Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1881-01-19

., - the hour when the heart Is rlven-
=, = The time when the binding tears
fsli
,-,,r ,t.st Whist we have loved is worthless;
IN that i the crueiest pain Of ali
Il a Church Mouse.
81 mist trust 10 your instinct, muttered
u D.. rrsyeler, letting the bride fall upon his
Eor.e's neck, The eyes OF an owl would
II = Al fault on such night as this. Be
-. you brute, DO you mean TO repay
H. confidence by breaking my neck
II The animal had shed so violently as
- 10 throw his rider. and stood trem-
Inr in every muscle. His master peered
ro1sb the darkDcss in the endeavor to
sle out the cause Of his terror. He could
ocr,aive before Inn the dim outlines Of a
isnsntled church, with its broad avenues
fgsves,ones clustered about it. Beside
he road 50 close tnat he could lave
mcbed Il with his whip, he discovered an
Bdi,tulct white object crouching upon one
lt tie graves.
Il Resolved upon knowing what it was, he
lisuounted and approached it. As he did
H.. It arose and fed rapidly away. With
L. cui5sitv now fully aroused he followed
HI. As neaGed the church it turned sud
flenly and confronted him. AT this mo-
Eueut a broad glare Of lighting flashed ath-
fwsrt he sky ana he saw before him a
l,mnr Eirl dIessed IN thin. water-soaked
Earueu-. her hair falling in drenched coils
fnp5n Ler shoulders. For an instant her
bite. scared face was turned toward him
nd her large, sOrrowful eyes met his
fwi,h an appealing look, then she seemed
10 lnell INTO the solid body of the church.
As well as the darkness permitted, he
tUluined The spot where she had disap-
peared, but could find no opening through
whch she could have escaped.
lie called aloud that he was a friend, aud
thai she had noting to fear. The only an
swer was the weird wall OF the tempest
ihrough the broken arches. With feeling
kahn to sUpersritIOus terror, he hastily re-
mounted his hoi sc, and did not draw rein
until be reached the village inn
'NAo occupies the old church yonGeri"
| |he inquired OF this landlord.
"Ah. You too have seen it, exclaimed
| the landlord, mysteuously.
.'It." echoed the traveller. 81 saw what
1 thought 10 be a poor, demented girl"
You saw the spirit of one" answered
he host, s0lemnly. Every one here knows
the story. When she was alive her name
vas Ada Morton. Her father died a year
back, having her heiress to his property.
As she was Yet a minor, he appointed his
Rnend Stephen Eastburn her guardian,
Eh0, in Csc Of her death unmarried, was
o inherit the property: 1t is said that he
eat, starved, and cruelty ill-treated her.
ne nishi-just such a night as this
-she disappeared. Her hat and cloak
fEere found on the river bank next morn
ng. It Was plain that the poor creature
aaJ sought de.lyeTancc from her persecutor
p suicide. That was three months ago.
Her body was never found, but her spirit
bad been often seen in the churchysrd,
EAere her father lies. Meanwhile, the
$3.50 y AAh AAtFN III ~ LII Nts2llA hfOo ol
his ease in her fathers house on the hill. "
The Traveller was evidently deeply inter-
fsied IN the story, but he made no COM
nent uDonit. Merely informing the land
! ord that he should remain for a week or
rwo, he returned to his room.
Like many another young man of for
Pune, Charles Barclay was afflicted with too
EnucH leisure. His sole object in this par
i the Country was merely languid search
fiier amusement. The landlords story
lad strongly aroused his curiosity. More
fyer, the young girls sad face and be-
feecAlrg glance in the churchyard had
nade d strange impression upon him. Some
thlng in her improbable history had led
Nm to form vague suspicion of a truth
Fleariy as improbable. Eagerly accepting the
OssiJle chance OF an exciting experience,
r determined to SIT the matter TO the
bottom.
without dropping hint as to his inten-
IONS he left the inn on the next night
fhorily alter eleven o'clock and proceeded
lhe old church. The place was silent
aiu deserted; not even a stray dog was TO
,e seen wandering about the churchyard-
FAh iAtAably dreary air hung about the
ace depressing his spirits and almost re-
hm TO abandon Lis object. But a
sentiment OF pride urged hirl on, and he
au'iOusiy maCe his way into the church
fAhl sat Gown in one of the pews.
foF more than an hour nothing occurred
% a'Iaci ms attention. he became drowsy,
AIu was On the point of falling asleep
Mneie he sat when low weird peal from
ne oid organ moaned through the church.
De sat eject and listened with suspended
uteath- The sound rose highoraud
,ieaIer, and presently the sweet but
! illo"l niul tones Of woman's voice joined
It. lie could make out the words of a
prayer for the wretched.
Al'er moment the music ceased, and
ne could hear the singer sobbing In low,
heaIt-oToken way, that brought tears to his
ese% lie strained his eyes through the
caiAntss, but could make out nothing.
Arising. he called out:
whoever you are, YOU are in sorrow
anu aIllcilOn. cannot see you. / will
r.. loN- All ucelTe Is W NC yOui
iDend- e VIII you answer me?"
iheie Was no reply, and the weeping
suddenly ceased. After moment of hesI-
4l,oh he made his way to the organ loft
aIu struck match. No one was visible,
nOr Was there the smallest trace of the re
Cenl presence of any living being. Con-
slleiaoiy Startled, he left the church, de-
einilned eSn to repeat his experience on the
Following night.
ffoVldlng himself with a dark lantern
le went to the church on the next night,
an0 secreted himself near the organ. As
e eIoIe II was nearly midnight before he
Oecaine ne conscious of the presence ofanother
person in the building. On this occasion
'Ne OF gan was not played, but there was q