The Progress., 1893-10-21

STRANGE SIGHT SEEN IN a
CHURCH IN VIRGINIA.
Aroused From His slumber IN the Shell
ter of the Consecrsted Building to
Witness the Return Of - Ghostiy We'd
ding Party to IT'S O.d Hsun,s.

In the early days of the late war
we were living with our family in a
great country house i'm one of the
border counties of Virginia, so called,
rs il was near that line of flame.
the sad. fatal fluctuating war.
Near our house was church. a
noble edifice and monument of the
days gone by, when stately ladies
and grand gentlemen composed its
congregation The old church. built
In early colonial times, had seen the
growth of our strong, young re-
public, and near its hallowed pre-
cincts were buried the descendants of
princes. mobiles and titled danes, the
old cavaliers of Virginia. The wind
made sad music through its sounding
galleries and the raindrops spattered
like tears OF memory on its ruined
walls. The church had been used as
barracks by passing troops in two
wars, who found safety from storms
In its massive walls, and IL could be
used as a fortress OF defense in sud.
den attack. In the swift flight of
years 1t had fallen frequently into
ruin and been again repaired, and
once, while removing the rubbish
the workmen found a box hidden far
back in an embrasure of the ruined
tower, which contained rich bridal
garment, in fashion Of bygone
years. The rare and costly fabric
was stained, and every evi-
ieDce pointed TO mysterious murder.
but in answer to the questions. "Who |
lid the deedP" "Who was the vic
timP" the echoes from nearly two
centuries brought no reply.
One quiet night in June while we
were sleeping after watching and
praying for weary hours for loved
ones in the army who might never
return. we were startled by a knock
1T our front door, and on opening it
a dark, determined man stood there
and asked for shelter, which in n
Virginia house is never refused. His
Uniform was dark brown. the color
of dead oak leaves; his cap was knit
Df black and gray worsted. the color
Of dead moss and lichens of forest
,rees; his rifle was long and bright.
md sheath knife glittered in his
Delt As he stood in the weird light
,f the family dawning day he looked
ike ghost OF ono of the old knights
,f Sherwood forest in the days of old
Robin Hood, but we knew him for
what he was, a Texas ranger SO
amous in the guerrilla warfare OF
'he South. The color OF his uniform
10 blended with the color of the
y oods that no one could suspect his
presence.
After a hasty salutation he said;
IL have seen strange things tonight.
hat make me doubt my own identity
md have come to you, not with
var stories and news of battles. but
% ask the explanation of what saw.
am acting as scout for General
stuart and have been sent forward
% obtain what information can.
rave passed quickly and quietly from
me position to another, my presence
lot even suspected. and as night
anne on, tired out. / sought refuge
n the old church so near Won I
uppose | must have fallen asleep
rom utter WEAKNESS, for apparently
awoke to the sound of weird music.
o plaintive and ghostly in it's nature
hat all the superstitions / had
earned from my negro nurse on the
old plantation possessed me
. once.
II was that wild, low strain. a we'd
ing march or funeral dirge; in its
ones, tenderness, regret. sorrow and
'ity seemed blended. All at once the
Massive doors of the old church
we're swung open by unseen hands
md the dim moonlight lit the old
with ghostly light. and a
'hantom train OF stately cavaliers
nd pale. lovely women entered the
'ncient sanctuary
"Solemnlv down the aisle the dim