Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-07-25
MIGHT be doubt q the reality q the cir

was but the work Of an instant TO press
through the briars to the rear Of the tamb,
and here finding vehtilator III tlla simpe of
Roman cross, formed by leaving brick
out of the wall in alternate layers about five
feet from the ground, l placed my ear to one
OF the little square openings forming the
cross and listened, cannot say how. long
listened as wasintenseIy excited. I truly
realized the "silence Of the dead" Net
breath disturbed the intolerable Stiffness
My heart palpably beat against my ribs, and
LIQUID hear tthunip with Riterriflie dis
tinctness, hut this was the only sound, and
turned away with amIngIed feeling OF relief
and regret that I hal not been earlier at the
spot In time to have rendered some service,
but the dead silence warned me To retreat,
and turned from the vault to retrace my
steps. But as did so the scream was re-
peated from within the vault, and this time
with thrilling audibleness, followed by the
exclamation, "OlOlOln with graduated
modulation, the last one scarcely audible.I
think my eyes started and my scalp seemed
To creep, but collected myself In an instant
and called through the little square hole,
"Iave courage, Twill bring relief" sprang
TO the east opening VI the lot and Just as I
passed through came plump into the arms
OF the policeman whom had seen and who
had just reached the spot In time to take
possession OF my person. As he laid his
hand upon me realized that all depended
on seli-possession,or rather presence Of mind.
said as quietly as could command my
self to speak, "You certainly find me In u
rather suspicious position, but tell you SOL
EMMY there is living person in the vault
in this lot and was In hopes that my voice
could reach you was on the eve Of call
ing for you when met you at the gate"
Something in my manner must have in
spired him with confidence In what said,
for he said, ave better get Pat. Conley up
and open the vault" and, releasing me, no
turned-to the door of the house next to the
graveyard and knocked, at the same time
calling Justify "Oh, Pat, come down, open
the window, Pat"
In few moments an upper sash of the
house before which we stood was thrown
open, and Pat Conley, the sexton, put out
his head and learned In the briefest possible
manner the situation, but not before tho i'm
mediate neghbors were aroused In Pc
riod much shorter than 1t takes TO narrate
the circumstances lantern was procured
and the partyIof us, considerably enlarged
by recent additions, were before the door Of
the vault The entrance was made without
difficulty by Conley, who at once advanced
to the solitary casket which lay In plain
case supported on stools, with the case.lld
reclining against the wall, and drawing
from his pocketa screw-driver he proceeded
to remove the panel that covered the face
and the upper part of the body. This dis
closed glass a couple of feet long, which
was at once broken and removed.
Had II been my purpose to divide this mar
rative into chapters should have secured ad-
ditiona attention On the part of my reader
by concluding my chapter here. But as
am not dependent upon any literary arti-
flee for the interest of my story, the subject
being one of familiar facts, shall continue
briefly The first impression, as threw the
reflection Of the light on the face of the dead
girl, that took possession of me was that all
our efforts were fruitless, for nothing but
death could bring the repose that rested upon
that beautiful and divine face. The rough.
est amongst us was spell-bound by the SUBJ
lime LONELINESS Of the sweet, innocent VIC
tim before US, IL was suggested by SEINE
one 10 close up the coffin and retire; but I,
who had listened 10 that dreadful exclama-
ton, earnestly appealed TO the sexton and
tho policeman 10 watch the body till day.
light. This they agreed to do, and was
about to retire when we were startled by
unmistakable evidences of animation in the
body. II was but few minutes action 10
remove the casket 10 the front room in the
sections house II then dawning upon my
mind that was in fair way TO become
more conspicuous than was under any cir
cumstances desirable to me quietly retired
and was soon again In the dormitory with
my mind preoccupied with thoughts totally
different from those that had necesstated
my absence.
| had not long returned when the chapel
bell called us 10 the "wash. room," and
thence TO the various pursuits Of the day
The news Of the nights adventure was
soon inside the walls of college, but not
through word from me. learned that
theyoung lady was completely restored 10
life, though she was too weak 10 give any
account Of her sufferings whilst ia her per-
ilous situation.
The day wore along as usual and the after
noon paper brought full account OF the
nights adventure. The story was greatly
exaggerated, Of course, and necessarily SEN
sational, the principal feature contributing
To that effect being the escape Of the person
who had made the fortunate discovery. The
papers also contained notices offering In
ducements in the shape of money for the
appearance Of the now mysterious link In
the chain OF circumstances, but without re-
suit gathered from the published account
Ol the affair that the young lady was q Miss
Vernon, who had been stopping at the Ma
tional Hotel with her father, where she,
with many others, had been poisoned, which
In her case had resulted In complete trance
Of the vital elements. Death was supposed
10 have ensued, and the body was placed In
the old repository temporarily until IL could
be removed to her home in New York.
A few days later my attention was arrest
cd by q notice In the papers soliciting,
through an earnest appeal, nm interview
with the gentleman who had rescued her
from indescribable horrors and death, and
signed Ethel Vernon. This decided me at
once, for aside from the name that still awalx-
cned In my mind "reminiscences Of the hap
py past, and that was almost conclusive In
Identifying as that OF my sweet companion
Of the past. felt that the young lady,
whoever she was, IL she desired II, was en-
titled TO the opportunity Of giving express
sion 10 the very natural sentiments Of graft
tude that she felt for her delivcrance, of
which had been the accidental agent. /
called at the National and handed my card
10 the waiter who accompanied me 10 the
reception room, and who, after having been
absent scarcely moment, returned with
the request that should follow him, and
almost Immediately | was in the presence
OF my early playmate, Ethel Vernon, who,
reclining upon an exquisitely upholstered
lounge, presented picture Of dazzling love-
illness. The natural color of her beautiful
skin had In some measure returned, leaving
only that degree Of palor which lends an
additional charm 10 u familiar and lovely
face. will not mention, at length, her pro-
tcstallons Of gratelulness, which though elo-
quent in their earnestness, knew was net
entitled ~ except through our human i'm
pulse 10 ascribe 10 each other, under such
circumstances, attributes that are only re-
nected upon US from the source OF mercy.
endeayorcd TO suppress the outpourings of
her gratitude and had only succeeded in re-
ducing our interview 10 more agreeable
tone when Col. Vernon walked In. His
surprise ut seeing n stranger In such familiar
contact with his daughter soon gave place,
upon moments explanation from her, TO
most cordial greeting, and was again the
object Of u generous overflow OF nature.
Finally our conversation drifted into a
more general channel and learned many
interesting events connected with my friends
during their absence from our early home.
learned besides that it would need but the
expression Of the wish 10 place me In con-
tinuous contact with Col. Vernon in pro-
fessonal connection, which was always u
cherished object with me and for which
| had been preparing myself during my
second course In college.
Years have rolled BY and many Of the