Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1884-07-25

Written for the SENTINEL.
lay on my mattress in the dormitory and
no sound disturbed the silence Of the night
save the peaceful rospirations of the other
occupants OF the room and the cricket notes
of the katy-did as they were waited through
the easement from the grove adjoining the
college. was restless and could not sleep
and felt Il gloomy sadness possessing my
Imagination. For several days | had felt
considerable anxiety over the absence of any
letter from my mother, and close study for
the approaching examination had excited
my nerves. My whole life, from my earliest
recollection, passed like panorama before
me, and my mind was under the complete
control Of u morbid vigilance ! tried to
divert my fancy to a happier tone, | thought
of my childhood and the bright companion
Of those happy hours, Ethel Vernon. re-
called too the sweet laugh and bright star
like eyes, and then the sad tone was re-.
awakened as thought how broken hearted
| was when my little Ethel told me that she
was going to leave New Orleans to live in
New York. That her father was going to
move there. The more | struggled TO quiet
my mind the more wakeiul became until
felt the room and the very bed intolerabe
| arose softly and stopped TO listen. The
heavy breathing OF the first project indicated
the depths Of HE slumber and that might
creep down softly to the open air. drew
on my clothing, took my shoes In my hand
and moving noiselessly 10 the ground CORR
dor got my hat from the peg, and passing
through the large front entrance / glided
down under the shadow OF the gymnasium
wall and through the iron gate In the col
lege park. | did not realize till got here
In fra M atsx I'll
condition | was in | thought would fol.
lowstls sorpcntino walk around the Con.
vent enclosure until reached the bench by
the spring and there remain until | was
overcome with the desire 10 sleep and then
endeavor TO return quietly 10 the d0rmtory.
But was doomed 10 disappointment, for
was no sooner seated than discovered that
my Imagination was highly stimulated, and
after thinking Of the different fellows | had
been there with, some Of whose names were
carved on the bench and ON the old beech
trees over the spring. For while con.
cluded TO take the back path into the city,
so climbing the high fence by the "philoso.
piers steps' | was in moment at the top
and down In the road. | walked leisurely
into the city, straight on ill | came 10 Fredc-
rick street and here halted. At this point
| pondered whether 10 return and submit
10 the mortal agony or keep on walking Till
the spell should break. seemed TO have an
aversion 10 return 10 the dormitory, but still
as had been free from any breach of col
lege discipline In my career, felt very re.
luctant to risk the discovery Of this one in
my last year at college, and 50 | wished
myself back In bed.
l turned 10 retrace my steps, but such
strong feeling Of aversion came over me that
turned again and walked down Frederick
street. AS | walked down the east side ~
the street met a policeman whom passed,
but not without observing tolerably close
scrutiny on his part. /, OF course, presented
the appearance OF gentleman, and 80
suppose he was satisfied that was some
young fellow returning from party, at
least he passed along without appearing 10
give me any further attention We MT
about midway Of the block, anu a. we
walked about the same gate We reached
the opposite sides Of the block at the same
time AS | approached the corner | OBJ
served an enclosure surrounded by an old
fence of upright pickets which had once
been ornamental, but were now In rather
q neglected condition. There were double
gates and one Of them swung open over
the pavement, giving the place Il painful air
of desertion and disregard. AS | passed
saw by the light OF the moon that II was u
cemetery, and that IL ran through 10 the
other side Of the block. The old grave.
stones formed q peculiar attraction ~ my
fancy, and as | stood on the street corner
thinking determined 10 go In and look
around. But | observed that the police
man stood on the other corner opposite,
and as / could not have entered the ceme-
teiy without attracting his attention, |
waited for him % move on He shortly
turned the corner ~ the right, and after
waiting Il few seconds 10 be sure that he had
really continued his beat stepped into
the cemetery and walked slowly down the
main aisle, over which had passed many u
heavy heart and upon which had dropped
many a scaldlng tear.
Many Of the old stones lay half obscurcd
in briars and tangled growth and some sunk
and buried as II they were trying " follow
the bones they were erected 10 cOmmemo.
rate The deep solitude Of this spot and
the reflections that are naturally inseparable
from such surroundings had the effect 10
divert my mind from It's wOnted tone, and
il was not long ere felt so much relief that
determined 70 repair 10 the college, feeling
now satisfied that could rest, besides the
presence OF great drowsness Casting n
parting glance around me and rejecting
that | perhaps, indeed, in all probability,
would never again visit the spot that
stood upon started forward with the pur-
pose Of making my exit by the side oppo.
site where had entered. My limbs were
scarcely In motion when was startled by
a sound at my left that made my heart stop
literally. seemed conscious that respira-
ton was suspended This appalling sensa-
ton possessed me but for o moment, for the
sound was repeated and with II renewed
life electrified my veins The sound was
utterly indescribable | can not find Ian
guage that would convey any satisfactory
impression Of the sound except 10 say that
II was muiied human scream The first
scream seemed 10 come from the earth, but
the second more distinct, because my senses
were strained, came from a low vault, as
before remarked, at my left In an instant
was at the iron door OF low hip-roof brick
vault at the base Of a slight ACTIVITY. AS
approached the door my impulse was ~ cal
but fearing that might be heard by some
night-pad and discovered In ridiculous
and possibly unpleasant position, for | can
not say that relied entirely upon the tosti-
mOny OF my senses, still thinking there