The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1890-01-02


bone Representing herself Tor her 70
getiuIness. she moved hssiily 10 the doc
I, wss locked fast
For moment horror possessed her
she feslized tba, she vss clone 10 Il
church, unoccnpisd buildings seem
take on an oppressive Individuality
night 9ni's different from their cheeri'
daytime penonslity But Aimee kne
every part OF the dim church by heart an
she soon dispslled her ean Some on
would miss her rnd come for her. aud
n It, surely there was nothing very terri
bile in the thought OF stsying there q
night She dragged several cushions Il
geiber settled herself comfortable as sh
could, and while mnsipg on the noveli
o. her position fell asleep.
What occult perception il is that stand
sentinel over the sleeping senses scienc
has not yet told us. but that there is sucl
q perception has been many times indicat
el Suddenly Aimee started aud Eat up
right with a vide eyed consciousness tha
there was some one beside herself in th'
church. The clear moonlight streamet
through the mullioned windows and fel
full upon the dusky osken pulpit. Aime,
raised her eyes slowly from the covered
figures at its base. dreadIng. yet irresisti
bly, impelled to look higher. Then sh,
saw near the curate's desk a dark figure
looming long and gaunt 10 the moon.
light
II was only the shadow that some scud.
ding cloud had cast, she told herself, and
what seemed to be cleaning eyes fixed
upon her were the cleaning silver clasps
Of the grea: Bible. But the illusion did
not seem to vanish.
Slowly the figure moved down the pnl.
pit stairs. sliding one hand along the rail.
ing His frame had apparently beea one
OF great physical vigor, but it was now
emaciated, and the clothes hung Imply
upon it, as il they share in the decline OF
physical energy. His great lamp like
eyes were fixed full on the face cf the ter
rifed girl, and in a moment there flashed
through Aimee's mind the belief that she
was face to face with the mystery OF Nal
lock g tower.
OF ghost she had no fear, but to be Gag
ed at midnight in lonely church with a
lunatic for company was enough to strike
terror to a stouter heart than that OF frail
girl OF 49, To shrek would be useless, for
the church was removed from the travel.
ed way. and stood upon windy hill over
looking the village; she had moreover,
sufficient GOODNESS to reaizs that outcrits 8
might provoke violence.
The mute figure came nearer. The sof,
pat OF its foo'tteps sound, d distinctly Oh
he foor ard she could bear its breath
,oming IN sharp. bard gasps. 1t reached
int its hand and Aimee felt the clasp OF
ong, b,ny fingers on her arm. For mo.
nent her head swan and Hhe shvered
With boiror Then a recc Election came to
l5r Had she once head or had she |
|reamed that music was thought to have
soothing fleet upon the Insane? On the
Inspiration of the moment she Legan to |
log the rst air that occurred to ber-a
ay little dance song in grote que contrast
0 the horror that almo overpowered her
onses.
The man ssnk down ,side her, without
his hold upon her arm. Her
oice was broken and echoed strangely
trough she church, but gradually h
ones grew clearer. and under the tension
I the singular excitement she felt that
be was singing she hsd never sung be-
,re.
One thing after another she sang, melo
les and material strains. snstches from
he opera with fantastic improvisations,
'ing ballads snd grooming cradle songs.
he luna,ic listened ath strained atten.
op. Varying expressions swept across
is face. But bis eyes were still bent up
n bis face
Full and tender. her voice rang out in
,e grand solo from Elijah. 20 Rest 10
le Lord. and wait Patiently for Him, and
- p;iI n,ya The TLv ua.,t,a na.;ra y
Seat aud comforting we're the words. and
,e blind emotions which before had been {
,used by the mere musical sound now
emed to find definite expression.
Slowly bis grasp RELAXED, and bis eyes
ore the look Of one whose soul was
Irned in upon itself IN thought, rather a
an that Of distracted mind. Some I
me he brushed bis hand scross bis fore +,
,ad as one who knows not whether be |
axes or dreams. 4
The pight dragged itself away, and
mee sang on through its terrible honrs
last the light OF the moon grew dim, Z
d thst dark time that preceedes day light r
II over her With it's awesome mystery. t
is said that 10 this solemn hour between I
e night and morning the greatest mum t
Il OF souls pass from ont this shadow e
nd TO the shores OF the vast unknown. t
ie vital forces are, certainly, at ills time e
their lowest ebb, and tbs earth Is far 0
est from the life giving influences OF the il
o. .
Yet she dared not falter. Ga ste sang. |,
til the gray lisht Of early morning
ugslei through .be high windows b
,eu his grasp RELAXED and bis head ssnk G
'wsrd upon his breast, the lines Of bi. Al
,e srpres.ipe Tranquil melancholy and
breath coming softly, like that Of 3 g
eping child. o
ROSY clou,.s chased across the sky. and es
bright saa sireamei food Of light in
The church. snll The two figures sss A
.b,ly sid by 81 le. oae mig hsv 3,
,us BIT tha, The angei of death hsi passed as
and laid a qaieiing hnger on the lips