Daily Kennebec journal., 1913-12-08

renewed TauldIlCe through lie PoSSAAio
clouds She was stiff with cold and
her cramped position; but as she made
an effort to rise to her feet her eyes fell
upon the tomb where lay the skeleton
figure already mentioned. Although'lt
was IN shadow, there was quite suinc-
lent light for Mildred to see its crossed
legs, partially covered by the drapery,
and as she looked her blood seemed 10
freeze in her veins, for she alstinctiy
saw the legs uncross themselves! A
second later the figure rose SLOWLY TO d
sitting posture with the SOUND IKE the
clink of armor, and at the same mo-
ment a sudden cloud, sweeping across
the moons face, threw the church once
more in darkness.
Into the next few minutes the agony
of lifetime was concentrated, for poor
Mildred waited for the moon to shine
again with staring eyes fixed upon the
spot where she knew that awful sight
would re-appear. She could hear her
heart beating in the silence, almost suf-
locating her with it's violent throbbing.
Then it grew lighter again, and she
could Sc the figure in the same position.
with the dark drapery drawn around 1t
and over its head. Still watching, she
saw it lift its bony hands and wiring
them together with gesture of despair,
while a Iong-drawn, hollow moan fell
upon her ear. Then, slowly gathering its
cloak around it. the watcher beheld it
rise to its feet. with another little metal
lie rattle, and with noiseless, dragging
footsteps moved along until it reached
and mounted the pulpit stairs. Another
cloud now blotted out the horrible sight.
and even in her deadly terror the girl
realized that she was in full view of the
pulpit and that the next moonbeams
must reveal her to her ghastly compan-
ion. The light came, but the ghost, for
such 1t appeared to be, was now appar-
emily engaged in addressing an imagin-
ary congregation, and she could see its
eyes cleaning with fire like those of an
incarnate f1end.
At one moment it would lean over the
desk, gesticulating and gibbering, with
wild mutterings and grimaces; the next
it stretched itself upwards, tall and
erect, its long. shroud-enveloped arms
pointing to Heaven, while she stood
there paralyzed with horror, in the full
radiance of the moonlight, her hands
still clutching the rail before her, unable
to make the slightest effort to conceal
herself.
At last she felt those awful eyes meet
her own, and knew that she was discov-
cred! For few terrible seconds the pair
stood glaring at each other. Then, with
a yell which curdled her blood, the spec
tre sprang in her direction. The girl
echoed the scream. and. terror relaxing
her limbs, darted out of the pew and fed
for her life, with that awful pursuer
close behind her. Its horrible yells echoed
through the building. lending fresh I'm
petus to her flying feet. She knew every
turn in the church, but her strength was
beginning to fall her breath was com
ing in gasps, like screams, from between
her parched lips, and she knew rnat in
a few more seconds the chase must end,
and she would feel the clutch of thar
CHASTITY skeleton hand upon her shoulder.
Summoning up one final effort, with
last despairing Shrek for help, she sank
upon the steps, with her hands clutching
the fastenings of the big entrance door.
They seemed to give to her touch: then.
with confused sound Of voices in her
ears, she became unconscious
When Mildred recovered her senses she
found herhelf in her old nurses cottage
| The story can be best finished in the
words of the young squire. who later be-
came her husband, as he happened to be
the first person to reach her and 10 save
her from what would otherwise have
been an awful death.
Well, the supposed ghost was in reality
something infinitely, worse-nothing less
than a dangerous lunatic. The man was
an old servant of my fathers, whom he
had placed in private asylum at his
own expense, after the man had made
an attempt upon his own lie. The poor
fellow had escaped from this house
which was situated about 10 miles from
Manorbier, and, disguised in a long
! cloak, had reached the spot by an un-
! frequented road. Here, attracted no
doubt by the lights and music, he had
wandered into the church, and, with
curious cunning, had taken off his boots
/ at the door and noiselessly concealed
| himself by creeping into the niche In the
wall and lying down behind the skele-
/ ton figure in a similar attitude, where
/ doubtless, he fell asleep for a short time.
A rusty chain was lying on the pave
ment by the tomb when we investigated
the spot which accounted for the cank-
though whether he carried that away
| from the asylum when he escaped, or
/ picked it UP on the way, no one can
tell. The doctor at the asylum sent me
the news of the mans escape Immediate
| ly it was known. and l instantly started
for the spot. and, with the keeper, traced
him to Manorbier, and finally to the
church, just in time to hear the most
awful screams issuing from the building
and to secure the raving madmap as he
sprang upon his victim. The adventure
nearly cost Mildred her life in another
way, for a severe attack of brain fever
followed, and, when she recovered, her
brown hair was silvery white, as you
now see 1t. But 1 must not complain, for
I owe my present happiness and the pos
session of the sweetest wife in the world
to the Crusaders Ghost"
Facts for Catarrhal Sufferers.
The mucous membrane lines all