The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1903-10-30
A SEXTON'S HABIT
LOrlelnnLl

CHuI'H' anu MS WIZ N'I' tiluitSs'
Mrs. Pollock pincd because sic had not
girl to keep her company and Pol.
lock shared In her wish
Pollock had habit of stcppic to his
door every night before going to bed
to take look at his church, not that
he expected to see anything unusual
II was mere matter of habit. His
wife told him that It was II habit and
begged him to break it up. He gath
cred his resolution for Hn effort to do so.
This effort took place one night in
November. At 10 o'clock Pollock put
out the lights in the house and went to
bed. This was only the beginning of
It, No sleep came to him, and he
tossed about struggling with desire
to get up, go to the door and look at
the church. after which he knew he
would 90 back to bed and to sleep.
1t was near . o'clock in the morning
before he gave way; then, rising lie
went to the door, opened 1t, looked mt
the church and was about to turn
when lie saw or thought he saw a
flash of light at one of the windows.
! Putting on his clothes and taking his
lantern and the key TO n door opening
into the vcstIy, he hurried over to the
gloomy pile, now dark within, though
lighted dimly without by Il waning
moon. Opening the door, he entered
and, passing through an arch, stood on
the chancel steps with his lantern be-
hind him, that it might not interfere
with his vision, and pecrcd ut the
pews, aislcs. naves-indced, at those
things with peculiar names that go to
make up the interior of church.
| Seen at that hour, by the falntest
| glimmer of moonlight shining through
the windows, nothing could have been
more uninviting. Even sexton may
have feeling, and old Pollock, although
he had seen the sight many times be-
fore, remarked to himself that he would
rather be opening grave by daylight
than standing there gazing over n sea
Of emptiness. But, not seeing anything
unusual, he was about to take his de-
parture when he heard a fumbling at
| the great front door lock. Not wishing
to be seen, he blew out his light and
! W
he could watch any one entering the
church.
Sure enough, the big door opened and
some one came in. Then came the
scratch and flash of match and the
lighting of candle. BY its faint flame
Pollock saw man enter the church,
leading shrinking girl up the center
aisle, who shuddered at every step. The
pair came nearly to the chancel, where
the man waited, listening for sound,
while the girl sat in front pew, her
face buried in her hands. They were
evidently expecting to meet some one.
Then the clock in the tower struck ..
A moment later Pollock saw a light
moving in the guild rooms. and present
ly man dressed in the vestments Of u
clergyman came in holding in his hand
a small lamp. The man before the
chancel met him at the rail and whis-
pered something to him. Then he turn
ed to the girl.
"Gracc, dear" he said, "this is the
Rev. Mr.. lIartshornc, rector of this
church. He will marry us"
From this moment Pollock saw
through what was on foot as we'll as if
he were intimately acquainted with the
parties He had served as sexton with
DIR, IInrtshome for twenty years and
knew full we'll that the man before him
was not Dr IIartshorne. \ young girl
was about to be ruined by mock mar
riagc-
But what was he to do? He was an
old man incapable of overcoming these
two rascals and did not think that to
appear and accuse them would be of
any avail At any rate he did not dare
try it for fear of bodily injury. The
girl was almost dragged to the altar
There was light enough for Pollock to
see that the man was well dressed
while the girl was in the garb of the
poorer classes. The mock clergyman
began the service and had reached the
words "Grace, will you have this
man when Pollock gave groan that
echoed through the church with all the
despair of one suffering from melan-
choia insanity.
The groom and the mock clergyman
looked at each other with startled faces.
The bride had to be supported.
"Go on," said the groom under his
teeth with an oath, and, after consider
able urging, the service proceeded.
"Do you, Grace, have this man
There was another groan, this time
down in the body of the church, for
Pollock had slipped around by a side
passage and got in among the pews.
The pretended clergyman dropped his
book
"You'll burn for this!" came a voice
from a still different direction.
BY this time the groom had lost his
nerve as well as the clergyman and,
picking up the bride, who had tainted,
hurried down the aisle with her.
drop her. roared sepulchral voice.
The girl was dropped in the aisle and
the men frantically made for the door.
Pollock, fearing they might gather cour-
age to return, picked up the girl and
,g,l l.. i, a