The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-06-23
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
/ THE HAUNTED CHAPEL.
The Haunted Chapel to which Mr..
AID Mrs. Berners were going was in a
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 affection 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 COM
Portable, -r .-1- .. g.
The fugitives felt so depressed, that
even the cheerful supper supplied by
Joe could not relieve them of the
overshadowing gloom which had set
tied on their hearts. A strange drow
siness soon oppressed them, and they
sunk into 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
| SybI, 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 mat
tress. Her eyes flared open in wild
alright, and she saw two black shroud-
ed forms, the one at her head the 9TH
er at her feet.
She tried to cry out in her agony of
terror; but her voice died away in her
bosom, and all her powers seemed pal
sled They raised her up, and bore
her on-great heaven! whittier?
To the open door of the vault un-
der 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, re-
sounding through the dismal arches.
| "We have her now!" muttered a
hoarse voice. A hollow laugh respn-
ded. g..
And Sybil swooned with horrorl
When Sybil recovered from her
death-like swoon, she found herself in
spacious cavern of such exceeding
beauty and splendor, that for an in
slant she lost sight of her terrors in
her astonishment and admiration, and
then her eyes settled upon figure
who seemed the sole occupant of the
place. --.ea -a +.
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 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 at each 9TH
er in silence for perhaps half min
ute; and then Sybil spoke:
"What place is this p? Why are
you? Why am l brought hither !"
zone question at time" answered
the girl. "'What place this is, con-
Germs you little; am gypsy, and my
name is Gentiliska; "why you are
brought here,' ah! that concerns you
very much! 1t 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?" naughty demand
ed 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 re-
lease 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 ,ts,
but they would have found you had we
not brought you away with US. That
was my doing. 1 made your removal
the condition of my silence"
"But when will you communicate
with my husband, to relieve his dread
full suspense? ~
GAS soon as it shall be safe to do
so. Our first care must be our own
safety, but our second will be yours"
6ybil said no more at the moment
but sat looking at tho speaker, and
thinking of all that had befallen her
-, 4bo Ho,,Dta1 Gbonol