The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1886-08-27
THE SURRET DOOR.

tnA COURSE OF my WanQerlngS aoOuI
the ancient city l entered the quiet
md solitary close Of the gray
cathedral. 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
evening air. The sounds from with
ont oams family and ct intervals to
the ear as I walked slowly across tile
close toward the low, wide steps which
assembled and were lost in the shadow
Of the noble porch.
On reaching the great door OF the
cathedral found it closed. But in
the centre Of this there was an
other smaller door, which still stood
sopen-and here party ofvisitors, to.
whom was a stranger, wereendeavor.
ingto persuade the ancient verger that
the hour was not yet too late to per-
init them to inspect the interior. 1t
SO happened that just as came up
they succeeded in overcoming his hesi-
tation, and he turned to lead the way
into the building.
The party followed him, and among
them.
Inside the stiffness WAS profound;
the liRhtest football awoke echoes. The
evening light fell, laden with the rich
and colored gloom Of painted windows,
on the dark carving Of the stalls, on
the great tubes Of the silent organ, on
the scrolls Of the epitaphs, on the
marble images OF warriors, priests and
kings. The silence Of the antique
nave. the colored gloom of the
painted panes, the sense Of an
tiquity in all the air. impressed
their influence upon the mind with
even more than customary power. I
had had no other motive in entering
the cathedral than to indulge the or
dinary curiosity OF astranger-very
certainly Participated no more than
the ordinary Incidents OF such visit.
No mortal could have been less pre-
pared for an adventure. How could
l dream that strange. wildly
strange, experience was to befall me
before I should stand again without
those gray and ancient walls'
And yet, so it was.
The truth Of this extraordinar Y sto-
~ % known to many persons, and my
veracity may be easily verified. The
facts of the case are these:
The party OF visitors to which Ihad
joined dmyself had completed, under the
guidance OF the vergsr, the customary
tour OF inspection round the ancient
fabric, and were now preparing to
leave the building. had fallen for a
moment behind the rest, in order to
examine a fine and deeply interesting
specimen OF antique carving which COW
cred the whole OF the wall near which
Is stood. The great door of the cathe.
dral, whore the rest Of the party was
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 q last glance
at the rich tracery Of the woodwork
and prepared reluctantly to turn
away. Az s
Suddenly my eye was caught by a
portion OF tho carving which seemed
to stand out slightly from the
rest. put my hand upon
the carved head Of the apostle Peter
and pulled it outward. TO my amaze
mont Q door opensd in the carving,
showing beyond it q dark passage. /
stopped forward and looked in. As I
did 30 the door, which was hung slant
ingly upon it's hinges in such manner
as to close with its own weight, swung
heavily back from the position into
which had pushed it, and coming u,.-
expectedly upon me as ] stopped for
ward, projected me into the opening
and shut behind me.
The suddenness of the Incl lent and
the total darkness in which found
myself entombed startled and confus-
ed me. But ut first l felt no positive
alarm. attempted at once to push
open the door, but TO my surprise it
did not yield. Ipushed dharder-harder
yet e1erted all my strength, but the
door remained immovable.
At last, finding all my efforts use.
less, lendeavored to attract the at
tention OF ofsthose outside. / raised nv
voice and called loudly for assistance,
at the same time beating a vigorous
tattoo with my stick against the door.
4 then paused and listened, in the ex-
pectation OF being Immediately releas-
ed. But to my surprise and alarm
the minutes passed and there was no
response.
With a vague terror at heart re-
nswed my endeavors. raised O clam
or that awoke the echoes of the build
ing But still no voice replied from
outside my prison, no hand released
the fastening OF the door. Gradually
the conviction forced itself upon my
mind that / had delayed too long.
While had been try ing to force
open the door by my efforts the party
OF visitors had left the cathe-
dral, either without observing my abb
sence, orperhaps upposing that had
left before them. The yereer had
locked up the building and departed.
Ihere wasno one within hearing to
assist ma. = . =
My CONSERVATION at this discovery
may be conceived. The idea that / |
VAS lated to pass the night in this
9ark and narrow prison was one which |
l refused to entertain. Again, again,
ana yet again ] hurled myself against
the wooden barrier, with rage. With
Jury, with despair. Not until / had
exhausted every effort in NV mover
not until every elsam Of hope had van.
'shed rom my mind, did Ipive I'M the |
attempt to forcs the door as hopeless.
and turned away from It to examina
mors narrowly the place OF nv i'm. |
prlsonment. Nothing now seemed |
leit 20 me but to ascertain how / /
mKht nnaA tho hn.sxa ~ 4 i.>..4 T. 1