The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1880-02-05

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
my wrappings was cold, so gathered
stray pieces OF carpet and rugs from the
seats, and built myself warm nest by
the chancel, where 1 could command a
full view Of the door in case any one
came to look for me.
was neither a nervous nor a super
stitious girl, but the weirdness of the
church in the fading light gave me such
uncomfortable, creepy sensations that
1 closed my eyes to keep out the spec.
trail view.
l must have slept some hours, for, on
awakening, the moon was shining. 1
now began to feel very uneasy. Was I
condemned to make night OF it. in the
church, 1t was blessing the next day
was Sunday, I thought ruefully, at any
rate 1 was sure to be found when Saun-
ders came to open the doors. l lay look.
ing down the long vista OF the nave, at
all the familiar tombs l knew SO we'll:
the knights and ladies lying stiff and
still, with solemn.faced rows of children
kneeling at their sides. The white fig
ures looked CHASTITY enough in the un-
certain light, and brought into my mind
all the ghostly stories I had ever heard.
sat up and endeavored to shake off the
uncomfortable sensations creeping over
me, and told myself how absurd it was
to think of such rubbish. As ! raised
myself my glance fell on large square
tomb nearly opposite. knew every
stone in the church and that special
tomb was an old eye-sore to me; for
though it was clearly intended to bear a
recumbent efigy, the figure was now
wanting. Yet, as l looked across now, l
distinctly saw a figure lying on the slab.
'Mr. Scott has actually filed up that
blank tomb at last I thought, and I
strained my eyes to distinguish what
kind OF a figure he had selected. Its
legs were crossed, was sure; therefore
it must be a crusader. The only dis
tinct part about it was the crossed legs,
for a pillar hid the upper part of the
body from my view. Looking steadily
at it l fancied twas it only fancyP) that
the legs movedl AS this pleasant idea
occurred to me, the moon again disap-
peared; another few seconds and ii
shone out again and I ventured to look
across once more to reassure myself.
There was no movement in the rigid form;
but the legs were crossed no longer.
Gould I have been mistaken in thinking
they were soP Impossiblel Yet they were
most certainly uncrossed now. Again
the light waned, and again appeared.
This time I lay looking with all my
power, unable to move or stir. Was
going mad, or did my eyes play me falsSf
Slowly, but unmistakably, did the figure
begin to stir; it moved restlessly upon
its stony couch, and finally sat bolt up
right, clear and distinct in the moon
light. can not attempt todescribe the
terror that seized on me at this fearful
sight. Never have I experienced mo
ments of such mental agony as when
lay covering among my wrappings, with
straining eyeballs fixed on that fearful
thing-ghost, demon, whatf-movine
opposite. Presently it rose and stood
upright in the aisle, looking around at
if in search of something. I tried tc
draw one of the carpets over my head,
for could not bear the sight longer
but as moved yell rang through the
stiffness, and the figure rushed at me-
How l found power to rise l know not,
but have remembrance of mad flight
down the nave and round the aisles
with that fearful pursuer behind-on
on, like vision in dreadful dream
and then another Aendish yell, clutct
of cold fingers at my throat, and-dark
ness and vacancyl
NY dear madam, ] assure you it ii
only fainting fit; our dear young pa
tient will be quite herself again in
few moments, we're the first words that
fell upon my ear as opered my eye
to consciousness. / knew the bland
tones Of little DR.. Gray, our local Escu
lapias, and their friendly and familiar
sound was so reassuring that struggled
feebly into q sitting posture, and looked
round to find myself still in the Oh urch
but the center OF an excited group o
all the magnates Of Dullerton, togethe
with Aunt Anne and Mr.. SCOTT.
1t was some days before l was sufi
ciently composed to hear the explanation
OF my adventure.
1t appears that after 1 had gone out
Aunt Anne's next door neighbor sent
request that she would take tea wit
her, as she was not we'll aud wanteC
cheering up. When she returned q
half-past nine, she was greatly alarme
to find was not in, and hurried of t
Mr.. Scott to give an alarm, while Molly
the servant. went for Jim Bates, ou
local policeman. Roused from his studies
Mr.. Scott remembered / had borrowe
the key for the purpose Of going to th
church some hours previously, IN