The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-07
A PRETTY S0MNAMBULIST.
VERSTNG THE DTzzY EDGE or a
ROOF ar MIDNIuHT.
The Friahtf.i scene that Mr.. md Mrs. Prior
Bchc,d -'rhc Ubirci that Nrighbor Took
to be IA GhOst-A Periious Descent.

The Friahtfui scrnr that Mr.. and Mrs. pricr
Bchc'd -rhc Ohirct that II Ncighbor Took
to be- IA Ghost-A pcriious Descent.
From me -. Loms G'o6e Dfmocret
Nothing of n serious nature happcncd in
Laura Spe, sornambulistic history until SEN
tomncr, when an Incident occurred which was
wei calculated to thrill with horror those VINO
saw or he ,rd Of It, In the latter part Of Sep-
tenbcr she had evinccd slight symptoms Of tho
old disorder. and one night both MIR. and Mrs.
Poor were uw kened u, her entrance mo their
room. She stood qIictly u moment. and then
slowly walked to the door leading TO the hall.
which, th't nl1ht, ID necn lett open on ac-
count of he extremely hot weather. Mr.. Prior
and mis- wife resolved t. follow her and see what
she was bent on doinv. At the same time deter
mining to prev MT r from attempting any,
thing tb Il mi mt he perilo H. When once IN the
hallway the sleepine gir Instead of proceeding
toward the rear gallery. turned to he stairway
lehding 10 the third story and glitcd rtpidlv M
the eos. About midway the fight there was 4
dimly -liVh ell gas jet, when gave forth low,
ghmmerinc light Once on the third Il Ior Laura.
rs II IL were IN uft-iravelied route hurried down
the ngll, aud stopped before the door lcadinl
into the garrett Here MIR Prior would have
stopped her ont, tefJre ne ODud reach her. shs
had opened the door aud dts appeared In the
darkness above. He and Mrs. Prior followed rs
quictlv as possible. and 1t was only when they
reached the mead OF the riot stairs that they
discovered the blood riding enterprise on
which the poor cir WIS Dent
la medidtely over the centre OF the garrct floor
Is small SIX lght. to witch marrow ladder
hardb wide enough TO admit ono person,
reaches. The skylght Is secured with HINGES. ITS
own weight. when let down, heirg suNrirnt to
"a
prop attached, winch fills into groove a. the
ligit - I is II. AM thus leaves sufficient rp.n
Tor the ingress or egress e body. A. Mr.
Pinr arrived 1t the top Of the garnet stars he
louNcd ~, dni Nv the pale hVht that came down
tnOugh the skeleht he could see "a { the glrl
had clnued III o. or, aud mad not only raised
tho glass me. bat WAS w the very act ~ Step
ping out on ..e roof. ,e endcavorod to call
out at once. but before he could do 50 Laura
had disappeared On the outside. Mr. Prior had
tne presence OF m'nd TO ma ,e no furiner noise.
knowing tn t " twaktn "a Ina that periiuus place
- ~ Ia a. resi-
lie quietly a~ce dru to the iignt aud lOukcd
out. The roof Is OF tue 81 kiut, the ~ ch
beng not s'rup.. Vet sum icutiy CcoitVitOus to
require u ucn G are and dcxteriN tn move over
u without shppins. IL Is covered VITA pine
tn shin -Ieis were stlil left here aud there on
tne surf nee uf the roo. Laura h a evidently
stood stili n moment after reaching the roof,
Tor when Mr.. Prior arrived 1t tue too OF the lad
der she was It'll neA. the skNlignt ana I'm tn act
OF starting upW ards. with a singular seeming
consciousness she uicked her way along the
cross pieces spoken OF before. stepping car fully
upon oach rs II to see N 1t was weii secured. In
tins manner she Reached tue ridge OF the roof ny
a 1x az cuur-e. trtNCssing at least twenty five
feet DEF re reaching the summit. The ridge II
tue roof nd Decn smoltued GOWN ana cnyersl
with metal, 80 ~ t. make IT, surl &c siigutly
olnpttcal. ITS diameter being about tnrvU
inone-. ON q on tins, tue somnambult.t be- an
10 walk back and iOrtn, pVriccuy silent, with
her urms hanging lStlrSsts.iy Nv her she. ana
her head inclned forward. IS II she was looking
immedti ely IA IT ut of ncr feet. rue moon
WAS shining brilhdy. aid TIE wnite. IL ie form
OF Tue -lceltns siri could nave been seen a niock
ridge, IN sometimes she made dctours TO the
risnt or lett going completed ar,uud the 90.
