Cruel As The Grave

But the idea of this visitor made him only the more anxious for Sybil's

sake, to get away.

This last day of their sojourn in the Haunted Chapel was passed by the

refugees in great impatience, but without any event worth recording.

With the night came their untiring friend Captain Pendleton, attended by

Joe, who bore upon his broad back a large pack containing the disguises.

After the usual greetings, and while Sybil, with a woman's curiosity,

was examining the contents of the pack which Joe opened and displayed

before her, Pendleton found an opportunity of whispering to Lyon

Berners: "The false rumor is as rife as false rumors usually are. Every one

reports with confidence, and every one else believes with assurance,

that you are both in Annapolis, and will certainly be found by the

officers within a few days. This is good, as it will lead off all

pursuit from your road to Norfolk."

Lyon Berners nodded in reply. And Sybil came up to make some

preparations for supper.

"Well, Mrs. Berners," spoke the Captain, gayly, "any more supernatural

phenomena?"

"Oh, I wish you had not asked that question!" exclaimed Lyon Berners,

while Sybil grew deadly pale, and shivered from head to foot.

"Why, what's the matter now?" demanded the Captain, lifting his eyebrows

in surprise.

"Oh, the damp girl!" exclaimed Sybil, shuddering.

"The damp girl!" echoed the Captain, in growing wonder.

Lyon Berners shrugged his shoulders, while Sybil, in agitated tones,

recounted her strange visitation of the night before.

"As clearly defined a case of incubus as ever I heard in my life," was

the prompt decision of Captain Pendleton.

Sybil grew angry.

"I only wish," she sharply answered, "that you would once experience the

like, for then you could know that it could not be nightmare."

"Then, my dear Mrs. Berners, if this was not incubus, what do you

suppose it to have been?"

"A real visitation; but whether a natural or supernatural one, of

course I can not tell," she answered.

Sybil got the supper ready, and they all sat down to partake of that

meal together, for the last time in the Haunted Chapel.

After supper the final preparations for their departure were made.

Sybil felt all the reluctance of a beauty to part with her splendid

black hair. But on trying the experiment, she found that she could

effectually conceal it, without cutting it off. She combed it straight

back from her forehead, and let it hang down her shoulders under her

sack. Then she covered her head and neck with the flowing red locks of

Harold's wig.

Lyon cut close his auburn hair, shaved off his moustache, and donned a

gray wig and a gray beard, without the slightest remorse.

A very few minutes sufficed to complete their disguise, and they stood

forth--Lyon and Sybil transformed into a gray old farmer and a

shock-headed country girl.