The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-08-16

into the corner most remote from the
inner door, wrapping my shawl close.
ly round my shivering shoulders, ]
placed the lsntarn 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 80 listen for sounds from the
silent room. Oh, I should go mad
I could not bear It How wicked
how cruel! that no one came to seek
me! What was that2 The great
clock at the entrance was striking.
Onei wo!-but no, seven! eight !
then silence. Only 8 o'clock! Only
two hours since I ran through the
garden to fetch the stimulsnts!
Almost involuntarily I slipped my
hand into my apron pocket. Yes,
there were the two bottles, carefully
wrapped round with my handkerchief,
as had put them.
Whether T fell asleep or not I have
never since been able to determine,
but when reused from the semi.con-
sciousness 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 of my thick
shawl, WAS fearfully cold and cramped
with leaning 30 long against the chilly
stones. T 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 groanl Oh, Heaven! coming
from the other side of that inner door |!
I had risen to ny feet, but now I
sank back. frozen with horror, into
the sheltering corner. For few mo.
ments silence, then it came again. I
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 grosn 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 q fellow
creature who needed help, filed me
with new energy, and I 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 after ward, and opened the
door and looked into the dark inte-
rior. At the sound Of the opening
door the groan1ng ceased, and for
awhile I stood, uncertain which direc-
tion to take.
Presently a 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 a shell,
but lying on the stone slab, lay long,
still figure. Still! Oh, horror! As
I looked, unable to stir, 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 q moment the fingers had
pulled the sheet from the face, and a
pair of dark eyes gazed into mine!
How long I stood thus I shall never
know. At length, long, quivering
sigh from the white lips called me to
myself, and gathered courage to bend
over and touch the PROSTATE form.
Enough! The spell was brokenl ]
knew then that this was no time to
hesitate-ne time to give way to wom-
anish fears. I took the cold hand in
mine.
"Do not fear," said, in as calm a
voice as I could command, 81 will do
all 1 can for you;" and, taking the
shawl from my shoulders, I folded it
round the shivering form. Instlnc-
lively. remembered the bottles in my
pocket, and, drawing them forth,
dropped little brandy between the
chattering teeth. After while the
returning color in the lips, the in
creasing warmth of the limbs, told me
that nv efforts had not been in vain.
Oh, if l could only summon aid; but
that was impossible! If could keep
life in my companion, my patient,
until help arrived! Fortunately, my
shawl was large, warm one; forum
ately, old No. 20 had not got his
brandy, but 1 had it safely here.
"Where am II" asked the man, as
he looked round the dim place. his
face full of surprise-and no wonder,
for his surroundings had, to say the
least, an unusual appearance. I die
not think it wise or necessary to ex