The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1880-03-20
gelett Storg,
The Story of a Granted Wish.

The Story of q Granted Wish.
Dullerton was justly named for il was
the quietest, cleanesi, drcariest country
town in England, / spent three years
there with an old aunt, aud hope | may
never visit the place again. There was
nothing to sec, nothing to do, nothing to
think about. was too thoroughly a
cockney to care for country pursuits, aud
besides, we lived in country town, not
village. Here | lived-or yegetated for
three years. Aud all that time | was
signing for an misunderstanding to
happen, something to break the moDotoDy
Of existence. The reader shall hear how
| gained my wish at last aud learned to
indosc the truth of Popo's words
"To know the misery of a granted prayer, "
We had fine old church at Dullerton,
almost as large as a small cathedral, ex-
cusc the Irishism. 1t was rich in brasses
aud fac tombs; indeed, really believe
there were more male effigies on the tomb.
stones than young men in the town. The
church though very fine was sadly out Of
repair; but one good thing it possessed
an excellent organ, which had been left
the place by a native of Dullerton. was
passionately fond Of music, and when our
good easy vicar gave me carte blanche to
use this organ, found life at Dullcrton
more endurable. As an artists daughter
| could not be insensible to the beauty Of
the church itself; and between praetieiug
on the organ, sketching the interior of the
church, and making myself intimately ac-
quaiuted with the tombs aad brasses, |
spent great part Of the day 10 the sacred
edifce.
One cold, winter afternoon remember
having peculiarly dismal ct, having been
in doors for two or three days in consc-
quence oi heavy fall Of snow; and when,
late in the afternoon, it began to clear, |
felt must 60 out, if only for au hour.
Spite of Aunt Auue's mildly expressed as
tonishment, | went out, and felt | must
try just one chant upon that dear old or
gan, Calling at the yicarage for the key
Of the church, went on my willful way,
little thinking how soon my longing for
an adventure" was TO be satisfied. II
was growing dusk as unlocked the heavy
door and stepped inside the church; so
dusk, in fact, that | missed my footing at
the step inside, aud slipped, falling against
the door in my efforts to save myself The
door slammed to, leaving the key on the
outside. So hero ! was prisoner The
door, like everything else, was out of re.
pair, and depended on the key for opening
it; there was no latch within. tried to
turn the key through the keyhole, but only
succeeded in breaking my nails Then
remembered reading how some one simi.
larly situated had rung the bell. But, alas,
our belfry was approached by fight of
turret stairs, terminated by door, which
| found-locked.
The church was about ten minutes walk
from any habitation aud no one was likely
to pass it, so might have shouted forever
without attracting any attention, even could
my voice have penetrated through the
stout oaken door. once thought Of es.
Gaping BY the Windows, but they were all
too high from the ground, and even 10 this
emergency | should have hesitated at
breaking pane Of the rare old glass. My
only hope was that Aunt Anne would be.
come alarmed aud miss me. had prom.
ised to return the key ut the yicarage as
went home, but ii was Doubtful if my non.
appearance that evening would excite sur.
prise Mr.. Scott, our old bachelor vicar
was one Of the most absent Of men, and II
he was immersed in his books, had proba.
bly, forgotten the key aud myself by this
time, My only hope Of rescue lay in Aunt
Anne.
AS rose from the step where had
been sitting rejecting on the situation. |
began to feel that adventures, after all
were not without alloy. thought so still
more some hours later. Spite Of wrap.
plugs was cold, SO gathered stray piece.
OF carpet and rugs from tho seats. and
built myself warm nest by the chancel
where coald command full view Of ,bc
door in case any one came 10 look for me
1 was neither nervous nor supcrsti
tiOus girl, but the weirdness Of the ehbrch
10 tho fading light gave me such uncom
Portable, "creepy' sensations that | closed
my eyes to keep GU, the spectral view.
must have slept somo hours, for, on
awakening, the moon was shining. | NOW
began to Feel very uneasy. Was | con.
domned to make a night Of IT, in Al,
church, Il was blessing the next Ia,
was Sunday, | thought rucfully, at any
rate ! was sure to bo found when saun.
ders came to open thc doors. Ilay look
Ing down the long vista of the nave, at al
the familiar tombs | knew 50 well; III,
knights and ladies lying stiff and stiIl, with