Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-06-23
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 noun
tain.
They arrived safely at the old ruin, where
IN the course of the day they were Joined
by Mrs. BeTners faithful servant Joe,
whose affection for his mistress had led him
to play the spy, and find out where she was
going, and secretly follow her with provi-
sions 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 drowsyness soon oppressed
them, and they sunk into o deep sleep, as
though they had been dragged 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,
continued to sleep soundly. How long she
had slept she never could tell, when she
was suddenly 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 hared open
shrouded forms, the one at her head and
the other at her feet
She tried to cry out in her agony of ter
ror; but her voice died away in her bosom,
and all her powers seemed palsied. They
raised her up, and bore her on-great hea-
vens whittier?
To the open door of the vault under the
chapel, from whose haunted DEPTHS spect-
raj light cleaned
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
eve have her now!" muttered hoarse
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 splen-
dor, that Tor an instant she lost sight of
of terrors in her astonishment and admira-
ton, and then her eyes settled upon fig
ure who seemed the whole occupant of the
place.
This was a young girl, who, with her
red cloak thrown mat-like on the moss, was
seated upon it cross-legged in the Turkish
fashion. Her eltin face, her malign eyes,
her wild, black hair and picturesque cos
aspect of the place, that one might have
deemed her the spirit of the cavern.
The two women looked at each other in
silence for perhaps half minute; and
then Sybil spoke:
''What place is this? Who are you !?
Why am l brought hither ?''
''One question at time," answered the
girl. "'What place this is concerns you
little; I am gypsy, and my name is Gen
tiliska; why you are brought here ah!
that concerns you very much It concerns
your liberty, and perhaps your life
81 do not believe it You have had me
torn away from my husband! Where is
he now?" haughtily demanded Mrs Ber-
ners.
'tHe is likely in the hands of the consta-
bles, who are by this time III 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 gou had we not
brought you away with us. That was my
doing I made your removal the condition
of my silence"
/ f'But when will you communicate with
my husband, to relieve his dreadful sus-
| pense?
Gas 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 befallen her in the Haunted
| Chapel