The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-08-06

Il hA4Ch MLhI uhNl nap
pened. The porter, surprising that
had gone and left the visitors to him,
mad turned out the gas. locked tue
door and gone away with them. oh,
1t was too horriblel I beat on the
door with both my fists. / raised my
voice IN fearful scream, but that was
worse than the awful silence, for the
hollow waltz took up the sound and
the hooking echo came back to me as
II the dead were shrieLing in their
places, sank to my knees on the
damp stones and covered my face with
my hands.
The building stood far away from
any other the clustering wind would
prevent my voice being heard even
mad the courage to shout again,
which | had not; no one would be in
the grounds in such weather as this :;
l should not be missed Ia the ward
l should be supposed, being of duty,
TO be In my own room. Nurse Flem-
ming, missing me from the supper
table, would imagine that had gone
to bed, and would probably retire
without, as she thought, disturbing
me.
glanced at the lantern; how long
would it burn? Could depend on its
light lasting till dawn? ] looked mt
the trolley with its cold, still burden,
then, with mighty effort, l crossed
the chapel, and Selling the end Of the
CHASTITY carriage whirled it q1icklv in
TO the large mOrtuary. With rs much
strength as my arms still possessed I
sent 1t into the darkness and flew
back into the dimly lighted chapel,
closing the door behind me.
Now, at least, / was alone, with
nothing moro uuearthly than white
flowers and II large ebony cross which
hung against the wall Sinking down
INTO the corner most remote from the
inner door, wrapping my shawl close
~ round my shivering shoulders, |
placed the lantarn beside me and
stroye vainly to think of pleasant
things.
But all in vain My eyes would
keep glancing round mt the horrible
door. My cars would strain them
selves 50 listen for sounds from the
silent room. Oh, should go mad
l could not bear it! How wicked
how cruel A.! that no one came to seek
me! What was that? The prent
clock Mt the cntranco was striking.
One two but no, sevenl eight
then silence. Only o'clock! Onlv
two hours since 1 ran through the
garden to fetch the STIMULATES!
Alr,nEt
hand into my apron pocket. Yes,
there were the two bottles, carefully
wrapped round with my handkerchief,
rs l had put them.
Whether | fell asleep or not l have
never since been able to determine.
but when | reused from tho semi-con.
seriousness into which | had fallen, sew
eral hours appeared to have elapsed.
Instead of the dim light of the lantern
at my side, the chapel was flooded with
silver moonlight. In spite oil my thick
shawl, was feurfully cold and cramped
with leaning SO long against the chilly
stones / was aware that sometime
had reused me; som thing besides
moonlight AMI discomfort. A glance
ut the skylight overhead showed me
the moon sailing calmly through the
lark. blue vault Of heaven, surrounded
by ileecy clouds AMI even as looked
and listened, the great clock struck
Two.
For nearly six hours [ hal lain I'M
conscious in that awful place. The
'oct did not tend TO bring me comfort
felt sick and ILL, my limbs ached
.he black cross, touched by the moon
beams, doomed dark aud awful against
.hc white wall. Oh, to die and FORGET
everything What was that? A sound
IA grolnl Oh, IcaveDl coming
rom the other side of that inner door
| had risen to my feet, but now /
sank back. frozen with horror, into
The sheltering corner For few mo-
nents silence, then it came again. Il
.lstencd-u low, long mOau-but to
my confused brain it was not the hol-
low, uneNrthIy grUan o, the stage ghost
such as we arc wont TO associate with
rattling chains and lurll blue fire, but
rather the groau Of human creature
IN pain As soon rs this idea took
possession OF my weakened mind, NV
courage returned All my nursc-like
Instincts came to NV and.
Tho thought that living human
being was near, much moro fellow
creature who needed help, filed me
with new energy, aud L rose and took
mp my lantern. What / expected to
find / hardly know; perhaps some
SorEmen who hal been assisting with