Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-12-15
LOCKED YIN,



On the 9th Of No7embcr. 1850 ia day
marked In Exeter, England, by riot and
confusion), Miss r., lady Of that city,
went to pay an evening visit to the
bishops family Mt thc palace. She rc.
fnaincd rather later than usual, nnd felt
uneasy Mt the thought Of returning home
on foot through the streets, which were
crowded with drunken people dischgrg-
Ing fireworks and behaving riotously.
She therefore requested thnt n servant
might be sent to lot her pass through
the cathedral by private passage which
was always left open until late hour,
thinking that she could cross the aisle
into lane and thus avoid the annoyance
she 80 much dreaded.
The servant attended her to the en-
trance and returned. The great clock
chimed 10 o'clock as she passed hastily
to the opposite door, which she was
startled to see clossl: still more so to
lind 1t barred and locked.
She proceeded to the gates which clos
ed the side ais!e from the opposite choir;
they were also fastened, and she saw
diuly the perspective Of the cathedral
unoccupied by any human being The
vergers, eager to enjoy their share of the
nights fcstivity, had shut up the church
unusually early. Terrified at her un-
pleasant situation. Miss T.. hastened back
to the bishops private door with the
feeble hope that the servant might still
be within hearing; but, though she made
great efforts to call attention. they were
fruitless, and, indeed. moments re-
hection upon the long suit of unused
and empty apartments which she had
passed through convinced her that oil
expectation OF assistance from that quar-
ter was in vain. After an interval of
doubt, terror and distress she seated her.
self opposite the door and endeavorcd to
compose herself to endure with fortitude
whnt was unavoidable. looking for pro-
tcction to that Being in whose peculiar
abode she was detained, though against
her will.
The night grew darker and she had
reasoned herself into tolerable composure
to meet its gloom, when the moon, rising,
threw its brilliant beams down through
the roof of the building, and, as they
stole along the aisle. she often started
at the reflection on the sculpturcd tombs
of mailed chiefs long wrapped in the
oblivion Of the grave, and, agitated as
her, nerves were, she could not avoid
adinhing the beautiful and magical eff
feet OF the lights and shades.
But as she was gazing listlcssly at the
shades upon the wall she was startled
as she traced in one the resemblance to
n human form. Her eyes were riveted
upon it. and, gazing upon it with horror,
she plainly saw the shadow of face
extending its jaws in the act of yawn-
ing. She looked-thought it an illusion;
but, no. the form was there, and in the
moonlight it appeared to rise slowly from
a tomb in the opposite aisle. While this
amazing and frightful spectacle fascinat-
ed her gaze to the light CLEAN which
rendered it's profile visible the moon sank
suddenly behind cloud, and again all
was darkness. She endeavored to steady
her mind and examine how she might
have been deceived-perhap it was n
shade reflected from monument-but
the exertion of yawning confuted that
idea and made her willing to ascribe the
whole to the powerful workings of her
agitated imagination. t.
She had now Heen confined some hours,
and her distresS had somewhat abated
when she was again thrown into alarm
by distinctly hearing.Ioud breathing. then
footsteps at the end Of the aisle in which
she sat. The darkness was unbroken.
AEonized to the highest pitch of terror,
riveted to her, seat, deprived of the pow
er Of speech, her senses only remained
to point out more acutely the horrors of
her situation.
Avery light echo brought the footsteps
nearer, and the equal pace of the being
who walked through the aisle and its
gradual approach led her to fear that
her presence was known to a form her
eyes vainly sought to behold.
After enduring some minutes agony
(which she would hardly suffer again to
purchase existence) n hand was placed
upon her head. and at the same moment
IN idiotic noise informed her that it was
a lunatic of Exeter who, as was after
ward discovered, would use every means
to remain in the cathedral and sleep
among the tombs. Her mind, wrought
so highly, relaxed at once, and, being re-
lieved from her fears Of n ghostly pres
ence. she was induced to think lightly of
her lonely state, although she knew her.
self to be in the power of being who
had often committed very serious out
RACES.
Controlling her feelings ms best she
could, she talked to and soothed the hap
less maniac.
Soon after the door from the bishops
pnlace opened and servants entered with
lights, calling Miss T.. Great was their
surprise to find her sitting by n man,
and that man SO well known as n dan
gerous lunatic. She joyfully left her un-
happy associate, but for years after she
suffered from what she had that night
endured
Miss Els servant had called for her
at the given time and was told she had
gone home. Returning and not finding
her there, he cOnjectured she had called
upon some friend, and expected her until
It became so very late that he was
alarmed. and again went to the palace,
which caused the search to be made that
relieved her from her fearful situation
New York News.