Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1902-05-21

her novitiate here, and a very wicked
and INSCRIPTIONS priest had fallen in
love with her. The girl knew nothing OF
it, no more did anyone else, 50 says the
story; but, of course. like most OF the
holy retreats Of that time, Vaux possess
ed secret passages and doors, and all
that, and one night the nuns and the
abbess were awakened by fearful
screams, and came rushing out Of their
cells to see what was the matter, and
there on the oak floor Of the north corri-
dor lay that poor young novice-murde--
ed. No trace Of the murderer was ever
discovered, and years went on. and tn
priest grew powerful and rich, and be-
came a great church dignitary; but t
happened that one dark wintry night ne
was weather bound a the way to some
monastery, and obliged to put up at the
Abbey of Vaax. The abbess received
him most Hospitality and proudly OF
course, and was entertaining him when
message came to say that one Of the nuns
was dying, and was calling increasingly
for a cOnfessor SO the abhess Thought
she would take the holy prior to the cell,
as it was a great privilege for the humble
sister to be shrived tv so great a man.
Well, as they got TO the north corridor,
the prior suddenly turned CHASTITY white,
and began to tremble so much that the
very teeth in his head shook. The truth
is that the prior could not move a step
forward because that bleeding nun barred
the way; bur no one could see her but
himself, and he was too frightened % say
what it was he really saw. And al the
time the poor dying sister was crying out
for some one TO hear her confession, and
there outside the door stood the great and
holy man, utterly unable to attend to her
bidding, for, every time he took a step
forward, that dreadful vision waved him
back, and struck fresh terror into mis-
guilty soul. At last, made desperate by
the entreaties of the dying woman, the
abbess left him in the corridor, and went
on a few PAGES and entered the cell. She
had some soothing words, and then turn
ed back to see il the holy man was able
to do his duty. The corridor was empty
Imagine the CONSERVATION, the confusion
the terror Of the whole body of chatter
ing, nervous women. But, search where
they would, look where they would, not
yestige OF that holy man was to be found.
He had disappeared as completely as If
the ground had opened and swallowed
aim. OF course, after this, all sorts Of
strange stories were told about the north
corridor, and the nuns used to declare
that they saw the priests figure in his
cowi and gown standing there. as they
went by to their cells, and after several
had died Of fright and great many 9TH
ers had gone out Of their minds, the cells
in that corridor were closed or only used
FOR punishment cells. And now for the
conclusion Years and years after Vaux
descended into the hands Of our venera
Bile ancestors, and was turned into a hab-
table dwelling. Then at last it was dis
covered that underneath that corridor
was a stone staircase leading to pas
sage that traverscd the lower portion of
the building. The entrance to this pas
sage was through small, square oak
plank, let into the flooring of the corri-
dor in a manner that defied detection,
and opening by a spring inside the vault.
At the time these discoveries were made
a human skeleton was found at the foot
of the stairs, the skull broken in such
way that it showed death must have been
instantaneous. And now there's the story
for you. Isn't it thrillingT
ITO be continued)