The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1881-07-27

ure at once.
An exclamation of terror burst from his
lips, bat he was brave man, and he quickly
recovered his presence of mind. He tried
10 rush toward the wrath, but he was
etonDed bv q range of pews, which formed
haryier between himsalf and the shadowy
forn, The interior Of the church was
strange 10 him, and it would have been ut
ferlv fnpossibIe for him to find his way to
the moonlit window in the darkness. BE
was compelled. therefore, to remain where
be was. ssparated from the apparition by the
entire width Of the holy edifiee. EF
sGranby Dumont, said voice, whnse
tones recalled more wildly that horrible
night in the garnet of the unoccupied house
-''Granby Dumont, you refused to heed
my warning"
''I did" answered the General, haughtlly'
ssbecause your words contained o vile SLAM
der against the most lovely and innocent of
women. II, dissatisfied at the ill-suecess
of your first attempt, you seek second time
to succeed in your foul plot, tell you that
you waste time and trouble"
''You refuse, then, to be warned?"
81 refuse to listen to q shameful slanderi
II a voice from the grave were to tell me
that Maud OYipgton is unworthy of my love,
would not believe the hellish falsehood"
s'You would not believe the voice of the
dead, if the dead could speak,"
'.Nog" exclaimed the General 'I would
not so help me HeayenP
ave will test your fortitude some day,
perhaps, CRANKY Dumont," said the voice,
soIemnly; sthe dead shall speak to you!
"Impious blasphemerr' cried the General;
'Iwill hear no more!"
He turned to leave the edifoe, but Femem-
bered that he had heard q key turned in the
lock of the door by which he had entered.
He was doubtless, prisoner, caught IN the
trap set for him by the enemies of the wo-
man he loved.
UIisten, CRANKY Dumont" said the voic,
Of the apparition-''Lsten, and be warned
while there is yet tinsl Tomorrow morn
ing it will be too late-to-moTFOw morning,
if you are to lead your promised bride to
the altar, be warned before it is too late, OK
live to repent your folly through weary
lifetime of misery. Maud OVington is 9
murderesap
''Lnrg' cried the General, almost with
rage.
''She is a murderessr' repeated the spirit,
cit may not have been her hand which
struck the blow, but it was at her bidding
that the blow was struck, Ask her the fate
of her lover, Clarence Suydanl, the artist.
Bid her recall to her memory the events OF
the ninth of October, and then tell her that
she is unworthy to be the wife of an honor
able man. Remember-the step you are TO
take a few hours hence can never be undone;
the VOWS you are to speak can never be re-
called. Remember, and be warned while
there is yet timer'
''Slanderer!" exclaimed CRANKY Dumont
infamous slanderer! Maud lOyington
was as high above Clarence Suydam as the
stars are above the eRrthl What was he to
herr"
asETAr IovarfFS o,,c,,,o.o5 kbo 1ro.oo eoIar,rIv,
'''Tis falssr' cried the General.
''Her wretched dupe-the poor fool of her
false smiles-who was weak enough to be-
ieve that the fashionable beauty would de-
scend from her high estate to wed the man
whose only wealth was genius"
''"Tis false, sayr' repeated the General.
'It is true, CRANKY Dumont," answered
the pitiless voice. ''Ask Maud Ovington
for the missing letters-the missing letters
which contain her VOWS of constancy to the
man! It is true, CRANKY Dumont,
and your own heart tells you that it is truett"
1t was indeed so-a deadly GOODNESS at the
heart of the generous and trusting man
seemed to tell him that there might be truth
in the cruel words he had just heard. The
excitement, the wild passion, the indignant
pride, were too much for the strong man to
mOonlit window, the spirit form,
The dark shadows of the pillared aisles swan
before his eyes; he staggered forward for a
lew steps, reeled, and fell heavily to the
1OOr, with his face toward the ceiling.
The sexton heard the fall, and came Ian
ern in hand, from the vestry.
He stumbled over the PROSTATE body of
he General For a moment he was horror
struck, believing that the church had been
polluted by some deed of violence, but on
bending over the General, he found that he
lad only tainted.
"What's the meaning of this, I wonder?"
le muttered. 81 hope there's been no mis-
hs dne and gPe the t o6e+ n ths
money. If it-was found out, I'd get into
egular mess!'
He held the lantern above his head, and
OOked about for the man who had bribed
linl to consent to the meeting in the church.
Is he did so, he caught sight of dark fig
Ire going out of the side-door, and at the
anne moment the door closed with loud
lang.
"GoneT' exclaimed the sexton; ''that's
Iueer! And he has left me with this man in
N insensible state!"
He went into the vestry, and, after search
ng two cupboards, returned with bottle of
melting salts and another bottle containing
Vater. He sprinkled cold water over the
ace of the General and put the smelling
ats to his nostrils.
CRANKY DumOnt revived slowly and, OPEN
ng his eyes, looked about him.
''Ah, remember!" he exclaimed, starting
o his feet and looking toward the faint
loonbeams; 81 remember ALL Where is
he? Let me see her face to face in the
road daylight viii no longer be the fool
f this infamous conspiracy! Let me see
Ter face to face in the light of day! Where
) she, man-where is sheP" .steS#
''She!" said the sexton, In tone of great
@There's been no shes here
o-night. There's been nobody but the gen.
leman who wanted to meet you here, and
ersuaded me to get out Of my bed to let
on into the church. II the plate had been
ept anywhere very easy to get at, should
ot have been quite so ready to oblige him,
hough he did give me something for my |
rouble." $500 .s.I H ~
During this speech, the General had re-
overed his tranquility of manner. if not of |
lind, and he spoke with calm elaboration. |
ssTell me" he said, s'and tell me- the truth |
you shall be well rewarded for your candor
did any woman enter this church before |
anne in at that door,"
''Not to my knowledge, sir,
''You are certain that no woman entered2" |
''Well sir" answered the sexton, 81 |
hOuldn't like TO tell story, SO won't say |
m certain, because, you see, can't-the |
nurch was as dark as p1tch, except Tor I
ard or so around my lantern, and the gent |
as standing here waiting. All I can say
!, if they did, didn't see them"
fsHow long did you and the gentleman
land here before came IMP"
''Well, sir, it must have been nigh upon
quarter of an hour. 1t was half-past one
hen the gentleman awoke me and said he
anted me to do him favor, and he would
az me handsomely for my trouble. He'd
lade a wager with another gentleman, he
lid, that he'd meet that other gentleman at
NO O'Clock in the interior of this church,
nd the other gentleman didn't believe he
1uld do it. And he offered me ten-dollar
ote on condition that come over here and
t him into the church for half an hour, re-
aiming in the building myself all the time,
see that all was right. ! gave my con-
mt, sir, though Oughtn't- TO have done it,
II I'm poor man, witha large family, and
dollar is an object to me"
Had you never seen this gentleman be-
re Tonight"
'.Never TO my knowledge, sir; but, to tell
10 truth, didn't see his features at oil.
The Genel5al siphed WeariIV. -