The Petroleum Centre daily record. [volume] (Petroleum Center, Pa.) 1868-1873, 1869-06-15
CHAPTER III.
THE HAUNTED CHAPEL.

The Haunted Chapel to which Mr.. aud
~. Berners were going was in a dark and
W gorge or the other side of the noun
y arrived safely at the old ruin. where
b course of the day they We're Joined
Mrs. Berners' frithful servant Joe. whose
Affection for his mistress had led him to play
\ the spy, ana find out where she was going
and secretly follow her with provisions and
means for making her somewhat comiurta-
Bile.
l. The fugitivos felt so depressed, that even
the cheerful supper supplied hy Joe could
not relieve them Of the Oyershadowing gloom
which had settled on their hearts. y
strange drowsiness soon oppressed them, and
they sunk into deep sleep, as though they
had been drngsed with some powerful mar.
cOtc. Mr.. Berners was aroused before day
light by Joe, who instantly drew him out
side the chapel in alarm.
Sybil. LETT alone in the Haunted Chanel.
continued to sleep soundly. How long she
had slept she never could tell. when she W as
Suddenly and feariuiy aroused.
| She felt hands atwork abont her person.
} They we're creeping under her shoulders and
under her. limbs: they were lifting her from
her mattress. Her eyes fared open in wild
alright, and she saw two black shronded
| FORMS the one at her head the other at her
| feet
She tried to cry ont in her agony Of ter
ror: but ber voice died away in her bosom.
and all her powers seemed palsied. They
raised her up. and bore her great hpav-
en-! whittier?
To the open door of The vault under The
chapel, from whose haunted depths sp-c-
tral light cleaned.
They bore her down tho dreadful stems.
aud iaid ner on the deadly floor!
The iron door changed loudly to, resound.
ing through The dismal arches
.'We have her now!" muttered a hoarse
voice. A hollow laugh responded
And Sybil swooned with horror
When Sybil recovered from her death.like
swoon, she found herself in spacious cav.
ern OF such exceeding beauty and spendor
that for an instant she lost sight of her ter
rors iD her astopishment and admiration.
and then her eyes set upon figure who
seemed TO be the sole occupant of he place.
Tnis 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 cos
tune, were all 50 in keeping with the as
pect OF the place. that one might have DEEM
ed her the spirit Of the cavern.
The two women looked at each other in
silence tor perhaps half minute; and then
Sybi spoke
""hat place is this? Wbo are you?-
Why am brought hither?H
"One question at q time" answered the
girl. "What place this is concerns Won lit-
tie; am gypsy, and my name is Gentii-
lska; why you are brought here, al that
concerns you very much! 1t concerns your
liberty and perhaps your life
81 do not believe il! You have had me
torn away from my husband! Where is he
now" haugbtily demanded Mrs. Berners.
"He ls likely in tie hands of the cOnsta-
Dles, who are by this time in possession OF
the Haunted Chapel. But fear not; him
VIII they release again, for they have no
right to detain him; bnt you they wond
have kept. if they had caught you. The
consta6ies were coming there for us, but
they would have found you had we moi bro't
yo'l away with u.s. That was my doing. |
made your removal the condition of nv si.
lence."
But when will you communicate wita
my husband, to relieve his dreadful sus
pense?'
''As soon as it VIII be safe to do 50. Oar
nrst care must BE- onr own safety, br, ou
second will he yours"
Sybil sad no more at the moaerI. bpr
sat looking at the speaker, and tlak.G4 at
all that had befaIlen her in the U4ua,ed
Chapel.
CHAPTERIV.