The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-09-03
SELECT STORY.
THE TURRET DOOR,

THE TURRET DOOR.
1t was beautiful and still evening
toward the end of summer, when ir
the course of my wanderings about
the ancient city | entered the quiet
and solitary close of the gray cathe-
dral. The rocks were gathering in
the old elms which stood around. a
ruddy light wrapped the great gray
towers which rose far up into the even
ing air. The sounds of the city from
without came family and at intervals
to the ear as walked slowly across
the close toward the low wide steps
which ascended and were lost in the
shadow of the noble porch.
On reaching the great door of the
cathedral found it closed. But in
the center of this there was another
smaller door which still stood open
aud here party of visitors, to whom
was stranger, were endeayoring to
persuade the ancient yerger that the
hour was not yet too late to permit
them to inspect the interior. 1t so
happened that just as l came up they
succeeded in overcoming his hesita-
tion, and he turned to lead the way in.
to the building.
| The party followed him, and l among
them.
The party of visitors to which l had
joined myself had completed, under
the guidance of the verger, the custo-
mary ltour of inspection round the
ancient fabric, and were now preparing
to leave the building. l had fallen for
moment behind the rest, in order to
examine fine and deeply interesting
specimen of antique carving which
covered the whole of the wall near
which l stood. The great door of the
cathedral, where the rest of the party
were now standing, was not visible
from this spot ; but ]. could hear their
voices plainly, round the angle of the
wall. Aware that | had not much
time to linger unless / wished to be
locked up all night, cast a glance at
the rich tapestry of the woodwork and
prepared reluctantly to turn away.
Suddenly my eye was caught by a
| portion of the carving which seemed
to stand out slightly from the rest. |
put my hand upon the carved head of
the Apostle Peter and pulled it out
ward. To my amazement door open.
ed in the carving, showing beyond it
a dark passage. l stopped forward
and looked in. AS did so the door,
which was thick and massive, and
which was hung slantingly upon it's
hinges in such manner as to close
its own weight, swung heavily back
from the position into which had push.
ed it and coming Unexpectedly upon
me as stopped forward, projected me
into the opening and shut behind me.
The suddenness of the incident and
the total darkness IN which | found
myself entombed startled and confused
me. But at first felt no positive
alarm. attempted at once to push
open the door, but to my surprise il
did not yield. | pushed harder
harder yeti exerted all my strength
but the door remained immovable.
AT last, finding all my efforts use,
less, | endeavored to attract the atten.
ton of those outside. | raised my
voice and called loudly for assistance
at the same time beating vigorous
tattoo with my stick against the door
| then paused and listened, IN the ex,
pectation of being speedily released
But to my surprise and alarm the min
utes passed and there was no response
With a vague terror at heart | re
newed my endeavors' ! raised olamol
that awoke the echoes of the building
But still no voice replied from outside
my prison, no hand released the fasten
ing of the door. Gradually the con
viclion forced itself upon my mind
that | had delayed too long. While
had been trying to force open the dool
| by my own efforts, the party of visi
tors had left the cathedral, either with
out observing my absence, or perhaps
supposng that ] had left before them
The verger had locked up the building
and departed. There was no one withiI
hearing to assist me.
My CONSERVATION at this discover,
may be conceived. The idea thst
was fated to pass the night in this darl
and narrow prison was one which re
fused TO entertain. Again, again, anC
yet | hurled myself against the woodeI
barrier, with rage, with fury, with de
spair. Not until had exhausted ey
cry effort in my power, not until ev
cry CLEAN of hope had vanished from
my mind, did | give up the attempt tc
force the door as hopeless, and turned
away from it to examine more narrow
| ly the place OF my Imprisonment
Nothing now seemed left to me but tC
ascertain how l might pass the hour
with least discomfort, until | might ex
pect assistance from without.
In my assaults upon the door | hat
already discovered that the place il
which ] was inclosed was of small di
mensions, 1t was, in fact, little NOR
than recess or deep niche in the ma
sonry, not exceeding three feet square
it would neither enable me to lie a
full length ncr obtain any other relic
for my tired limbs than by the chang
OF one cramped and uneasy postur
for another The floor was of soil,
pavement. The roof, as / stood erect
just touched my head, The walls, lik
the floor, were of solid stone, Stand
ing close to one of these, and castiu
my eyes upward, / made a discover
which filled me at first with surprise