The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1880-12-16
A Mysterious Apparition in OIL
den Time-HOw i, was Exercised

ABOUT a mile from Ragley. border
ing the old Roman Ridgrw ar. were
the remains Of the humble priory o:
CCokhill the dormitory and office, OF
the nun. being formed into a plain sarm
house, TO false and roof which. tn- al
joining chapel had been de,poiled
Here lived worthy couple, Old john
Slide and Alice his sister. Alice had
long been ailing, but no one c ul5 tel.
why. During the day she was cheer
ful but as night came on she fell into
Il grevlous sweat, and could scarcely
contain herself for fear, and sat b. the
h'azIng hearth with her eyes Gxed, star
! NJ al every sound.
For lack Of food aui rest she one
day fell int a d~eepswoon. and was put
70 bed whereupon suc y ked. and see
inc that she was in her usual chamber
adjoining the chapel, she struggled to
escape. crying that ID mortal should
shrutd keep her there. Her brother,
fearing that she was possessed, had her
tied to the bed, and Acquainted Parson
Moore, then at Raglev, who had much
rcpujr wnh hua4blc fox, ia alIaylrg
disorders.
Dr. Moore was brou2 10y Lady Com
way. aud after much ~sersuasion and
shrinking. Aii-v Sic described to
them how, on ahTee several occasions.
in that room size had seen. at the stroke
oft~eiye, a waving figure in anlach
habit, with the face bound up a. If for
burial, and that the said figure hal af-
forwards beckoned To her as she Was
binding fagots on the chapel flags and
"mithered as | was, ? aided Alice, II
could but follow, till she sank under
the stones at ,he window end aud on
that spot | near her signing every day"
Lady Conway and DIR. Moore soothed
the sufferer; and the eager interest of
the visitors IN anv manifestation of
S~piritualism aft erwards caused, Henry
Moore to examine very carefully, under
Alice's guidance, the place whore thu
applrition disappeared. 1t was = pl in
slab, about two feet square and ben
ding with his ear to the ground. there
certainly came at intervals It sound like
a sigh ora murmur, For a moment
that pale, thoughtful face flushed; then
it was turned to Lady Conway.
"Our senses are readily deceived"
he said; this may he but a counter
felt of nature-John Shade. bear a pick
axe this way, if We nave one"
Tie slab was ~upheaved, and proved
to be the entrance TO a passage or vault
extending east IN south. P~rocuringa
ladder and holding a roll of lighted flay
sets in oil. Henry Moore descended.
lie saw some human remains beneath
the tomb OF Lady Isabel DC Betuchamp
and elsewhere. and 1T the entrance, in
u fair state o! preservation, was a plain
elm %c0ifiH, having burnt in the lid:
Margaret Dyson. 1853, II |. P.'
The mysterious noise was easily eN-
planned, for the ground was covered
by several inches of water, ooZIng from
a point nea the surface, where i Tag
ment of stone jutiing out intercepted
the rill; and from this projection the
water dropping at intervals caused a
guTgling signing sound 10 r~eyerberatc
Alice Shade became easier in mind,
but without manifest disease her body
grew weaker; and when ~alentlne
Creatrake was called to her bedside so
feeble was the action Of the heart that
the attendant thought she was gone.
This wonderful doctor began by muir
muring a few sentences In a plaintive
tone, taking her left hand meanwhile.
Whereupon the sufferer opened her
eyes and smiled; and after awhile he
repeated those strokes and passes for
which he was famous. He then en-
quired whether she would show him
the Malvern Hills; when so the wonder
ment of those present, Alice being
dressed, presently walked out of ihe
house and did az he desired. Nor was
there any return Of her ailments, for
Job Heritage, who was then bailitf at
the home farm, saw her as a very old
woman years a~fterward. and gave
these particulars to Mr.. Popham Soy
mour.-4rgOsy.