
humoring her present perilous condition--to
decoy her away from her perilous amusement.
1t was an awful moment of suspense. Should
she lose her balance and her life, it would be
next to impossible for me to clear up the enig-
mateesssht stance Of my having been actu-
ally present by her side during that weird,
moonlit dance upon the parapet. If, on the
other hand, l were to seize and lift her from
the top-stone, she might rouse the whole Close
with frightfal screams, she might faintr-might
even die-in my arms, or from the shock OF
sudden awakening she might lose her reason
But there was no time to stand balancing
chances. Accordingly, Igently drew towards
her side, and said, in an easy and collected
tone as / could command
81 think we left the library door unlocked !;
before you complete your rounds, had we not
better go down stairs and secure it? Having
been allowed the entry to the cathedral, I
think we are bound in honor to shut doors
after u.s." M 5lN 4s
"To be sure" she replied and instantly, to my
intense relief, dropped cleverly down into the
space between the parapet and the lower
courses of the spire. ITO be sure the door
should be locked at once. Let us 90 down,
cannot make out who you are. In none of
my former visits to the cathedral have met
you; but you seem to be no intruder, and viii
certainly go down and secure the door asyou
suggest KAN b M
ox1I
with an distracted air and without the slightest
motion of her steadast eyes. While still
speaking she stopped under the low doorway
at the stair head, and began to descend. fol-
lowed, busily deyising plans for preventing any
fresh ascent, and yet still avoiding the necessity
of breasing the curious spell which bound her.
We reached the library door. To my surprise,
she produced a key other own, and was about
to turn the lock, when / remembered that at
this rate should be deprived for the rest OF
the night of my only comforts, the warm at
mosphere Of the library and the decanal arm
chair. l therefore extemporized bold stroke
Excuse me" l said; II have left my hat
and few papers inside, and having canon S
key, viii save you the trouble of locking up.
But permit me to suggest that it is still very
early in April, and the night is cold. Why not
give up the rest of your walk for tonight and re-
turn again on one of the glorious nights in May
or June ~
Without uttering syllable in reply she
turned on her heel, and began slowly descend
ing the staircase into the transept, My curl
osity was now fairly on the alert, and resolv-
ed to unrayel the mystery, at least SO far as to
discover by what means she would leave the
cathedral, and in what direction she would 60
Stepping for moment inside the library, ]
hastily but quietly slipped off my shoes ON the
mating of the floor, and followed her bare
foot and silent. She was Just stepping from
the staircase into the transept when caught
sight of her again. With the same steady and
self-possessed action which she had displayed
throughout, she crossed the transept, and
made straight for small postern door, which
led, as knew, into the garden of the Bishops
palace This she unlocked, and made sure
that, having passed through, she would lock il
again behind her. Whether, however she
a1ittle forgetful that night, or whether the unex
pected encontre with stranger had rufied the
tranquil serenity of her trance, it so happened
that She omitted to turn the lock, and was
able, after gently reopening the door, to trace
her progress still further, Under the noble
cedars of the episcopal gardens, past long
fiower-beds and fresh-mown lawns, i followed
her barefoot, until we arrived within a few
yards of the hinder buildings Of the palace
Here | stopped under the dark shade of a ce
49, u1N my SOAupniAfOA Uo4h COVAJ u
to little oaken, iron-clamped door, open it
and disappear within the house. Then o
course, | retraced my steps towards the cathe-
dral. But stopping again under one of The
magnificent cedars, could not avoid a few
moments reflection on the exceedingly ode
position into which accident had brought me
Here was !, alone and barefooted, standing
at two o'clock IN the morning, on the lawn o.
the palace, where had no more business thar
had at the top of the spire; and the only place
in which could find shelter for the might
was the cathedral itself, building that mosi
people would rather avoid than enter DURING
the small hours. The queeness of my situation
however, did not prevent me from enjoying
to the full the extreme loneliness of the gar.
dens, and the glorious view OF the splendid
edifice, rising white and clear in the moonlight
above their Shady alleys and recesses n
On regaining the library, dozed away tn,
remainder of the dark hours in the same com.
modious armchair, and as soon as the bell be