Gilpin observer., 1913-07-24

began almost to run and continued
from the stalls on the left, they found
Fastening until she came to the
church"
@. Was the gate open?"
r. Yes, monsieur. and this sur
prised me, but did not seem to sur
prise Mile. Daae.''
Q. Was there no one IN the church
yard?"
r. II did not see any one; and, II
there had been, l must have seen him.
The moon was shining on the snow
and made the night quite light"
Q. WAS 1t possible for any one to
hide behind the tombstones?"
r. mo, monsieur. They were quite
small, poor tombstones. partly hidden
under the snow. with their crosses
just above the level OF the ground.
The only shadows were those OF the
crosses and ourselves. The church
stood out quite brightly. l never saw
30 clear a night. 1t was very fine
and very cold and one could see every
thing"
Q. Are you at all superstitious
r. mo. monsieur. am a practicing
Catholic"
Q. In what condition OF mind were
your"
r. Very healthy and peaceful, as
sure you. Mile. Daae's curious action
in going out at that hour had wor-
ried me at first; but. as soon as
saw her go to the churchyard, l
thought that she meant to fulfil some
pious duty on her fathers grave and
considered this SO natural that
recovered all my calmnees. l was
only surprised that she had not heard
me walking behind her. for my foot
steps were quite audible on the hard
snow. But she must have been taken
up with her Intentions and l resolved
not. to disturb her. She knelt down
by her fathers grave, made the sign
OF the Cross and began to pray. At
that moment. 1t struck midnight. At
the last stroke. saw Mile. Daae lift
her eyes to the sky and stretch out
her arms as though in ecstasy | was
wondering what the reason could be.
when l myself raised my head and
everything within me seemed drawn
toward the invisible. which was play
ing the most perfect music! Chris
tine and | knew that music; we had
heard 1t as children. But 1t had never
been executed with such divine art,
even by NJ. Daae. | remembered all
that Christine had told me OF the An
gel OF Music. The air was The Resur-
rection OF Lazarus. which old NJ. Daae
used to play to us in his hours OF
melancholy and of faith. IL Chris
tines Angel had existed. he could not
have played better. that night. on the
late musicians violin. When the mu-
sic stopped. seemed to hear a noise
from the skulls in the heap OF bones:
1t was as though they were chuckling
and could not help shuddering."
Q. did It not occur to you that
the musician might be hiding behind
that very heap OF bones?"
r. 1T was the one thought that did
occur to me, monsieur. SO much so
that l omitted to follow Mile Daae
when she stood up and walked slowly
to the gate. She was so much abb
sorbed Just then that i am not sur
prised that she did not see me-"
Q. Then what happened that you
were found In the morning lying half
dead on the steps OF the high aitar?"
II. First a skull rolled to my feet.
then another then an
other II was as II were
the mark OF that ghastly game OF
bowls And l had an idea that a false
step must have destroyed the balance
Of the structure behind which our mu-
sician was concealed. This surprise
seemed to be confirmed when l saw
shadow suddenly glide along the
sacristy wall. | ran up. The shadow
had already pushed open the door and
entered the church. But was quick
er than the shadow and caught hold
OF corner OF its cloak. At that mo-
ment. we were just In front OF the
high altar; and the moonbeams fell
straight upon us through the stained
glass windows of the apse. AS did
not let go OF the cloak. the shadow
turned round; and saw terrible
deaths head, which darted a look at
me from pair of scorching eyes.
felt as II | were face to face with
Satan; and, In the presence OF this
unearthly apparition. my heart gave
way, my courage failed me e.
and remember nothing more until l
recovered consciousness at the Set
ting Sum-"