The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1869-06-25
CHAPTER III.
TIM ~nAuSrtp CHAPEL.


The Haunted Chapel to which Mr.. and
Mrs. Bernors werogoing was in 9 dark and
lonely gorge on the other side oftho moun-
tain.
They arrived safely ut the old ruin, where
i'm tho course of the day they we're Joined
by Mrs. Berners' faithful servant Joe,
whose affection for his mistress Ind led him
to play the spy, and find out where she was
going, and secretly follow her with proyi-
sions and means for making her somewhat
comfortable .N-I
The fugitives felt so depressed, that even
the cheerful supper supplied by Joe could
not %relieve them of tho ovorshadowing
gloom which had settled on their hearts.
A strange drowsyness soon oppressed
them, and they SUM into deep sleep, as
though they had been drugged with some
powerful narcotic. Mr.. Bcrners was aroused
before daylight by Joe, who instantly drew
him outside the chapel in alarm. .s,.
Sybil left alone in the Haunted Chapel,
continued 10 sleep soundly. How long she
had slept she never could tell, when she
was suddenly and f~earfully aroused.
She felt hands mt work about her person.
They were creeping under her shoulders
and under her limbs; they were lifting her
from her mattress. Her eyes ilared open
in wild alright, and she saw two black
shrouded forms, the one at her head and
the other nt her feet.
She tried to cry out in hcr agony Of ter
ror; but her voice died away in her bosom,
and all her powers seemed palsied. They
mised her up, and bore her on-grent hea-
vensl whither2
To the open door of the vault under the
chapel. from whose haunted depths spect-
raj light gleamedl
They bore her down the dreadful steps,
and laid her on the deadly floor
Theron door changed loudly to, resound-
ing through the dismal arches
ave have her now y muttered q hoarso
voice. A hollow laugh responded.
And Sybil swooned with horror
When Sybil recovered from her death
like swoon, she found herself in a spacious
cavern of such exceeding beauty and SPLEEN
dor, that Tor an instant she lost sight of
of terrors in her establishment and admira-
ton, and then her eyes settled upon a6g-
uro who seemed the whole occupant Of the
place.
This was n young girl, who, with her
red cloak thrown mRt-lilSeon the moss, was
seated upon IL croSs-legged in the Turkish
fashion. Her olhn face, her malign eyes,
her wild, black hair and picturesque cos
tune, were all 30 in keeping with the
aspect Of the place, that one might have
deemed her the spirit of tho cavern.
The two women looked at each other in
silence for perhaps half n minute; and
then Sybil spoke:
what place is this2 Who are you
Why am | brought hither p
"Onc question at n time answered the
girl. "'Whnt place this is concerns you
little; l am a gypsy, and my name is Cen
tiliska; why you are brought here all
that concerns you very much I]tconcerns
your liberty, and perhaps your life"
, 81 do not believe it You have had me
torn away from my husbandl Where Is
lo now haughtily demanded Mrs Rer'
! ners.
"He is likely in the hands of the consta-
bles. who are by this time in possession OF
the Haunted Chapel. But fear nothing
, Him they will release again, for they have
! no right TO detain him; but you they would
have kept, if they had caught you. The
constables were coming there for as, but
they would have found yOu had we not
brought You away with us. That was my
doing. / made your removal the condition
! of my silence"
"But when will you communicate with
my husband, TO relieve his dreadful sus-
| pensei"
Gas soon as II shall be safe to do so,
( Our first care must be our own safety, but
our second will be yours"
Sybil said no more at the moment; buI
7 sat looking nj the speaker, and thinking Of
, all that had befallen her in the Haunted
: Chapel.