The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-02-26

| ldDle, WOulu luldSl1e tudt udlt Soue
to bed, and would probably retire
without, as she thought, disturbing
me.
I glanced at the lantern; how long
would it burn? Could I depend on it:
| light lasting till dawn? I looked al
the trolley with its cold, still burden,
then, with mighty effort, I crossed
the chapel, and seizing the end OF the
ghastly carriage whirled it quickly IN
to the large mortuary. With as muc9
strength as my arms still possesses L
sent it into the darkness and new
back into the dimly Lighted chapel
closing the door behind me. .,
| Now, at least, I was alone, with
nothing more unearthly than white
flowers and large ebony cross which
hung against the wall. Sinking down
into the corner most remote from the
inner door, wrapping my shawl close
ly round my shivering shoulders, l
placed the Iantarn beside me and
strove vainly to think of pleasant
things.
But all in vain! My eyes would
keep glancing round at the horrible
door. Ny ears would strain them
selves so listen for sounds from the
silent room. Oh, should 60 mad
I could not bear It How wicked !!
how cruel that no one came to seek
me! What was that? The great
clock at the entrance was striking.
One! o!-but no, seven! eight +!
then silence. Only s o'clock! Only
two hours since I ran through the
garden to fetch the stimularts!
Almost involuntarily slipped my
hand into my apron pocket. Yes,
there were the two bottles, carefully
wrapped round with my handkerchief,
as l had put them.
Whether I fell asleep or not I have
never since been able to determine,
but when I reused from the semi-con-
sciousness into which I 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 of my thick
shawl, Twas fearfully cold and cramped
with leaning 30 long against the chilly
stones. I was aware that something
had reused me; something besides
moonlight and discomfort. A glance
at the skylight overhead showed. me
the moon sailing calmly through the
dark, blue vault of heaven, surrounded
by feecy clouds; and even as I looked
and listened, the great clock struck
two.
For nearly six hours I had lain un-
conscious in that awful place. The
fact did not tend to bring me comfort; ;
I felt sick and ill, my limbs ached;
the black cross, touched by the moon
beams, loomed dark and awful against
the white wall. Oh, to die and forget
everything! What was that? A sound
"a groan! Oh, Heaven! coming
from the other side of that inner door
had risen to ray feet, but now I
sank back. frozen with horror, into
the sheltering corner. For few mo-
ments silence, then it came again. 1
listened-a low, long moan-but to
my confused brain it was not the hol-
low, unearthly groan OF the stage ghost
such as we are wont to associate with
rattling chains and lurid blue fire, but
rather the groan Of human creature
in pain. As soon as this idea took
possession of my weakened mind, my
courage returned. All my nurse-like
instincts came to nv aid.
The thought that living human
being was near, much more a fellow
creature who needed help, filed me
with new energy, and rose and took
up my lantern. What I expected to
find I hardly know; perhaps some
workmen who had been assisting with
the new building had fallen asleep, or
been overcome with drink, and shut
in, like myself, through misadven-
ture. How improbable theory this
was did not, fortunately, occur to me
until long afterward, and opened the
door and looked into the dark inte-
rior. At the sound of the opening
door the groanlng ceased, and for
awhile I stood, uncertain which direc-
tion to take.
Presently q movement at the fur
ther end decided me, and I made my
way slowly round the stone lodges,
casting the light of the lantern on the
ground as I went. No sign of hu-
man figure. could l see. No British
workman's recumbent form gladdened
my eyes. I stood still, in perplexity.
Oh, heavens! what was that? Close
beside me, not yet placed in shell,
but lying on the stone slab, lay long,
still figure. Still! Oh, horrorl As
I looked, unable to stir. I saw the
white sheet that covered it move-a
long, thin hand pushed itself from
beneath and almost touched me. All
my former experience was nothing to
this. In a moment the fingers had
pulled the sheet from the face, and a
pair of dark eyes gazed into mine!
How long stood thus I shall never
know. At length, long, quivering
sigh from the white lips called me to
myself, and I gathered courage to bend
over and touch the prostrate form.
Enough! The spell was broken!
knew then that this was no time to
hesitate-no time to give way to WON.
anish fears. 1 took the cold hand in
mine.
"Do not fear," said, in as calm g
voice as could command, 81 will dc