9
A summer's day drew towards its close; the well dressed gucsts of the worthy Knight departed, and the family were once more left to to themselves.
Eliza, with a palpitating heart, accompanied her brother to the Abbey. They were at the entrance of the Aisle; Eliza trembled.———"Stay, (said George,) it is dark, and we are far from the house; I have little dread of ghosts, but it is not impossible that this retreat may be the rendezvous of beings less merciful, and more powerful than mere spectres.———Do you wait a moment behind this old column, and listen attentively: I will go on, should there be any danger, you will hear my cries; then run as fast as possible to the house and procure assistance." Eliza's remonstrance on the score of his personal danger were in vain, and she clung to the pillar in anxious expectation. A few minutes elapscd; Eliza grew impatient, at length she heard footsteps approaching!—She left her retreat, thinking to meet her brother when a form muffled in a long black cloak, and masked, met her at the entrance of the Aisle. She screamed !—In an instant George was at her elbow; but the cause of her alarm had vanished. "Surely I cannot be deceived, (said Barnwell,) it was a man; I saw him distinctly; a black cloak and mask were lying on the tomb, which you described from your dream; as I approached it, a man, who was kneeling near it, started up, hurried on the disguise, and presenting a pistol, exclaimed, "I am discovered!—Ere I had recovered my surpisc, he was gone."———
