Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-11-09
GzIts airD Skrifbts.
sED's wosIss.
CONTINUED from Yesterday
By crRrI. MORTON.

eerous ground of untruth, the degree OF
euuivocstion IL of little moment.
81 not only think it possible said.
With m earnestness that did me credit, i
beliove that it frequently occurs
..Tbe answer was satisfactory. She
clssped her hands, and apparently ignor-
ing my presence continued:
:.sIf some one you dearly loved had
fallen q martyr in q just cause, and then
came back to you on the very spot where
he had breathed his last, and urged you
mot to revenge his death) but to revive
the cause for which he lost his life, to re-
animate the defense Of right, and assert
again the manhood Of a nation, would you
not feel that to be a divine mission
Would you not labor and toll in Land act
II until either your life was ended or the
right vindicated?' She arose as she utter
ed these last words, and looked intently
at me, awaiting my reply.
.Indeed would. And is this the source
of your trouble "
mo, no not that. not that. But the
bitter fate that made me woman, and
rendered it impossible for me to accom-
plish my trust
"She stood wringing her hands in the
deepening twilight.
"'And has he appeared to you here?'
'.She made no reply but taking my arm.
drew me toward the church. We entered
the gloomy and deserted building. The
night had fallen rapidly and except where
the breaches in the roof and window adj
mitted an uncertain, shadowy light, the
whole edifice was enshrouded in semi
darkness which leased and baffled the eye.
Il was indeed weird. mysterious place,
where the Imagination, aided by the dim
religious light and the sad history connect
ed with the structure, might well frame
even more improbable stories than that
my conductor had narrated.
'.She laid her finger upon her lips
Hush p she said. DO You not hear?'
1.-THE words were scarcely spoken when
a plaintive sound, like the low minor
chord of an organ. stole through the edi-
flee. She clasped my hand. DO you
hear It p she said, .or is it only fancy Of
minep'
II made no reply. but listened intently.
The sad inarticulate notes increased.
They filled the room: they penetrated the
heart. They seemed the mournful wall Of
of a lost spirit. the outpouring of a crushed
soul.
".Do YOU hear what he says p she whis-
pered. DO you hear the cry, "Annie.
Annie, do not forget. Annie. do not for
get, do not forget" DO you hear the
wail' He fears must forget. for am
woman. No. no. shall not forget.
"She said this almost fiercely. The
strange, unearthly surroundings, the
monotone of the hidden voice, the wild
passion of my companion. were beginning
TO have their effect. A tremor passed
through me, and was glad to ascribe the
slight SILVER Of dread to the gust of wind
which Just then came through the gaping
doorway.
1.-The low tones gradually died away
into an almost inaudihle plant. then sud-
denly the sounds increased; they seemed
to fall upon each other, so rapidly did
they come. They filed aisle and nave
and chancel with one mighty flood of loud
but musical notes. They struck terror
into nv unbelieving heart; the blood fled
from my lips and cheeks, and | clutched
the shrine at which we were standing.
"'Do you hear him now p she cried.
He Is angry. He says. ''You will forget.
Annie; you will forget!'' Let us go. |
cannot bear his reproaches.'
I'VE left the church. A strong wind
had arisen, and made that my excuse for
wrapping Annie's mantle about her. and
buttoning nv coat. We were both too
much affected for conversation. When
we reached the house, she extended her
hand. and said merely. DO you regret
your promise P
NO. replied. and l shall make it
good
but / was far from seeing how that
desirable consummation could be reached.
The affair was incomprehensible to me.
Although personally knew full well that
there was no supernatural agency at work,
it would have been matter OF no slight
difficulty to discover the real physical
cause 80 as to remove Annie's delusion.
Il would be useless to argue with her that
no articulate sound was heard. that she
had supplied the words herself from the
depths Of her imagination. Such reason
ing would have no effect upon her, and
doubted whether even an actual cause OF
the phenomena having been shown it
would be possible to disabuse her mind.
However made 1t my business to
spend the next few days in exploring the
building, and in interviewing the super
stitious negroes in the neighborhood.
While the examination continued, no word
passed between either George or Annie
and me. A week of alternate hope and
doubt. and. must confess, often dread.
passed. when little bird perched on the
church roof. and feeding her young with
in their nest in the overhanging bough of
the great elm told me the secret. I had
discovered the cause of the startling
sounds. Joyfully seized the first oppor-
tunity Of asking Annie to meet me in the
church at shutdown. and went to procure
the necessary adjuncts for my denoHc-
meaf.
".l fear.' said as met her at the
doorway fear that you are to have
your last interview with the spirit. Miss
ANNIE
al have hardly deserved she replied
drawing herself up with diguity-'I have
hardly deserved to be made the butt of a
Jest, MIR. Baker,
".But, seriously. would you regret very
much If could show yon other than SUI
pernatural reasons for the sounds you
hear in the church? p
".If you could, she answered with fer
vor, I should owe you more than my life
I'VE entered, listened to the same mys-
FERROUS tones.
Now said. let us step outside"
ssShe seemed surprised, but oheved.