The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-05-26
A FINE CELLAR OF VINE.

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old friend of my family, the Rev. Mr.. Chant
ley, who had living in One of those remote,
old-world villages which are scattered along
the coast of Norfolk
Iexpected the very simplest of fare in the
humble house of my friend, and my expecta-
tioils, so far as fish, fowl, and flesh were CON
cerned, were realized. But when l had tasted
glass Of port was SO struck with the ex-
traordinary fineness of its flavor, its body,
and its bouquet, that l was Obliged to ash
Kim straightIy where he managed to pick up
such treasure in these days of adulteration
and high prices.
"rll tell you tomorrow" he replied, after
you have visited my church"
The association of splendid port wine with
an obscure Norfolk church seemed to me a
little remote, but knew from the old gentle
mans manner that he had a story TO tell, so
said no more
Accordingly the next morning accom-
panied him to the church. 1t was one of
those spacious, imposing edifices so frequently
10 be seen III the eastern counties, built al
most upon the verge of the sea My host
showed me a very OLD tomb with battered
canopy and some half-cffaced esautcheons and
much delicate tracery.
"'romb of the first lord of the manor" ex-
planned my cirerone Name unknown, date
unknown, but popularity called Sir Dicks
slab There are lots of similar tomhs about
here as about everywhere But You don't see
anything extraordinary about the structure
II the tomb itself. No: Well, I'm not sur
priSad ct it But look here!'
So saying he placed his thumb on the top of
the helmet surlnounting the defaced coat of
arms, and Immediately the whole of the front
If the tomb under the slab began to sink be
low the pavement, at the same time disclosing
a dark vault, up which came that damp,
earthly smell peculiar to crypts and charnel-
houses. Then, STOPPING down and pressing
HE little stone helmet again, he caused the
stone TO ascend to its normal position
OF course my curiosity was intensified and
wanted to hear the story at once. But the
DID gentleman said:
mo, although its not long yarn, it can't
very well be told as we are standing here; so
wen have it over another glass of that 81
port to night"
So, when we had drawn our chairs rot &.
the fire, and taken our first sips of the farnolia
,ort, he began:
dive been here nearly fifty years, and when
: was first appointed there wasn't hotter
) place in all England for smuggling except,
perhaps, Cornwall or Scotland or Romney
marsh
Il never saw my predecessor, for the very
good reason that the living had been vacant
for ten years previously for reasons which
> you shall hear presently. Ny surprise, there
fore, may be imagined when, in the course OF
my inspection of the premises, | came upon 4
cellar filled with all sorts of wine and spirits
How it was that they had remained undscov
n red and untouched during the ten years in
erval between the departure of my prede
e.gsor could not find out, until | took int
mv service as gardener an old fellow whC
odd me what follows;
"The last rector, the Rev Mr. Airport, wa.
appointed here in lSl2. Not many days after
MS arrival he came into the church for SOM
purpose or other, and, discovering curiou
bid register in the yestry, took it into the par
ionage pew, which stands exactly OPPOSITE
Sir Dicks slab, to examine. Over the vol
,me he fell asleep. When he awakened tn
'hurch was quite dark, and, as it was mid
winter, very cold. OF course he jumped up
amazed and not Titled awed at his position
, For there was as much superstition in thos
laws amongst educated folk as there is nov
amongst the lower classes. He was about t
yrope his way out of the pew, when he wa
arrested by an extraordinary noise which wa
\ not the sound of rats nor of the wind bu
which seemed to be suppressed subterranea
ihunder
Suddenly he saw faint ray of light wher
he knew was Sir Dicks slab. Brighter an
| dor ap1t llrb To lot
nut still more to his astonishment, huma
read appeared inside the tomb, followed b
he remainder of very big and burly humal
r yody which was succeeded by more head
H. and bodies, until group of half a dozen me
;tood on the pavement of the aisle.
''Smugglers of course they were, and no,
no he poor parson was seized by dread TIL
he st. Edwards smugglers We're notorious as
NO / desperate crew. Many of them had bee
lid pressed for the French war, had escaped, an
al Is there was price on their heads, and the
mt lands against every mans, they regarde
est desperate crimes as necessary incidents c
en a heir calling
ee, They were evidently in high spirits, an
rs nopped their brows Us they sat, some O
- he tomb itself, some on the wooden Sc,
= near, passing round a big leathern jack {
liquor, talking i'll an almost incomprehens
Die dialect, and even going so far as to hgl
heir pipes, The Rev. MIR Airport was L
coward when dealing with ordinary humal
ty, and, as he croucied in the pew, peerin
II the weird group through an opening in tt
curtains, he revolved i'll his mind what
next move should be.
"A notion struck him suddenly. The We
Try was within a few yards of him, and
.ould get to it by door at the other end
,he pew. Silently and cautiously he gropt
ais way along, and in a few minutes rea
peared with a white surplicc, Arranging
SO that his face was completely shrouded,
seized the opportunity of a hull i'll the sinu
ylers' talk, and, standing on a hussoc
stretched out one sheeted arm and uttered
= epulchral groan.
y "The effect was magical These bi
bearded fellows, who cared for no man, WI
faced danger with laughs OF defiance, we
seized with the most ludicrous panic, al
tumbled head over heels through the openil
IN the tomb, leaving the church In utter dar
ness, and the parson master of the stuatio
The reverend gentleman, delighted beyo
measure at the success of his move, lost
time in getting out Of the church and hon
"He knew very well that it was as much
his life was worth not to keep silence abo
the discovery he Ind made Curiosity ho
ever, prompted him to see for himself VII
earthly object the smugglers could have
making parish church their trysting pla,
So, early the next morning, he let hims
iito the sacred etiiice with his private he
with the intention of examining the tor
W. minutely. To all outward appearance it b
: not been disturbed since the day when