The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-06-11
CHAPTER III.
THE HAUNTED CHAPEL.

The Haunted Chapel to which Mr.. and Mrs.
Berners were going was in dark and lonely
gorge on the other side of the mountain.
They arrived safely at the old ruin, where
in the course of the day they were joined by
Mrs. Berners faithful servant Joe, whose aifec-
tion for his mistress had led him to play the
spy, and find out where she was going, and
secretly follow her with provisions and means
for making her somewhat comfortable.
The fugitives felt so depressed that even the
cheerful supper supplied by Joe could not
relieve them of the overshadowing gloom which
had settled on their hearts. A strange drowsi-
ness soon oppressed them, and they sank into
a deep sleep, as though they had been drugged
with some powerful narcotic Mr. Berners was
aroused before daylight by Joe, who instantly
drew him outside the chapel in alarm.
Sybil, left alone in the Haunted Chapel con-
tinued to sleep soundly. How long she had
slept she never could tell, when she was sud-
denly and fearfully aroused.
She felt hands at work about her person.
They were creeping under her shoulders, and
under her limbs; they were lifting her from her
mattress. Her eyes tared open in wild alright,
and she saw two black shrouded FORMS the one
at her head, the other at herEfeet.
She tried to cry out in her agony of terror; but
her voice died away in her bosom, and all her
powers seemed palsied. They raised herup, and
bore her on-great heaven! whittier?
To the open door of the vault under the
chapel, from whose haunted depths spectral
light cleaned
They bore her down the dreadful steps, and
laid her on the deadly floor!
The iron door changed loudly to- resoundng
through the dismal arches.
1--WE have her nOw!" muttered hoarse voice
hollow laugh responded.
And Sybil swooned with horror!
When Sybil recovered from her death-lke
swoOn she found herself in u spacious cavern
of such exceeding beauty and splendor, that for
an instant she lost sight of her terrors in her
astonishment and admiration, and then her eyes
settled upon figure who seemed the sole occu-
pant of the place.
This was young girl who with her red cloak
thrown mat-like on the moss, was seated upon
it cross-legged in the Turkish fashion. Her elfn
face, her malign eyes, her wild, black hair and
picturesque costume, were all so in keeping with
the aspect of the place, that one might have
deemed her the spirit of the cavern.
The two women looked Mt each other in
silence for perhaps half minute; and then
Sybil spoke:
"What place is this Who are you? Why am
| brought hither?"
"One question at a time" answered the girl
i" What place this is concerns you little; am
gypsy, and my name is Gentilska; why you are
brought here ah that concerns you very
much 1t concerns your liberty, and perhaps
your life."
Il do not believe it You have had me torn
away from my husband Where is he now 2"
haughtily demanded Mrs Berners.
"He is likely in the hands of the constables,
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 de-
tain him; but you they would have kept, if they
had caught you. The constables were coming
there for uS, 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 suspense?"
''As soon as it 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, but sat
looking at the speaker and thinking of all that
had betallen her III the Haunted Chapel.