The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-11

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| to death this harmless innocent
At once all sympathy and anxiety, 1
| chafed the girls temples and wrists,
and in every way labored to revive her
| Filled with chagrin at the thought Of pre-
/ viOus nervous fears. l rushed around the
/ building like crazy man, hunting in
| hooks and corners for a hidden faucet
| or pail which might give forth water TO
/ be thrown in the face Of my patient
! l knocked things around lively in my
/ mad search. and after tumbling about
promscuously half in darkness, came 10
the conclusion that if there had ever been
| any water within the place ii had been
! dried up for centuries since.
To dash water upon. my patient might
only add to her terrors, / concluded
and like flashing fire upon her only
superinduce another CONFUSION or faint
ing fit.
Oh for some brandy!
l rushed wildly to the big door and vio-
! lentiy shook 1t. hoping that / might be
able to force It and obtain aid. I called
Justify for help. making the old tomb
ring as II may have never before l re-
ceived no response. Remembering the
comparative Isolation Of the church-yard.
l desisted from such efforts and again
savagely attacked the door,
Would It be best to crawl through nv
window and leave the girl alone while I
aroused the villagers and produced key?
| was locked up alone with this girl What
If she should diet
A trial upon the charge OF having in
weighed young girl into secluded church
and there numbering her arose in my
mind and l pictured a gallows awaiting
me with seeming irrefutable circumstan-
tial evidence. Not a moment was TO be
lost! Perhaps both our lives were at
stake!
AS I evidently frightened the girl I
realized that my presence not only might
delay her recovery but insure her I'm
mediate death. So / gave her wide
berth and FASTENED to the room off the
altar. Could | once get through that
window the villagers might be called out
and no one need be compromised I at
tempted to dive headong through that
crack, only In my haste TO become
wedged and ruinously tear my coat With
drawing myself ! discovered that the
nasty little nails which gave me trouble
on entering, positively held my clothing
fast on attempting to pass them in the
opposite direction--as they projected to-
ward the inside. / could not withdrw
them with my fingers, and dill not waste
moment hunting for an instrument. but
dragging off my coat, pushed Il through
the window, and in my efforts to follow
without concern heard my shirt tearing
as | forced my way against this lighter
material.
But with breath nearly pressed out Of
me l was soon held below the waist as in
vice, and elutched as by a score of fish
hooks, was about ready to give I'd to any
fate, and with a section Of me dangling
on either side of the window, hang there
limp and motionless until help might ar
rive in the persons Of my captors. | would
have to trust entirely to my powers Of
eloquence-when my lungs might be again
free TO expand-to persuade them that l
was but an innocent and deserving Ameri-
can tourist.
And the poor young lady! Must I let
her die?
The girls life was alone to be consid-
cred. and just as I lifted up my voice
to again call for aid 1 heard a noise which
sounded as though the church door had
been violently slammed Thinking that
some one seeking the girl had arrived and
opened and shut the door, l kept perfect
ly quiet. earnestly hoping that might
not be discovered until later, should they
find the girl all right. A moment after a
young lady dressed in black, but hatless,
came flying al ound corner OF the build
ing, and l recognized the maiden l had
thought was still lying in an insenslble
state within.
With mean Of terror she abruptly
came to a standstill and there was still
light enough outdoors for me 10 see that
she was in a frightful state Of agitation
upon seeing a coatless and torn and twist
ed mass Of humanity protruding from
the masonry of the building and hanging
In mid-air before her path
Perhaps hardly less surprised to see
her than she must have been to see me
In my bewilderment l gaped at her with
out emitting a sound.
She staggered back and Immediately
disappeared.
Accusing myself into mad energy. with |
the fury and strength OF desperation 1 |
twisted and writhed myself free thereby |
making rents and tears in all parts OF
my clothing, and leaving samples OF IL
with the familiar, yet unsympathetic lit |
tie nails, fell sprawiing In the dirt with |
out minding that / nearly broke my neck: 1
but instantly scrambling to my feet like ,
cat and grabbing up my coat, was away |
Thinking to go cross fields and escape |
the front entrance, l scampered toward /
the opposite side Of the church yard from |
the one had entered. and rushed over a /
newly made grave hidden among the
trees. Tripping over watering pot | fell |
upon a black hat and a little trowel living
beside 1t. That hat fascinated me- and |
sat moment staring at it, as the idea
flashed upon me that in some way it was
connected with my troubles
Clippings OF vines and flowers were
lying about and before 1 could regain my
feet l had also discovered that fresh
flowers covered this grave, which had ap-
parently but just been attended. All this
spoke volumes TO me. and as l ran to-
ward Windsor, lodging where possible
TO keep hedges and other objects between
me and Clever, l turned that hat and /
trowei over in my mind and attempted !
to weave them into an explanation of my
adventure.
Thus dreaming | saw my new acquaint-
ance leave the grave she had spent the
afternoon In adjoining. and intending to
return for her hat at least almost noise
lessly unlock the church door and re-
lock II after her TO keep out possible in
truders.
thought OF her timidly gliding along
the soft. heavy -carnst and then lime.