Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1912-04-05
A Grim
Experience
The Way a Tourist Was
Shut Up Ia a Church
By HOMER wORTHlNdToN

We were on our wedding journey in
Europe, doing picture galleries. ana
churches. will not assert that this
IS all there is in That elderly country
for tourists to see. but It is the prin-
clpal part OF the matter. Lucia and
were one morning visiting a Roman
cathedral several hundred years old,
looking at pictures hanging on the
walls. some Of witch must hive been
painted for fhe purpose OF soaring
away the devil; at ghostly marble fig
ures lying on their backs. with their
hands clasped over their breasts;
straining our eyes in dark chapels to
see hldeous frescoes, the principal part
of which had been Clipped Oh, when
we heard the clock above US strike the
hour of noon.
At the moment we We're looking at
statue. wondering whom it might
represent, 4 gentleman-rather a sin
gular looking person he vas hearing
our renmgSs politely told us all about
the marl,e and Of another much Older
and mase curious in different part OF
The church. offering to guide Us to it.
Lucia said she was tired and would
20 to our hotel and rest before lunch
con.
| would rather have gone with her,
but the stranger was SO urgent
that / should see the curious statue
that / consented to remain with him.
told Lucia would be with her with
in half an hour, and she left me. Then
started TO another part of the church
with my guide
He showed me the statue, told me its
history beginning back in the twelfth
century and ending in the eighteenth,
when. after having been stolen, buried,
resurrected, lost its nose, one Of its
ears and both hands. It had been rlirac-
ulously set up in its present position in
tile middle Of the night, when the
church was locked, with no one inside.
As he proceeded thought | had new
er net a person more voluble. Why
he took so great an interest in me
could not divine. Instead Of listening
to what he said 4 was taking in his
personal appearance.
He was rather small, wore a little
bell crowned hat. which, Of course, in
the cathedral he carried in his hand;
had coarse dark hair standing straight
upon his head and a short stubby
beard. His coat was dark blue
cloth, fitting tight at the waist. with
a full flowing skirt His trousers were
checkerboard and tight to the skin.
The most remarkable feature in his
face was his eyes. which twinlzled like
pair Of stars IN the heavens.
When he had told me all about the
statue and the archaeological disputes
as to Just where 1t had lost its nose
and the other features / thanked him
for his Kindness, bid him good morn
ing and was about to leave him when
he said:
There's something far more curious
in this church than this-the bones Of
st. q ha e forgotten the name),
that have come down to us through
800 years. 1t will require but a mo-
ment to see them. and | shall be hap
py TO show them to you
THANK you very much" l said. but
my luncheon hour is at hand, and
must reJoin my wife"
81 viii not detain you five minutes"
he replied and looked so anxious that
! should enjoy sight at these old
bones in which he seemed to take such
interest that l went with him to see
them Taking me to the forward part
Of the church on one side. he opened
door that l judged to he about 1--WE
feet high-at any rate. one must bend
to enter it--and told me to step in
side. "After you," said, but he stood
holding the door open so deferentially
that l went in. The only light there
was in the place came in at the open
ing through which | had entered. and
even that was shut off Immediately.
for ! heard the door close and click
in the lock. My companion had re
manned outside
1t required a few moments for me
to realize my situation, to become
frightened. Then / turned to the door
and tried 70 find knob by which to
open it. There was 70 inside knob.
hammered on the door, but it was
Of iron and made Of several plates,
so that my thumps were not likely to
be heard ! listened eagerly for the
door TO he reopened. Perhaps it had
closed Of itself and sprung a bolt. In
this case my guide must find some
one to enable him to open it and
might have gone away for that plr-
pose.
Then / remembered that starry look
In his eyes. and became terror
stricken. Suppose he was insanei II
so he had doubtless shut me up in a
lark room. seldom opened, and at
rome future time. instead of the bones
Of saint, my own skeleton would be
found there I felt around the walls
Of my inclosure and was horror stricb-
en- to tind that It was but about by
4 feet. | could not lie down IN It. l
looked up and could see light-it seem
ed far above me-on the four sides Of
the ceiling, as though let in by a mar
row strip Of glass Reaching M.
eyen standing on my toes or jumping.
could louch nothing.
What would Lucia think when the
luncheon hour came aud dld not re-
turn? ilcw long would she wait he
FORE hacop,tncy frjr,htanad and what