Middletown transcript., 1877-08-11

''It contained seeds from our London
gardener, and has been in our cottage
five weeks; unluekily, I never looked
at it until to-day"
Trembling in every limb, Mary look
ed at the paper, and saw. among the
list Of returned killed" the name Of
Frank Chockleyl The paper dropped
from her nerveless fingers, and, with a
low moan Of despair, she sank sense
less to the floor. Seriously alarmed,
her father took her in his arms, carried
her to her chamber, and laid her upon
the bed. She was perfectly rigid, and
her hands were as cold as ice. Leav-
ing her to the care Of Margery, Mr..
Glastonbury hastened to procure the
assistance of the village doctor.
He soon returned with Doctor Matt
land, an old practitioner, and of high
repute in the village. But Mary's case
bafled his skill. She lay in death
like trance, and all the restoratives he
applied failed to restore her to anima-
ton. He advised that they should
leave her as she was, and said the
trance would probably end in a gentle
slumber, from which she would awaken
in the morning, without experiencing
any injury. In such case, nature
was more powerful than art.
Glastonbury invited the doctor to
take glass of spirits with him, and
they returned to the sitting-room.-
Mary's chamber was at the end of the
cottage, and there was q balcony to it
overhanging the water, and almost on
a level with it when the sluice-gates
were closed, as they we're.
The moon had risen, and lighted up
the river as its waters rushed through,
or shot over into the Devil-Holl. The
spray, mingling with the moonbeams,
gave the appearance Of faint lights, or
Will-o'- -the-wisps, as the superstitious
called then, fickering over the water.
A boat came gliding down the stream,
impelled by a single rover. 1t was
Frank Chockley, on his way to visit
his love-for the report Of his death
was mistake. He had only just time
to take one glance through the white
dimity curtains, and then away. He
remembered that when the church |
clock struck twelve, it was the custom
to unlock the water above the sluice-
gates, and the sudden whirlpool would
draw the boat into the Devil-HolL-
He reached the balcony, and secured
his boat. Not a soul appeared to be
stirring, for where he was, he could
not see the lights in the sitting-room.
The Jack-o' lanterns around the abyss
of the Holl danced merrily. He had
to be very cautious as he stepped upon
the balcony, for it was old and crazy,
and he was afraid that he might knock
down some Of the fower-pots, and
alarm Mary. He peeped at the win
dow, and thought he saw her form
upon the bed. The window was open,
and he determined to take one glimpse
at her while she was asleep, if it was
only to laugh at her afterwards.
As he drew aside the curtain the
fell full on Mary's face.
He shivered apprehensively as he saw
how pale she was. He stepped cauti-
ously in through the window, and ad-
vanced to the bedside. It must be the
that made her look so
deathly, he thought. He leaned over
her, and whispered tenderly in her ear,
Mary, Nary but the pale lips gave
back no answer to the loved voice.
He took her hand, and found it icy
cold.
ooh, Godp he cried, "she's dead Y
And, with deep groan, he sank into
! chair by the bedside.
That cry and groan reached the in
mates Of the sitting-room, and quite
startled them.
@It was the voice. of Frank Chock-
Leyl' exclaimed Glastonbury. Good
heaven should it really be! Who's
there"
"Don't alarm yourself" Frank ans
wered, from the chamber. at is 1,
Frank Chockley."
"Alive! let me be certain Of that.
Where are your"
Here, sir, here" replied Frank, as
le came into the sitting-room. "But
ny poor Maryp
"Alasl I fear the tidings of your
leath has killed her. 1t was in the
newspaper"
q heard so but wrote twice"
'She never received your letters"
"oh, agonyl" moaned Frank, utter
y prostrated.
He sank into chair BY the table.
The doctor had another patient. He
began considerably to mix him a glass
# spirits and water. 1t was a medi-
cine he had great faith in,
And now strange scene took place
n Mary's chamber. The voice Of her
over had passed like electricity