7t'ucu"n, gaming the rJg'' ana tfaNersins
its eniire ieng.n. once she icane4 on tne cuiuI-
ncv ma seemed hs1rued In dcep meditation.
pn,y once oil sac make tue slightest sound.
Vale iing druIuO the chimney the Last tiauc,
one oi tnc Gross pieces, whtcn she steppcu Ou.
Sc med T. slightly give. wucrrupun sac uttered
a scarcely auIioie .XeiamAttlu. but psuce ued
On hrf barney without iufther dtuOus ration.
From her lut.y percn to the paved street, and
yards below 1t Was 90 least Sky ieet, uiANing
zen n A. t.tln IN. sn
$40. Pnor SAYS IN each time when she
rcachr.i The end ~ the rOui It appeared to tie
her q inc.a.e purpose to walk ou. cut sac al
WAYS checked herself wnen witnin about tfoot
Of tie edge. aud slowly turning. carefully re-
traced nrr steps. Twice sue ue osnded ON the
other incline OF the roof, tut neither Time Tar
en"usn her entire person to elSappe from
.ir Pros view, amt eacu tmc reforming to
the rage very rapidt, as II she mai met wtn
spmetuins tat excited her f. r.. several
listenius to some distant sound. Almost dur
ing her entire walk, however. she held ner head
as If gazing directly IN advance of ner feet. aud
ONCE - ste paused lhe elee OF Tue 70 I, sac
peerct down mo the yard bel Nv. "a 4deul..
wnile at me POINT OF tue ridge which she had
nrst reached. sae began to descend IN the direc-
non 81 the sabiignt takiDg eacn step vita ere Il
caution. aud making STOW utosre-s. when sue
had ncdriy reached the Opeuins hr. Prior qiiIat-
~ withorew, aud de-cended u the garrett door.
Ia a Lew uOu eut- Ltur4 followed, Dut ulaue 40
malt rroceecilg AZ once to the = ,rrct IT l,r, ANA
disappearing down tne uark passage. Mr.. ana
Mrs PRIOR fodp"ei Keeping Oeatud her
closely a, u 'ssini , bit before tbey could rrach
room and coup sing herself IN oed.
Mis-. Puur WAS IA ruu-utS pso.uAted with the
excltcnt nt Sne al passed tEruigh, ana wAs
reed To retire al snce Mr. Pnur examined
the glrl alter she became que cd To sec n tuere
Wt- anything unn turaI IA Ia Appearance.
exposure To Toe 81 nitut air, Dut otherwi-e
tnvrc was nothing uuusu II Ia ia nCr 10 lis. Her
pulse Mas a IL ,XcittU, out tue EXPRESSION VI
her face quiet .ud composed.
IOaneXt DO mel moor VINO came Ia the fol-
loving inur.iug. Mr.. Prior related the .dNen-
\ |. If lac. rf an
nee that a Ids living on the oppOsi side uf
the n rect al Id to her day or two previously
that sac al seen waite otJect on tlc roof ~
the PiIOr house AT . late NOR of the nignt. aud
That she believed Il Vas "a gh lst iudulgin- In a
moonlight rtnble on tue roof III, revelation
very naturally raised a susptcil IN that Liura nad
walked ON the 10 4 more than one , a suspicion
wnicu VS. aft rwarJ fuzzy verified. Mr. Prior
says that her wala On tue roof, wnicn lie W.T..
nesseI. las ell ABOUT twenty minutes, though
tue time see ned much longer to him. Laura
when told OF mr. adventure. SAID sne had no
remembrance of II. but stated tnat she hai, a
shDIt time previously. out u curl lsity. ascenued
tue oder aud opened the skyiignt TO see now
the root lloNed.
From that sane on IL has been considered ne
ctssarN 20 keep Il close watch on L. turt during
tue entire tlgnt. All the doors ~ 9rding her
tgress are keut locked and tue KEYS removed,
nnd the servant J. required To steep a. fhe same
room vi 10 the CulIArcn, 80 that sue NAV assist
Ia prev nting anV communicates demOnstra-
lions. In faCt. ~ string ut are the me = res
WITH which the distempered siri l. afflicted th,t
strong hopes are entered III At she will not pe
truublti my more vi n sie.p-walkiag. Lturt
/, now thii.eeh, bilgnt, urc.ty sal, weii edu-
Gated Tor her axe, heal ny a.d attrIc I've In every
Tespec., except her sonnnaiu oullstic disorder.