The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-31

D
ing to attain less questionable attitude ir
the house of God before discovering myself
TO possible stranger Suddenly lifting uI
my head and bringing my eyes above the
pew line with the intention of taking a peer
about, fell back precipitately, after having
stared perhaps almost fiercely, while still il
STOPPING posture, into eyes which wert
certainly set in a human face only a few
inches from mine. TIE bonnetless head oil
woman seemed to have suddenly arisen
Immediately IN front Of me to meet my
gaze.
was stunnedl Half stupefied I gazed
Cp into, that face above me as crouched
back upon the darkened floor. There had
also been black gloved hands clinging 20 the
top OF the seat, but before my mind could
again act normally all had disappeared
The person or vision before me vanished
mysteriously.
SURELY A sPooK.
Gathering sufficient force Of will again
| raised myself, and, with nerves at highest
tension, scanned the church in all directions
through what little light remained.
No one could be seenI was certainly
alone. No visible or material person could
be there!
leaned over into the next pew. My eyes
discovered no one now.
Dare | stink into the now dark little
room off the altar and strive to again force
myself through that slit In the wall! Would
there be some one near to capture me the
frst time l again Lecame fastened as in q
wise and treat me as an entrapped thiefa II
not by material hands dragged outside and
before a magistrate might not by unseen
hands be dragged back within and down
into the cellar TO follow the apparition
which before my eyes had apparently sunk
out OF sight through the floor?
such speculations rushed through my
mind with fevered rapidity. 1 despised
my fears, and yet | wondered whether my
knees would hold me If attempted to rush
down the aisle and throw myself against
the door. Could It have been unlockeda
Calling up all my common sense and
ordinary fearlessness / boldly stepped out
into the aisle and, ready to shout defiance
to roaming spirits or turn to ridicule any
trick with which mere humans might be
trying to brighten me, started toward the
door with determination.
.... STILL A PRISONER.
The door was still securely fastened.
stood leaning with my back against 1t.
tapped my head, thinking to persuade
myself that had just awakened from q
sudden fit of dreaming. wherein some dis
torted imagination had been disporting
itself.
every nook and corner in the fast fading
ghostly light. Ii ones mind hesitates and
communes with silence under such oircum.
stances and in suoh surroundings in response
or echo to every sound wave it may itself
create it's ears will soon begin TO hear indis-
tinct yet doleful whisperings emanatina
from wherever the imagination Is aroused
to center in nervous intensity. Whether
WIS the victim of fancy or not had seer
nh Of Nhnk Oh ah os1A
concentrated upon my only hope Of escape
l sped swiftly back up the aisle. my feet not
seeming to make the least noise on the thick
heavy carpet with which moderns in luxu.
rious mood had furnished the old vault.
With the little open window In sight |
paused on the threshold of the ante room al
sound as OF some one gasping caught my
ears. listened brenthlessIy. | could dis.
timothy hear occasional Rasps, followed by
heavy breathing, as from some one In pain
or great mental anguish.
SpirituAlism vas far from my philosophy
and usual mental poise. Practical reason
ing returned to me. Some one might have
been shut up in the church and was possibly
i'll or suffering.
"Who is thsreP' called out,
Ny own voice, half stifled through nery-
Gus emotion, and yet chokingly emitting q
rasping emphasis, startled me as it echoed
through this vault-like place. The next
moment, despite my striving to arouse nv
utmost will power, l wondered at my au.
dacity. l almost regretted my courage,
for 1t seemed as though l had but indls.
creetly drawn the attention of every DOS
sible atom round about, animate OF mani
mate, to my presence and whereabouts In.
stinctively turning from the grim shadows
which confronted me. again faced the lit
tie room, as if fearing that my folly might
arouse some power to cut off my only pos
sible retreat.
DRY OF DISTRESS.
"My Godi o, my God, save mep then
heard in low, moaning tones.
| sprsng in the direction from which
these means proceeded. no longer hesi-
tated or feared. Reaching the pew behind
the one in which had previously hidden |
leaned over 1t, and once again peered into it
anxiously. Arising from here, and then as
mysteriously disappearing, believed had
beheld the phantom of a woman. Could IL
have been a material body Of flesh and
blooda
Eager TO ascertain the truth as well az 10
give aid, l opened the door of the pew and
cautiously took step within, trap doors
and other contrivances for which the genius
of the past was fond being suggested to my
mind.
l stopped down and felt around through
the darkness at the bottom of the pew. Ny
hand came in contact with something half
under the seat. Thinking OF kneeling
cushions instantly attempted TO thrust It
aside or draw 1t out. Upon my grssping II
the most awful heart-rending wall rang out
from almost under my feet.
l struck second light and with set teeth
held it do wn toward the person or object
which had terrified me, determined to dis
cover with whom or what had TO deal and
at once dispel all doubt as to whether real
live healthy human being could be lying at
the bottom of that pew and carrying on in
such manner.
WHAT THE MATCH REVEALED.
The match lighted up the delicately feat
ured face of a young woman, and | shall
never forget the intense anguish and awful
horror which there saw depicted. Her eyes
were closed as if she were In faint, but
upon suddenly opening them, so as to reflect
the fare of the match for an instant, she
threw her hands wildly above her and with
a shudder rolled over and buried her facc In
a footstool.
Upon lifting her from the floor she be-
came lifeless in my arms after giving vent
to sundry gurgles and chokings. / then
laid her out on the seat of the pew and
lighted a third match, as the light from
without had become too dim to distinguish